Faculty of Medicine
Faculty regulations

All Faculty of Medicine students should note that current University Regulations prevail at all times.

Professional Standards

Standards of ethical and professional behaviour (for all personnel, students and faculty members)

Members of the Faculty of Medicine have a commitment to uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour consistent with the values of the University of Ottawa and with the values of the medical profession as exemplified in the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Medical Association.

The following serves as a statement of the ethical and professional obligations of all students, trainees, support staff and faculty. Such commitment extends to their relations with patients, students, colleagues, staff, outside agencies, organizations and industry in respect of their University and professional responsibilities for education, research, clinical care, and administration. Members have a responsibility for their own individual behaviour as well as a responsibility to promote adherence to these standards by other members of the student body, support staff and faculty.

Alleged or admitted violations of such professional and ethical standards will lead to an investigation according to University policy, in addition to compliance with any other obligations that may be imposed by professional bodies such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Such violations may lead to disciplinary action provided for under the policies and procedures of the University or of other related agencies. Such disciplinary action may include reprimand, suspension, expulsion or other appropriate measures. Such violations, if established, will be taken into account in decisions regarding promotion for students and faculty members, and in decisions regarding appointment, contract renewal and tenure for faculty members.

General behaviour

The following list, though not exclusive, outlines what is expected of students, support staff and faculty. Everyone must be committed to:

  • exhibiting personal honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness;
  • respecting others and refraining from harassment or discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical handicap, illness or age;
  • abstaining from use of illicit drugs and avoiding inappropriate use of medication, mood altering drugs or alcohol;
  • working in partnership with other colleagues and members of the health care team;
  • assisting other colleagues in need of help in meeting their professional and ethical obligations.

Professional conduct

Uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in respect to patient care.

It is acknowledged that particularly high standards of behaviour are expected of physicians in respect to patient care in view of the real or perceived inequality in the relationship and the potential for physical, psychological and emotional dependency between patient and physician. This includes the following commitments:

  • put the rights, needs and interests of the patient foremost, while respecting the professional obligations to society to participate in matters related to health care planning and resource allocation;
  • respect the patient and observe the need for consent and confidentiality in all dealings with patients;
  • uphold the principles of beneficence, non-maleficience, patient autonomy and honesty in one’s dealings with patients;
  • recognize the limitation of one’s own competence and continually strive to improve one’s knowledge, skills, and competence as a physician;
  • provide for continuity of care once professional responsibility has been accepted, until such care is no longer required or alternative arrangements have been made;
  • avoid all forms of sexual exploitation of patients, including abuse, harassment or impropriety. Sexual conduct of any kind by a physician with a patient is always unethical whenever a doctor–patient relationship exists, and remains unethical indefinitely thereafter when the doctor–patient relationship existed for purposes of psychotherapy or counseling;
  • avoid all forms of discrimination or harassment;
  • seek help from others when needed;
  • avoid taking physical, emotional or financial advantage of patients;
  • behave in a way beyond reproach and respect the obligations to professional bodies to help ensure that one’s colleagues do not behave in a manner that might be generally considered as unbecoming to the profession.

Uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in regards to research.

  • Ensure integrity and honesty in the collection, interpretation and reporting of data;
  • ensure that any research carried out is scientifically and ethically valid and has received appropriate consent and approval;
  • avoid taking advantage of real or perceived inequality in relationships in dealing with students, fellows or employees;
  • uphold standards and rules of any sponsoring agencies and of the journals in which the results of research studies are published;
  • avoid all forms of scientific misconduct, misrepresentation or falsification of data; refrain from assisting or colluding with any other colleagues in committing scientific misconduct either tacitly or overtly and report to the appropriate authorities any knowledge of such behaviour;
  • adhere to the highest standards of integrity and avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest in the conduct of clinical trials, the evaluation of drugs, medical devices or other diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and avoid taking undue financial or other advantage from information gained from, or by reporting on, such studies.

Uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in regards to industry. This means:

  • avoiding, whenever possible, any real or potential conflicts of interest or commitment and seeking to resolve such conflicts that may exist ensuring that the physician’s primary objective is patient welfare;
  • ensuring that participation in CME activities, such as surveillance studies, is consistent with the CMA guidelines relating to physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.

Education

Uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in regards to education, recognizing the potential for real or perceived inequality in the relationship between teachers and students. This generates the following obligations:

  • respect the confidentiality of student records;
  • treat all students fairly and equitably;
  • promote the student–teacher relationship and not abuse this trust for personal gain;
  • promote and uphold the high educational standards of the faculty and ensure the competence of trainees is being promoted;
  • ensure that examinations and evaluations are carried out fairly and honestly;
  • observe the highest standards of honesty and integrity in one’s personal conduct during the course of examinations;
  • avoid giving any assistance to other fellow students during the course of examinations unless specifically permitted or requested to do so by the examiner;
  • support the highest standards of integrity and honesty among one’s colleagues by neither assisting, nor colluding with or tacitly permitting other colleagues to behave in a manner that is in violation to these standards or could be construed to be so.

Sexual harassment

The Faculty of Medicine is committed to a policy of zero tolerance of sexual harassment in all its forms.

As members of the University, the Faculty adheres to policy 67 on sexual harassment.

Professionalism Guidelines

The Faculty of Medicine expects students to demonstrate, throughout their years in medical school, the attitudes and behaviour that are essential for future practitioners of medicine. There are three fundamental attributes of humanistic medicine essential for medical professionals: respect, integrity and compassion.

  • Respect is a commitment to honour others’ choices and rights
  • Integrity consists of honesty and trustworthiness demonstrated in evaluating and effecting one’s own skills and abilities
  • Compassion is the appreciation that suffering and illness may encompass physical, psychological or social concerns and that all patients merit comfort and help.

Attitudes and behaviour are expressed at the personal, interpersonal and community levels.

1. Personal attributes

a) Self-education

Students should be aware of the limits of their capabilities and be able to function within these limits. They should:

  • assess realistically their educational progress and determine their learning needs;
  • demonstrate self-education through reading as well as through preparation for seminars, discussion groups and rounds;
  • demonstrate a willingness to teach and share in the learning process among their peers, those in junior years, house staff and Faculty;
  • seek further instruction in areas of both weakness and strength;
  • demonstrate an ability to work independently;
  • refrain from cheating, unauthorized borrowing or copying;
  • accept direction from those charged with their supervision;
  • identify themselves as medical student when writing in patient charts.

b) Personal behaviour

Students should display humanistic and idealistic behaviours in the conduct of their educational and professional endeavours, including:

  • awareness of the ethical and medico-legal issues involved in the practice of medicine;
  • demonstration of the characteristics of integrity, respect and compassion, whether in the lecture hall, laboratory or clinical setting;
  • honesty in their relations with both colleagues and patients;
  • conscientiousness, reliability, punctuality and attentiveness in their daily responsibilities and professional activities;
  • emotional stability and adaptability especially in difficult clinical and emotional circumstances;
  • non-judgmental behaviour and tolerance toward peers, teachers and patients
  • appropriate communication skills;
  • acquisition of leadership skills necessary for a caring physician and teacher;
  • ability to refrain from the use of any mood-altering medications or alcohol that might interfere with the educational or professional process;
  • abstention from the use of illicit drugs.

2. Interpersonal attributes

a) Interrelationship with the health care team

Interpersonal attributes are expected to be displayed in all educational encounters, especially in the clinical setting. Students must develop a satisfactory working relationship with all members of the health care team, treating all with equanimity and respect. They are expected to display:

  • accessibility, punctuality, promptness and attendance;
  • an active interest and participation in all patient-oriented activities of the health care team;
  • acceptance of an equitable sharing of the clinical responsibilities of health care appropriate to a ward clerk, which for patients under their care would include:
  • obtaining an appropriate case history and physical examination;
  • maintaining adequate, reliable and informative progress notes;
  • sharing accurate reports and information with the health care team;
  • contributing to, sharing with, and respecting the health care team;
  • using appropriate tests, procedures and auxiliary facilities, while being aware of their cost and impact on the patient;
  • prioritizing a work schedule in an organized and efficient manner;
  • ensuring that proper discharge of clinical responsibilities is provided when students are not on call, are unavailable or when leaving the health care team.

b) Attitude towards patients and their families

Students must display a willingness to care for all patients regardless of their medical, psychological or social status. In doing so, students must demonstrate the following characteristics:

  • respectful and compassionate concern for patients and their families
  • understanding, warmth, empathy and a caring nature.

Disciplinary Measures

A unit or course or rotation may be failed by a student despite adequate demonstration of knowledge and clinical skills due to a failure in the domain of professionalism. Any student registered in the MD program is expected to adhere to the professional Standards of the Faculty of Medicine and demonstrate professional behaviour within coursework and clerkship, as well as outside of the classroom and clinical setting when the student is clearly identifiable as a medical student. Any unprofessional behaviour in an official setting or in an official communication will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education , and may lead to remediation and/or academic sanction, which may include internal probation, recording on the MSPR, failure of a unit or course or rotation, or dismissal from the Faculty of Medicine, based on the recommendations of the Promotions Executive Committee.

Academic regulations

During their stay at the University of Ottawa, students must conform to all disciplinary and other regulations of the University and the Faculty, and to any changes that may be made to these regulations.

Attendance

General Principles

  • All absences from mandatory activities must be excused. An unexcused absence will be considered a lack of professionalism and will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Medical Education Office or a delegate and could be grounds for failure.
  • Students absent for reasons of illness or unexpected exceptional circumstances must inform the liaison officer/clerkship coordinator as soon as possible. Daily updates are required. Three or more consecutive days of absence because of illness require written documentation from the treating physician.
  • In all other instances students must request an advanced approved absence from the pre-clerkship/clerkship director. Such requests are to be submitted at least 2 months in advance. Examples include religious holidays, legal proceedings, acting as a representative of the Faculty of Medicine or presentation at a scientific meeting.
  • The cumulative maximum number of days of excused absences per year is ten. Students exceeding ten absences will be brought to the attention of the pre-clerkship or clerkship director and will be considered on a case by case basis. Any staff or faculty member concerned about any student with fewer that ten absences may bring this to the attention of the pre-clerkship or clerkship director.
  • Approval of deferral of an examination may only be granted by the Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Medical Education Office.
  • To be eligible for academic credit, excused absences cannot exceed 50 percent of a unit, course or clinical rotation. Absence of more than 50 percent of a unit or course will require repetition of that unit or course during an additional academic year. Absence of more than 50 percent of a clinical rotation will require repetition of that rotation during elective time. Excused absence of more than 50 percent of two clinical rotations will require repetition during an additional academic year.

Pre-Clerkship

  • Attendance is mandatory in interactive small group or clinical sessions including but not restricted to Problem Based Learning/Case Based Learning, Physician Skill Development, Evidence Based Medicine, Professionalism, séances de cliniques simulées, Year 1 Rural Week, , and Year 2 Mandatory Clinical Week. Every absence needs to be excused and make-up work may be required at the discretion of the Pre-clerkship director.

Clerkship

  • Attendance is mandatory for all clinical placements (e.g. core rotations, electives, selectives) during year 3 and 4, including orientation and didactic teaching (e.g. Problem Assisted Learning, Academic Days, Skills Sessions). Every absence must be excused and may require equivalent make-up work at the discretion of the rotation director.

Leave of absence

Short and long-term leaves of absence may be granted only in exceptional circumstances, such as:

1. maternity leave, parental leave;

2. reasons of health (whether one’s own or a family member’s);

3. compelling problems of a personal nature, such as the death of a family member or marital breakdown;

4. pursuit of a master’s degree or doctorate degree in a field consistent with the general objectives of the medical undergraduate program;

The request for a leave of absence must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education. A doctor’s certificate is required in the case of illness. Other documentation may be required depending on the situation. With the exception of a leave of absence to complete a doctorate in a biomedical research area, the period of leave will not exceed three years. The duration of the leave of absence may result in a delay in graduation.

Evaluation of Medical Students

I) PRE-CLERKSHIP

MEDS 2011

A) REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING A BLOCK

i. Students are expected to meet all of the objectives of each block. Some objectives are addressed in problem-based learning (PBL), workshops, laboratories, seminars, lectures or the Physicians Development Course. Other objectives are to be met by independent learning using a variety of resources (e.g., e-curriculum, textbooks, journal articles, or CDs). Examinations are based on the objectives in each block whether or not these objectives are addressed directly in formal educational activities.

Performance in blocks is evaluated as Honours/ Pass/ Fail. The Physician Skills Development (PSD) course is evaluated as Pass/ Fail. The evaluation of professional behaviour will be expressed as Pass or Fail. Professional behaviour is evaluated throughout the Undergraduate Medical Education Program.

To achieve a Pass in a block in the first two years (Pre-clerkship), a student must:

  • a) meet expectations in problem-based learning (PBL) tutorial evaluation, and
  • b) achieve a mark of 60% on the final examination.

To achieve Honours in a block, a student must:

  • a) meet expectations in problem-based learning (PBL) tutorial evaluation, and
  • b) achieve a mark on the final examination of 80%.

To obtain a Fail in a block, a student must:

  • a) obtain a Fail in PBL, or
  • b) achieve a mark lower than 60% on the final examination.

Students will successfully complete Pre-clerkship upon obtaining a Pass in each block, the PSD and Professionalism courses, Rural Week (Year 1) and Mandatory Clinical Elective Week (Year 2).

ii. A block may be failed despite adequate demonstration of knowledge due to a failure in the domain of behaviour. Professional behaviour is assessed in PBL and the PSD course, and in all activities in which the student is identified as a member of the Faculty of Medicine. The Promotions Executive Committee, in consultation with the appropriate faculty, will recommend either remediation or dismissal from the program.

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B) PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL)

Performance in PBL has a major impact on academic standing. The impact of PBL on the overall standing in a block is described on the form entitled Evaluation of Student’s PBL Performance by Tutor. The Medical Student Performance Record (MSPR) will also contain comments from the tutor. The evaluation should be discussed with the tutor, and the student should sign the evaluation and obtain a copy. The student’s signature is evidence the evaluation was seen and does not waive the student’s right to a subsequent appeal. Any concern about a PBL evaluation must be raised within two weeks following the completion of a block, i.e. before the outcome of the examination is known.

C) PHYSICIAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (PSD) COURSE

Successful completion of the PSD course requires:

  • a) a Pass on the PSD Tutor Evaluations, and
  • b) a Pass on the PSD Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

A Fail in either component will lead to failure in the course and will place the student on the Clinical Skills Support Program (CSSP). The extent of support required on this program will be based on the recommendation of the PSD Course Director to the Promotion Executive Committee. The student will be removed from the CSSP upon successful completion of the Teaching and Testing OSCE.

D) WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

i. Policy and Definitions

Deferred Examination:

A student may request to defer an examination for reasons of serious personal or family illness, death of a family member or friend, or other compelling circumstances. The Associate Dean, in consultation with the Faculty, will decide if the request will be granted. In the case of illness, a medical certificate is required. The student will be advised if other documentation is required. In order to be eligible to defer an examination, a student must attend 50% of the sessions in which attendance is mandatory. The student must have obtained excused absence for all sessions missed in the block. No more than two examinations can be deferred per year. Deferred examinations are taken in the summer at a time scheduled by the Faculty. A student may achieve Honours in the Block, but will not be eligible for the Award for highest standing.

Supplemental Examination:

A student may remediate a maximum of two failed block examinations in any one year by taking a supplemental examination. Remediation takes place in the summer following the end of the academic year. The student will have access to laboratory materials and assistance from appropriate faculty and will take the supplemental examination at a time scheduled by the Faculty. Failure of any supplemental examination results in failure of the year. After a comprehensive review of the student’s file, the Promotion Executive Committee will decide whether the student will be asked to repeat the year or withdraw from the program.

Combined Total of Deferred and Supplemental Examinations:

For educational reasons, and concerns about student health, the combined total of deferred and supplemental examinations per student per year can not exceed three (3).

E) OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students cannot be supervised in any clinical placement (core rotation, selective or elective) by a member of their immediate family, extended family including in-laws or by anyone with whom they are involved in a close personal relationship. Students must immediately notify the Director of the educational unit or the Medical Education Office to request reassignment if their assigned placement is in violation of this policy.

PRE-CLERKSHIP

MEDS 2012 and subsequent years

REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING Pre-Clerkship

To pass pre-clerkship, a student must pass:

MED 1200, MED 1201, MED1202, MED 1108, MED 1107

MED 2201, MED 2202, MED 2203, MED 2108, MED 2109

A) Units

Introduction Unit:

To pass the Introduction Unit, a student must attend all mandatory activities, and meet expectations on all mandatory assignments. A failure in the unit will be brought to the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

Foundations Unit, Unit I, Unit II, Unit III and Integration Unit:

To pass these units, a student must receive an overall combined mark of 60% or more on mid-term and summative examinations and meet expectations on the Case-Based Learning final tutor evaluation. A student with a failure on the overall examination must pass a supplemental examination to be promoted to the next academic year. The case of a student with a failure on the Case Based Learning final tutor evaluation will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

Students may have a maximum of 2 deferrals/supplementals in one academic year. Students must pass all deferrals/supplementals to be promoted to the next academic year. The case of a student with a failure of a supplemental examination will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

B) Rural Week

To pass Rural Week, a student must obtain a pass on the preceptor evaluation. The case of a student with a failure on the Rural Week preceptor evaluation will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

C) Mandatory Clinical Week

To pass Mandatory Clinical Week, a student must obtain a pass on the preceptor evaluation. The case of a student with a failure on the Mandatory Clinical Week preceptor evaluation will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

D) Physician Skills Development (PSD)

Successful completion of the PSD course requires:

  • a Pass on the PSD tutor evaluation, and
  • a Pass on the PSD Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

A fail in either component will lead to failure in the course and will place the student on the Clinical Skills Support Program (CSSP). The extent of support required on this program will be based on the recommendation of the PSD Course Director to the Promotions Executive Committee.

E) Professionalism

A unit or course or rotation may be failed despite adequate demonstration of knowledge and clinical skills due to a failure in the domain of professionalism. Any student registered in the MD program is expected to adhere to the professional Standards of the Faculty of Medicine and demonstrate professional behaviour within coursework and pre-clerkship, as well as outside of the classroom and clinical setting when the student is clearly identifiable as a medical student. Any unprofessional behaviour in an official setting or in an official communication will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, and may lead to remediation and/or academic sanction, which may include internal probation, recording on the Medical Student Performance Record (MSPR), failure of a unit or course or rotation, or dismissal from the Faculty of Medicine, based on the recommendations of the Promotions Executive Committee.

F) OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students cannot be supervised in any clinical placement (i.e.,core rotation, selective or elective) by a member of their immediate family, extended family including in-laws or by anyone with whom they are involved in a close personal relationship. Students must immediately notify the Director of the educational unit or the Medical Education Office to request reassignment if their assigned placement is in violation of this policy.

b) CLERKSHIP

Year 3

REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING 3rd Year Clerkship

To pass 3rd Year Clerkship, a student must pass:

CLI 3101, CLI 3102, CLI 3103, CLI 3104, CLI 3106,

CLI 3107, CLI 3108, CLI 3109, CLI 3110, CLI 3111

A) Link Period

To pass this section, the student must attend all mandatory sessions and obtain a pass on the link preceptor evaluation form. The case of a student with a failure in the Link Period will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

B) Clinical Rotations

The rotations are evaluated as Pass/Fail. To obtain a Pass in the rotation, the student must pass the overall clinical performance evaluation and obtain a mark of 60% or more on the end of rotation examination.

Clinical Performance : the clinical objectives of each component must be met in order to pass the clinical performance evaluation.

Summative Written Exam (every 12 weeks):

The written exam at the end of each rotation contains Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Short Answer Questions (SAQs), and Clinical Decision Making Questions (CDMQs). All three components will count towards the final mark.

The first failure of an end-of-rotation written exam will not be indicated in the student’s record, i.e. transcript, or in the Medical Student Performance Record (MSPR). The student who fails an end-of-rotation exam must write a re-take exam. Re-take examinations can be taken during a vacation period (e.g., winter or spring) or during another rotation with the permission of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, and Rotation Director. Students can apply for electives and obtain Letters of Good Standing while re-take examinations are still pending. The rotation will be listed as’ in progress’ until such time as the student passes the re-take exam.

Permitted number of re-take examinations

A student may fail a maximum of two rotation exams, i.e. take two re-take exams. Failure of the third rotation examination will lead to a review of the student’s file by the Promotions Executive Committee. The Committee may recommend specific remediation, repetition of specific rotations, or dismissal from the program.

Failure of a re-take examination

Failure of a re-take examination will require remediation as determined by the Promotions Executive Committee, under the advice of the rotation director. This may be integrated into the required fourth year clinical rotations and should be completed as early as possible during that academic year. After completing the necessary remediation, the student will be required to take a supplemental examination. A student may only remediate one failed rotation examination in this manner without resulting in a delay in graduation. Failure of a re-take examination will be recorded on the transcript and on the MSPR.

Failure of a supplemental examination

Following the failure of a supplemental examination, the Promotions Executive Committee may recommend remediation or dismissal from the MD program. Remediation of a failed supplemental examination may include repetition of the specific rotation and a delay in graduation or repetition of the third year program.In addition, failure of two rotation supplemental exams will result in dismissal from the program following review by the Promotions Executive Committee.

Deferred examinations in third year

A student in good standing, who successfully completes the clinical rotation, may be permitted to defer a maximum of three out of eight rotation examinations for reasons of health, maternity, family or a compelling personal reason with the permission of the Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Medical Education.

Combined total of deferred and re-take examinations

The combined total of deferred and re-take examinations per student per year cannot exceed four without incurring a delay in graduation.

Timing of deferred, re-take and supplemental examinations

Deferred and re-take examinations may be written during the winter or spring vacations, during another third year rotation, or at the beginning of the fourth year, at the discretion of the Associate Dean. Students are strongly cautioned about writing re-take examinations during other core rotations. Supplemental examinations will be taken during the fourth year.

C) Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Students must pass a summative comprehensive OSCE which is held at the end of the third year in order to graduate from the MD program.

A student with a failure in the comprehensive OSCE will be required to retake the next Teaching and Testing OSCE. A failure of retake will be brought to the Promotions Executive Committee who may recommend remediation, repeating the academic year or dismissal from the program.

D) Professionalism

A unit or course or rotation may be failed despite adequate demonstration of knowledge and clinical skills due to a failure in the domain of professionalism. Any student registered in the MD program is expected to adhere to the professional Standards of the Faculty of Medicine and demonstrate professional behaviour within coursework and clerkship, as well as outside of the classroom and clinical setting when the student is clearly identifiable as a medical student. Any unprofessional behaviour in an official setting or in an official communication will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, and may lead to remediation and/or academic sanction, which may include internal probation, recording on the MSPR, failure of a unit or course or rotation, or dismissal from the Faculty of Medicine, based on the recommendations of the Promotions Executive Committee.

E) OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students cannot be supervised in any clinical placement (i.e., core rotation, selective or elective) by a member of their immediate family, extended family including in-laws or by anyone with whom they are involved in a close personal relationship. Students must immediately notify the Director of the educational unit or the Medical Education Office to request reassignment if their assigned placement is in violation of this policy.

Year 4

REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING 4 th Year Clerkship

To pass 4th Year Clerkship, a student must pass:

CLI4104, CLI4105, CLI4106

A) Back to Basics Course (CLI 4105)

To pass this course, the student must attend all mandatory sessions. The case of a student with a failure in the Back to Basics Course will be discussed at the Promotions Executive Committee and the recommendation may include remediation, repetition of an academic year or dismissal from the program.

B) Clinical placements (Electives or Selectives – CLI 4104, CLI 4106)

The rotations are evaluated as Pass/Fail. To obtain a Pass in the rotation, the student must pass the overall clinical preceptor evaluation. Failure of a mandatory rotation will result in the student having to repeat the same placement. In the case of a selective or an elective, the student must do another placement of the same duration to fulfill the program’s criteria. This remedial placement will take place during the Christmas holiday, the time reserved for the national interviews, or the Back to Basics course. Any other option must be approved by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education.

C) Professionalism

A unit or course or rotation may be failed despite adequate demonstration of knowledge and clinical skills due to a failure in the domain of professionalism. Any student registered in the MD program is expected to adhere to the professional Standards of the Faculty of Medicine and demonstrate professional behaviour within coursework and clerkship, as well as outside of the classroom and clinical setting when the student is clearly identifiable as a medical student. Any unprofessional behaviour in an official setting or in an official communication will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, and may lead to remediation and/or academic sanction, which may include internal probation, recording on the MSPR, failure of a unit or course or rotation, or dismissal from the Faculty of Medicine, based on the recommendations of the Promotions Executive Committee.

D) OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students cannot be supervised in any clinical placement (i.e., core rotation, selective or elective) by a member of their immediate family, extended family including in-laws or by anyone with whom they are involved in a close personal relationship. Students must immediately notify the Director of the educational unit or the Medical Education Office to request reassignment if their assigned placement is in violation of this policy.

Additional information

Clinical Skills Support Program (CSSP)

Appeal of summative evaluations:

A student who is dissatisfied with the result of a summative evaluation may request a review of the evaluation result. To this end the following procedures shall be respected:

1. The student is encouraged first to approach the chairperson of the block/unit, link period or clinical rotation

2. If concern still persists, the student may submit to the assistant dean of undergraduate medical education a written request for revision within two weeks of the first official communication of the summative evaluation results. Such a request shall identify:

a) The block/unit or clinical rotation in question

b) The tutor or clinical supervisor whose evaluation is in question

c) A statement of the grounds of the review

3. A copy of the student’s request shall be forwarded to the chairperson of the multidisciplinary block/unit, the link period or the clinical rotation.

4. A review committee shall be appointed by the Dean and shall consist of a chairperson, three qualified evaluators from the faculty at large and the chairperson of a department not involved in the appeal. Except when circumstances make it desirable or necessary, the original evaluator will not be appointed to the committee. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education should be available as a nonvoting resource person for the review committee. The committee will re-evaluate the student’s performance in the block/unit, the link period or the clinical rotation. The committee will have at its disposal the results of the formative and summative evaluations in questions, written narratives of tutor’s performance. The committee, in the light of all evaluations, shall determine the revised result, which may be identical, lower or higher than the original results.

5. The review committee shall report to the dean, who shall inform the student, the tutor or the clinical supervisor and the faculty council of the recommendations of the Promotions Committee Executive. It shall also provide the result of the review within a reasonable time. An appeal of the review committee’s recommendation may be made to the faculty council. Such an appeal must be made within two weeks of the date of the letter informing the student of the review committee’s decision. A copy of the appeal shall be sent to the dean’s office. The dean shall inform the student along with the tutor or clinical supervisor of the final decision. A student may appeal the faculty council’s decision to the executive committee for the study of individual cases, on the grounds that due process was not properly followed.

Retention of examination booklets

The University reserves the right to dispose of all examination and any other written assignment six months after the release of the examination of the mark to the student.

Exam review policy

The exam review period extends 10 working days from the day following release of the marks. If the marks are released close to another examination, the review period will begin on the first working day of the week following the examination.

The marks report initially sent following an examination is preliminary.

Students have a right to review their examination under supervision. Nothing is to be written on the examination itself, or taken away after the review period. Students are not permitted to work in groups or discuss with each other the marking of their examination. Students will not be able to request a reconsideration of their answer in light of a different interpretation of a question, nor can a student request remarking of their examination. Students can verify that their marks have been added properly. If errors in addition are noted, they will be corrected.

At the end of the review period, when all the arithmetic errors have been corrected, the cut-offs for counseling will be recalculated. Students will be informed that the official review period is over and that the marks are finalized. Individual students will be informed if their standing in the block/unit has changed.

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Last updated: 2012.01.03