MS4 Elective Requirement Suspension
In preparing a proposal for an early graduate date, we have reviewed all the existing requirements that need to be completed and will send you more details about eligibility for early graduation in the coming days.
We can tell you now that required elective weeks will be waived from this point on for the Class of 2020. On March 25, the LCME shared the following statement with all medical schools:
“Electives, by definition, do not have required learning objectives; therefore, the school can choose to waive, after review and approval by its Curriculum Committee and Student Advancement and Promotion Committee, graduation requirements based upon a requisite number of elective weeks.”
While this still needs to be reviewed and approval by our internal government, and while we encourage you to keep participating in learning and volunteer activities, please know that you no longer have to track or account for any remaining elective credits needed for graduation.
Finally, some of you have completed electives over the course of the year that still do not have grade posted. Please check your student record in EMPOWER to confirm that you do not have any missing grades. If you do have outstanding elective evaluations, please complete THIS FORM to provide the information needed so that we can assist you in reaching out to the responsible faculty and help complete your transcripts. Students without complete transcripts will not be eligible for the early graduation date.
Module 3 Updates
What do we know now?
The remaining 2 weeks of the Module 3 clerkships need to be completed. These 2 remaining weeks involve: 1) In-person direct patient care experiences 2) Clerkship activities including didactics 3) Assessments including the OSCEs and Shelf Exam
Completion of all clerkship activities is required in order to complete all the clerkship assessments, including the Shelf Exam.
Completion of these patient experiences, activities and assessments is required to demonstrate achievement of the clerkship objectives.
What are the plans being developed that still require review and approval by national accreditation bodies and ISMMS governing body (Executive Oversight Committee)?
- Plan to change the Year 4 calendar to align and synchronize with the Year 3 calendar
This change allows for inclusion of the NEW Year 4 students in the same learning space as the NEW Year 3 students
The goal is for NEW Year 4 medical students to start their clinical rotations, including completing the remaining Module 3 or starting the Module 4 clerkships, as early as possible. The earliest start date is end of June.
Upon completion of the Module 3 clerkship requirements, students will be eligible to take the OSCEs and other direct observation assessment, as well as be eligible to take the Shelf Exam remotely.
Three possible post-Module 3 Shelf Exams with Remote Proctoring options are being proposed: 1) At the end of the rotation, 2) 2 weeks after the end of the rotation or 3) 4 weeks after the end of the rotation
The clerkship grading for this cohort of medical students whose Module 3 clerkships have been disrupted will have to be different, yet still include evidence of achievement of all clerkship objectives
Module 4 Updates
What do we know now?
The remaining Module 4 clerkships need to be completed. These involve: 1) In-person direct patient care experiences 2) Clerkship activities including didactics 3) Assessments including the OSCEs and Shelf Exam
Completion of all clerkship activities is required in order take the clerkship assessments, including the Shelf Exam.
Completion of these patient experiences, activities and assessments is required to demonstrate achievement of the clerkship objectives.
What are the plans being developed that still require review and approval by national accreditation bodies and ISMMS governing body (Executive Oversight Committee)?
Plan to maximize flexibility in scheduling the Module 4 core clerkships by removing the constraint of linked clerkships (Peds and OB; Medicine and ACG; Neuro and Psych). A student may take the ACG clerkship during one Module period and take the Medicine clerkship in another Module period of Year 4
Upon completion of the Module 4 clerkship requirements, students will be eligible to take the OSCEs as well as be eligible to take the Shelf Exam.
Plan to maximize flexibility in scheduling the Year 4 graduation requirements (EM, sub-I, Intro to Internship, electives). For example, a student may schedule a Year 4 requirement before completion of the Module 3 or Module 4 clerkships.
The prerequisite for taking a Senior Clerkship is successful completion of the Year 3 clerkship of the same field. For example, a prerequisite to taking the Senior Surgery Clerkship is the successful completion of the Surgery-Anesthesiology clerkship, etc.
We are working on the answers to your questions that were not addressed during the Town Hall and will have that for you next week.
MS3 Shelf Exam Clarification
As discussed in the MS3 Student Town Hall yesterday, the end-of-clerkship assessments, including the OSCEs and shelf examinations are not being offered until the resumption of clerkship activities in late June.
Scholarly Year Student Town Hall
The Scholarly Year Town Hall is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd at 5:00pm using the Zoom information below. This space is intended for anyone returning from or planning to enter the SY in academic year 2020-2021.
- Zoom Meeting: https://mssm.zoom.us/j/854754067
- Meeting ID: 854 754 067
MS2 Step 1 Preparation
Last year’s recording of the in-person Step 1 session will be available for students to access next week. We hope this advanced release will allow you to prepare for the dedicated prep time and live online course from May 11 thru 29, 2020.
Weekend Access to Telehealth.
For after hours and weekend coverage, you may access the Mount Sinai Telehealth options as follows. Use PROMO code COVID19 to have fees waived.
- Mount Sinai NOW (accessible also via Google Play/iStore) video visit platform available 24/7.
- Click4Care online questionnaire platform available 7AM – 12PM.