SOM Admissions

Technical Standards for UMMS

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Empathy, integrity, honesty, concern for others, good interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that are required. Students must be able in all clinical and academic settings to fully utilize their intellectual abilities, to exercise good judgment, to promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must be able to develop mature, sensitive, professional and effective relationships with patients of all genders, ages, races, life-styles, sexual orientations, and cultural background, as well as with their families, with other health care providers, and with all members of the learning and working community. At times this requires the ability to be aware of and appropriately react to one's own immediate emotional responses. For example, students must maintain a professional demeanor, and be able to function at a high level in the face of personal fatigue, dissatisfied patients and their families, and tired colleagues. Students must be able to develop professional relationships with patients and their families, providing comfort and reassurance when appropriate while protecting patient confidentiality. Students must be able to maintain professional conduct when interacting with patients and the families of patients suffering from catastrophic illness, trauma, and death. Students must possess adequate endurance to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. All students are at times required to work for extended periods, occasionally with rotating shifts. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Students are expected to accept appropriate suggestions and criticism and if necessary, respond by modification of behavior.