Offices of Medical Student Education: Procedure for Needlestick Exposures at all Campuses and Sites

This Procedure outlines the protocols to address UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine ("SOM") Medical Doctorate (MD) degree program student ("Student") exposure to needlesticks.

Unit Procedure

Title

Offices of Medical Student Education: Procedure for Needlestick Exposures at all Campuses and Sites

Introduction

Purpose

This Procedure outlines the protocols to address University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ("University") School of Medicine ("SOM") Medical Doctorate (MD) degree program student ("Student") exposure to needlesticks.

Scope

This Procedure applies to Students in all courses and at all campuses and sites.

Procedure

Each campus and site has its own specific protocols to address Student exposure to needlesticks. The protocols to which Students must adhere for each campus and site can be found through the links below:

• Central Campus
• Asheville Campus
• Charlotte Campus
• Greensboro Site
• Raleigh Site
• Wilmington Campus

Definitions

• Needlestick: An accidental puncture of the skin by a needle or other sharp medical instrument that has been used on a patient or is contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids.

Related Requirements

External Regulations

• Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Functions and Standards of a Medical School
  • Standard 12.8: Student Exposure Policies/Procedures

Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures

• Policy on Student Exposures

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Name: Valerie Glassman, Senior Director for Student Affairs

Email: Valerie_Glassman@med.unc.edu

Publication Details

• Issuing Officer: Alice Chuang, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
  • Email: alice_chuang@med.unc.edu
• Effective Date: March 1, 2026
• Review Cycle: The Office of Student Affairs will review this Policy on an as-needed basis, and the Education Committee will review and approve it.
• Next Review Date: February 28, 2028