Body
Unit Policy
Title
School of Medicine: Policy on Application Phase and Individualization Phase Holiday, Wellness, Day-backs
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy outlines the attendance expectations for Medical Doctorate Program students as it relates to University Holidays, Wellness Days, and Day-backs.
Scope
This Policy applies to clinical phases (Application Phase and Individualization Phase) MD program students.
Policy
Policy Statement
Students will be excused from clinical activities on University holidays, Wellness Days, and Day-backs.
Students will be provided the calendar day off (24-hours) correlating to the University Holiday, Wellness Day, or Day-back.
Students are to be diligent about scheduling travel outside of scheduled clinical, didactic/teaching and testing sessions. Please see the Clinical Phases Attendance policy and procedure for information about permitted absence days.
Night Shifts
If the student is on a night shift (any shift that starts after 6 p.m. and extends past midnight), they are still permitted the 24-hours around the holiday, wellness day, or “day-back" and should be provided the following guidance:
- For University Holidays or Wellness Days, students will participate in clinical activities through the day prior to the University Holiday/Wellness Day, even if that extends overnight. For example, if the shift starts at 7:00 p.m. the day prior to the University Holiday/Wellness Day and is scheduled to end 6:00 a.m. on the day of the University Holiday/Wellness Day, the student will be excused at 6:00am on the day of the University Holiday/Wellness Day. They will be expected to return the day after the University Holiday/Wellness Day.
- For example, if the shift is 7:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday to Wednesday, the student will be excused at 6:00 a.m. If a Wellness Day is on a Wednesday, students work a normal night on Tuesday night. The student then returns to night shifts the day after the University Holiday/Wellness Day. In this example, the next required shift would be Thursday night.
- For Day-backs, students will be excused from clinical activities at midnight (12:00 a.m.) on the day of the day-back. For example, if a shift is 7:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday to Wednesday, a student will present from 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. (Wednesday). The student will be expected to participate in Day-back on Wednesday and return to their next shift on Thursday night.
Definitions
- Application Phase: Following the Foundation Phase, the 12-month phase of the medical school curriculum dedicated to core clinical experiences, beginning in March and ending in February of the following, year consisting of:
- Six (6) clinical courses:
- Community Based Primary Care
- Pediatrics
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- One (1) longitudinal course:
- Social and Health Systems 4
- Individualization Phase: The final (fourteen) 14 months of the medical school curriculum dedicated to the completion of graduation requirements and electives tailored to a student’s career interest, beginning in March and ending in May of the following year consisting of:
- Two (2) Acting Internships
- One (1) Critical Care Selective
- One (1) Advanced Clinical Selective
- Four (4) Electives
- Two (2) longitudinal courses:
- Science of Medicine and Social and Health Systems 5
- Transition to Residency (to be completed at the end of the phase)
- University Holiday: Observed holidays determined by the University of North Carolina and published on the university-wide academic calendar. Note: This refers to a single day on which a student is excused from clinical duties and, depending on the clinical rotation, may not permit absence on the surrounding weekend (‘long weekend’).
- Wellness Day: A day to facilitate student mental and physical well-being. The School of Medicine determines the placement of these days to optimize support of students. While the number of provided wellness days is the same as recommended by main campus, their occurrence within the clinical phases may be different.
- Day-back: A day during Application Phase where all students are excused from clinical activities to participate in other curricular or required activities. These facilitate student collaboration and learning across the phase. Attendance is required. Example: Social and Health Systems Science 4 days, Application Phase Career Day.
Related Requirements
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Catherine Coe, Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum
Telephone: 984-974-4888
Email: Catherine_Coe@med.unc.edu