Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 University Catalog 
    
2019-2020 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Doctor of Medicine


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Rush Medical College: Academic Program


Academic Policies


The Committee on Student Evaluation and Promotion’s Policy and Procedures contains detailed academic policies for Rush Medical College students. Please refer to that document for anything not detailed in this catalog.

Definition and Recording of Student Status


The status of a student will be determined in accordance with these rules by the Office of Integrated Medical Education (OIME) or the Committee on Student Evaluations and Promotion (COSEP), and the rules and policies of Rush University.  All statuses will be recorded on the transcript.  Status will be defined as follows: 

  1. Full-time student: any student enrolled in Rush Medical College, paying tuition or appropriate fees and scheduled to take courses leading to the M.D. degree is a full time student.
  2. Part-time student: Rush Medical College does not have a part-time student option available to students.
  3. Leave of Absence (LOA): a student who, for a predetermined period of time, is not paying tuition and not actively enrolled or pursuing requirements for an M.D. degree at the College will be on an LOA. The length of an LOA is for no greater than one year. Any extension beyond one year must be approved by the COSEP. 

Academic and Professional Remedial Programs


Note: The following is excerpted from the COSEP Policies & Procedures. See the full Policies and Procedures for more information.

Requirements: On a case-by-case basis, the Committee on Student Evaluation and Promotion (COSEP) will establish requirements for a remediation plan for students with outstanding academic, professional, or fitness to practice deficiencies/concerns. Remediation requirements will be appropriate to the seriousness of the student’s deficiencies.  Such requirements will be determined on a case by case basis and may include, but need not be limited to: tutorial study with re-examination; participation in an approved remediation course; retaking failed courses during the next academic; advisor counseling; or retaking all courses including those satisfactorily passed.  In developing the remedial plan, COSEP may consult with a representative from the Office of Integrated Medical Education (OIME), the student and their advisor, and/or the course/clerkship leader(s) to consider the needs of the individual students.

  • COSEP will develop a program that, if completed, will strengthen the student’s prospects for successfully completing the remainder of the medical college program.
  • The student is responsible for complying with all the requirements of a given plan as specified.

Student Notification:  COSEP will notify the student in writing of any COSEP action and prescribed remedial plan within 10 business days of the COSEP meeting.

Appeal of Remedial Plans: A student may dispute part or all of the COSEP-designed remediation plan by written appeal to the chair of COSEP within 10 business days of receiving notification of the plan. Appeals are reviewed by the full COSEP. Decisions of COSEP regarding appeals of a remedial plan are final.   

Failure to Complete Plans: Failure to successfully complete all aspects of a remedial plan will constitute grounds for dismissal.

Academic Dismissal Grounds and Procedure


Note:  The following is excerpted from the COSEP Policies and Procedures. See the full Policies and Procedures for more information.

Grounds for dismissal: The following will constitute grounds for consideration of dismissal from Rush Medical College:

  • A failure to successfully complete a COSEP-mandated remediation plan  
  • A subsequent presentation to COSEP for a new concern while currently on a COSEP-mandated remediation plan
  • A failure in a second required core clerkship (even if the prior failure had been successfully remediated) or a second failure of the same required clerkship 
  • A determination by COSEP that a student is not fit to practice medicine:  
    • Failure to demonstrate the ability to be a competent and effective future physician
    • Performance that does not reflect good moral character, sense of responsibility or sound judgment 
    • A single egregious act or pattern of unprofessional behavior
  • Failure after three attempts to pass USMLE Step 1 
  • Failure after three attempts to pass USMLE Step 2 (both Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge sections of this Step) within six months of the first attempt including any time on leave of absence (LOA)
  • Failure to successfully pass USMLE Step 1 within nine months of completing  M2 coursework including any time on LOA
  • Failure to successfully pass USMLE Step 2 within 12 months of completing  M3 coursework including any time on LOA
  • Inability to successfully complete all M1 and M2 requirements (including USMLE Step 1) within three years of matriculation (excluding time on LOA)
  • Inability to successfully complete all M1, M2 and M3 requirements within four years of matriculation (excluding time on LOA) 
  • Inability to successfully complete all requirements for graduation within five years of matriculation (excluding time on LOA)       

Procedure for COSEP Recommendation for Dismissal:

  • The student will meet criteria for dismissal as set forth in the COSEP Policies and Procedures. 
  • COSEP will review the entire academic record of the student.
  • A recommendation for dismissal must be approved by COSEP by a majority vote of the quorum present by secret ballot. Faculty will recuse themselves from voting in accordance with COSEP Policies and Procedures and the RMC Prevention of Conflicts in Assessment and Promotion Policy.  Course directors and required clerkship directors must recuse themselves if the student presented has previously failed their course/clerkship.
  • Following a vote for dismissal, based on an individualized assessment of each student, COSEP will determine the level of student’s participation in the curriculum while awaiting the COSEP appeal process.  
  • The chair of COSEP will notify both the student and the dean of the Rush Medical College in writing of COSEP’s recommendation for dismissal within two business days of the COSEP meeting. The chair of COSEP will notify the student in writing of the opportunity to meet with COSEP (called student appeal to COSEP). The student should submit in writing to the chair of COSEP stating their intent to appeal this decision within 10 business days of the receipt of notification for a recommendation for dismissal. If a student fails to submit a request for appeal within this time, the student’s right to appeal will be forfeited and the COSEP’s recommendation for dismissal will be forwarded to the Dean of Rush Medical College.
  • The Chair of COSEP will also determine a deadline for completion of the appeal process should the student elect to appeal.  If the student fails to complete the appeal process within this deadline, the recommendation for dismissal will be forwarded to the dean of Rush Medical College.  

Procedure for Student Appeal to COSEP: 

  • The student will submit the request for appeal to COSEP, and the appeal will be scheduled as outlined above. The COSEP timeline will include a deadline for the student to notify COSEP if they will have a legal representative at the appeal.  
  • During the appeal, the student may be accompanied by a representative, who may be an attorney. If the representative is an attorney, the representative will be limited to advising the student and will not be permitted to participate directly in the meeting. If the representative is an advocate, the representative may be invited to speak on the student’s behalf but will not be permitted to participate directly in the meeting. COSEP may have an attorney present to advise the Chair and Committee members.
  • A vote as to whether or not to uphold the dismissal recommendation will be taken by secret ballot, and the result will be determined by a majority vote of the quorum present.
    • Successful appeal: If the recommendation for dismissal is overturned, then COSEP will develop a remediation plan.
    • Unsuccessful appeal: If the recommendation for dismissal is not overturned, the COSEP recommendation will be forwarded to the dean of Rush Medical College.  

Dean’s Appeal Procedure: 

Students who have an unsuccessful appeal of a dismissal recommendation of COSEP will have an opportunity to appeal the dismissal recommendation to the Dean. The student must request such an appeal to the Dean in writing within ten (10) business days from his/her receipt of the Chair’s notice of unsuccessful appeal. If a student fails to submit a request for appeal within this time, the student’s right to appeal to the Dean will be forfeited.

  • An appeal of the COSEP recommendation for dismissal will be considered by the dean only in the following circumstances:
    • The existence of procedural error(s) is so substantial that it would likely alter the ultimate outcome
    • Presentation of new and significant evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the initial COSEP review or COSEP appeal and would likely alter the ultimate outcomes
    • The outcome imposed is substantially disproportionate to the violation
    • A conflict of interest not previously addressed at COSEP or COSEP appeal level
  • The dean has the option to have the student appeal heard by a panel of three faculty (such faculty shall have a background in medical education and shall not currently sit on COSEP and shall have no conflict of interest with the student) or hear the appeal directly. The dean or the panel shall have the hearing within 10 business days of the student’s notification to pursue an appeal to the dean. Reasonable delays to this timeline may be allowed if requested in writing and approved by the dean. 
  • The chair of COSEP will prepare the student’s COSEP file in advance for presentation to the dean or faculty panel. The student may submit additional material on their behalf at this time in accordance with the grounds for appeal as stated above.  
  • The student is allowed to speak on their own behalf. The student may be accompanied by a representative, who may be an attorney. If the representative is an attorney, the representative will be limited to advising the student and will not be permitted to participate directly in the meeting. If the representative is an advocate, the representative may be invited to speak on the student’s behalf but will not be permitted to participate directly in the meeting. The dean or panel, as applicable, may have an attorney present who will serve only in an advisory capacity.   
  • The chair of COSEP and members of OIME will present the basis for the COSEP recommendation of dismissal to the dean or the faculty panel. They will review the basis of the recommendation and the process followed by OIME and COSEP.
  • The dean will review the recommendations from both COSEP and the faculty panel, if impaneled, and render the final decision for the student. The dean will endeavor to issue a final decision in writing to the student within 10 business days of the receipt of panel review recommendations or the appeal meeting with the student, if the dean elects to hear the appeal directly.

Doctor of Medicine (MD): Curriculum


USMLE Step 1


Prior to the start of the third year, students must take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. Students who do not pass USMLE Step 1 are required to discontinue the third year curriculum for remediation.  Students who fail the USMLE Step 1 are removed from clinical rotations and placed on a LOA to the beginning of the next M3 year, provided a passing score is achieved.  See COSEP Policies and Procedures for additional information.

Curriculum Note: Third and Fourth Years


Prior to the start of the third year, students participate in the Clinical Resources and Skills for the Hospital (CRASH) course, which is an intensive review of clinical skills.

 

 

Third Year


The third year involves 42 clinical weeks in required core clerkships in internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery and primary care.  There are 6 weeks of time (4 before or after the Primary Care clerkship, and 2 following the Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship) which students may use to take non-credit elective courses for which they are eligible.

Fourth Year


The fourth year involves a required emergency medicine core clerkship, a required senior sub-internship, a clinical bridge course to prepare students for residency, and a series of elective clerkships which ultimately comprise a minimum of 44 total weeks.  Required senior core clerkships total 12 weeks.  The remaining 32 weeks required of the fourth year consist of elective study in areas of special interest to each student.  The choice of electives is guided by the goal of an educationally balanced undergraduate experience.  Of the 32 weeks of required student-chosen electives, up to 12 weeks of elective study may take place at other Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) - or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited institutions and a maximum of 12 weeks of elective rotations may be taken in a single subspeciality. 

Electives


Students are required to take 32 weeks of electives.

USMLE Step 2


All students must take and pass both the Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS) components of USMLE Step 2 during the student’s fourth year by a date determined by the OIME.  Failures on either component are reported to the COSEP.  See COSEP Policies and Procedures for additional information.

Specialty Curriculum Programs


Family Medicine Leadership Program (FMLP)


The Family Medicine Leadership Program, or FMLP, gives students the opportunity to engage in enhanced primary care clinical training and experiences throughout their four years of education. Students in the FMLP will participate in a curriculum specifically geared toward the tenets of a career in family medicine, emphasizing the impacts of family and community on health, the role of interdisciplinary care, and the development of skills in leadership and scholarly pursuit.

A maximum of five students will be admitted per cohort. Students register for the pass/fail course FAM 705 for every term in which they are enrolled in the FMLP. Students who desire to change paths during medical school may opt out of the FMLP.

Health Equity & Social Justice Leadership Program


The Health Equity & Social Justice Leadership Program gives students the opportunity to engage enhanced clinical training and experiences focused on themes of global and local health equity/social justice. Students in the program will participate in a curriculum specifically geared toward a career focused on vulnerable populations, health equity, and global health.

A maximum of twenty students will be admitted per cohort. Students register for the pass/fail course RMD 572 for every term in which they are enrolled in the Health Equity Program. Students who desire to change paths during medical school may opt out of the Health Equity Program.

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