CURRICULUM UPDATES, CHANGES AND RESTRICTIONS
- Course Sessions
- All didactic and small group sessions are being delivered via Zoom.
- As a result of recent changes, modifications have been made in the subsequent lecture schedule:
- The Doctoring and Clinical Skills (DCS-1) PD sessions update available in a couple of days.
- The Doctoring and Clinical Skills (DCS-1) Longitudinal Preceptor Program (LPP-1) are paused.
- Quizzes/Exams
- The OUME will support any student whose Research and Curriculum Exploration summer program (including community service) has been impacted by changes to complete related virtual work during the stipend period. Please see the website for details:
https://www.umassmed.edu/oume/student-resources/research-and-service-opportunities/
- Course Sessions
Confirmation that the CCE will be delayed until June 1, with a modified Transitions Curriculum preceding.- Please note that the Core Clinical Experiences Block Schedule for 2020-2021 has been updated. See the OSA website： https://umassmed.edu/globalassets/student-affairs/files/calendar/year-at-a-glance-calendars/20-21-umms-cce-block-schedule-5.5.20.pdf
- These calendar modifications were approved by the CCEC on Friday and will be presented to the EPC for final approval on Monday, 3/30/31.
- A reminder that all calendar modifications are subject to change based on the ultimate shifts in the pandemic.
- It is possible, depending on the course of events over the next two months, that there will be some modifications to 4th year requirements in order to ensure that students meet the required Program Objectives. This will be updated after the next couple of weeks.
- Quizzes/Exams
- Course Sessions
- Students are paused from direct clinical care. Direct patient care experiences are being redesigned to focus on problem solving and virtual simulation. Didactic sessions are being completed by Zoom.
- As of now, electives are scheduled to begin in May. However, in keeping with our discussion during the zoom meeting on Friday, it would be our strong recommendation that you frontload the first month or two with non-clinical electives.
- All Block 3C rotations will be graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, which is a unique grade that will highlight curricular delivery during the pandemic.
- Blocks 3A and 3B will be assigned traditional grades, and will utilize scores on the OSCEs/Shelf Exams/Other assessments.
- AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) will remain closed through May 11.
- Exams
- CCCA (required, remotely in Zoom and Learning Space, and recorded)
- Begins May 4th, the week after Transition to Advanced Studies & E1 start
- Link will be sent to sign up (plan to attend clerkship orientation session and check with rotation coordinator for questions)
- For CCE students - IM Prep
- Starting April 2nd, the NBME is providing answer explanations for CMS IM Forms 5 and 6.
- NBME clerkship exams begin April 20, 2020.
- Please continue to remember that all medical students across the country are struggling with this same issue, and we will ensure that our students are not disadvantaged in preparation for your residency applications.
- CCCA (required, remotely in Zoom and Learning Space, and recorded)
- Course Sessions
- NO electives will be initiated on 3/30/2020
- NO required rotations/courses will be initiated on 3/30/2020
- Graduation Information
- The EPC will be meeting on Monday 3/30/2020 in order to approve the process by which the Advanced Studies Committee reviewed individual students’ readiness for immediate graduation.
- The vast majority of students are deemed eligible, but notifications will be sent after the EPC approval. You will receive communications tomorrow afternoon.
- A reminder to graduating MD PhD students: your stipend will continue; it will be discontinued if you enter into the COVID early internship plan at UMass Memorial, at which time you will be paid as a PGY1 at the 2019-20 rates.
- For those that are seeking to enter the early internship contingency plan, details around licensure, on boarding, etc, are being reviewed and will be forthcoming.
- Further details about post-graduation activities, such as prep for internship, etc, will be forthcoming very shortly.
- Specifically, for those not currently ACLS certified, we believe that we will be able to get that done for you in the coming days – details are being finalized.
- Additional Information
- The Lamar Soutter Library will extend library access to all 4th years as students through to the previous June 2020 graduation date and they will continue to get access to all the resources. We will revisit how to move forward with access for these students if this emergency situation continues past the June graduation date.
- Our LCME site visit will likely be rescheduled to late July – for those of you ultimately staying at UMass, Dr. Larkin may be calling upon you to sit with the site visitors to reflect on your UMass experience. Dr. Larkin will contact your PDs as this gets closer.
- REALLY IMPORTANT – Please please please complete your GQ!
FAQs
Q13 - How can students receive discounted internet service for the online curriculum?
The Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep America Connected” initiative pledges to suspend common penalties and expand internet access across the U.S. Several internet and telecom service providers are committed to offering free access to the internet (via WiFi hotspot), discounted internet service and/or increased data allowances to ensure people can get online during this unprecedented time. To learn more, review offerings from the service providers below.
Q14 – What is the current recommendation/guideline for school gatherings (for student groups, OEEs, curriculum, etc.)?
The medical school is following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on how to control spread of respiratory infectious diseases during outbreaks. Social distancing involves “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance” whenever possible, to limit the ability of a virus to spread. This is not the same as self-quarantine or isolation.
To do our part, we are limiting on-site gatherings to smaller groups (<50 at the current time, though this can change). Some group sessions will be required to be delivered via zoom (for example student interest group meetings, OEEs). Additionally, we are asking members of our community to sit a bit farther away from each other in the library or in meetings; 6 feet apart is the standard.
The library will remain open for now, but please spread apart at tables (consider no more than 2 people per table, one at each end) and restrict group gatherings. Use of individual carrels is fine.
Follow good hand hygiene (wash hands for at least 20 seconds frequently, use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, do not shake hands or hug etc. We realize that this can feel isolating for some, and we encourage you to support each other and acknowledge the difficulty of this situation, while recognizing that we are doing our part to protect those who are most vulnerable if they develop COVID-19.
Q15 – What is the school doing about pre-clinical curriculum?
All FOM1 and FOM2 curriculum with the exception of simulations will be delivered via online/zoom capability. You will receive guidance from your course directors as to how you will receive your teaching. Exceptions will be communicated to you (for example, NBME exams). All on-site meetings/group sessions regardless must be limited to <50 participants./p>
Update: Effective 3/15/20, LPP for FOM1 and FOM2 is suspended for a period of 1 week, through 3/22/20. The Office of Educational Affairs and OUME will reassess on 3/22/20 and will provide further guidance at that time.
Update: Effective 3/15/20, LPD testing for FOM1 is suspended for a period of 2 weeks, through 3/29/20. The Office of Educational Affairs and OUME will reassess on 3/29/20 and will provide further guidance at that time.
Please note: this situation is evolving, and recommendations/plans may change. Please pay attention to email updates as they are provided.
Q16 – What is the school doing about the clinical curriculum?
All clinical experiences will proceed as scheduled, unless you hear otherwise from Dr. Larkin or from your course director. This means that you continue to go about your daily activities with your teams/preceptors/patients, while taking appropriate precautions as noted above with regard to patients suspected of having COVID-19. You are prohibited from providing direct care for any patients at high risk for or diagnosed with COVID-19. But you are permitted to be on the team, to discuss the plans and care of these patients, and to learn how to manage patients who have COVID-19. Remember, you are learning medicine, under appropriate supervision, this is an important part of your learning; working in teams to support the care of your patients. For 4th year students, you will be on the front lines caring for all patients, regardless of their medical concerns, in just a few months. Your learning environment will help to prepare you for your work as a physician in July 2020. All course directors are aware of the precautions and limitations that have been put into effect to allow you to learn in a safe and structured environment. Clinical experiences will be monitored and refined accordingly.
Update: as of 3/15/20, medical students will not participate in the ED shifts as part of ECPS. This will be reassessed weekly, next update to be provided on 3/22/20.
iCELS and Simulation Program
iCELS remains open to support clinical procedure modeling for patients with COVID-19 and student education. Simulation experiences are being reviewed on a weekly basis and any changes will be communicated to the students with curriculum updates.