Medical Education
Dear Medical Education Colleagues,

As a community, we are all awaiting the results of next week's election. We understand that this contentious election season has only compounded the stressors and uncertainty many of us are feeling as we struggle with the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic and our nation’s racial injustices. 

Understanding that it may be difficult for students to concentrate during this time, we are offering the following modified curricular schedule and series of student support events during election week, which we will be sending to all students later today (see below).


Guidelines for Supporting Students and Each Other

The COPE program and Ombuds office have provided the following resources to help faculty and staff think about how to communicate during these times. We encourage you to read these resources as you support our students and staff teams. Thank you for all you do for our students.


Remember to access COPE or FSAP (415-476-8279) if you need assistance.
Curricular Election Week Plans
Associate Dean for Curriculum, John Davis has worked out the following schedule with your course and clerkship directors.

Foundations 1

November 3-6: Optional In-Person Curricular Activities

  • Curricular activities will continue but are optional to allow students to take advantage of wellness activities offered through medical education and campus (see below). In-person activities will be optional.

  • Students should complete an absence request form; however, there will be no penalty to students.

  • Medical Student Coaches will be providing listening sessions during their curricular times with MS1 students. 

November 9-13: Racial and Other Social Political Trauma Protocol Remains in Effect


  • For those students who may need extra support, attendance remains optional.

  • Students should complete an absence request form; however, there will be no penalty to students. 

  • MS2 Students will be allowed to delay their Brain, Movement, Behavior (BMB) exam by up to 30 days, if needed. Please contact the course administration to discuss.

  • The Health & Individual (H&I) summative OEQ exam has been preemptively canceled given the uncertainty surrounding the election and the very short nature of the block.


Foundations 2/Career Launch
  • Students should continue attending clinical rotations to support patients and our communities.

  • All F2 students have a scheduled 45 minute 1:1 meeting with their coach the week of November 9-13. Students can work directly with their coach if this needs to be rescheduled.

  • Students who have assessments pending within a 7-day window may delay the assessment for up to 30 days.

Students who have difficulty attending rotations or for any other questions, please contact your clerkship director or your academic advisor Nikki Williams for Foundations 2 and Wenia Lee for Career Launch.
Student Wellness Election Week Activities
The Student Experience Team will be providing a suite of wellness activities to help you manage during these uncertain times. Additional details will be posted to the class forums. In the meantime, please make note of the following Zoom offerings that may be of interest to some.

Tuesday, November 2: Election Free Wellness Space

Join other medical students in an election-results-free zone for a night of virtual events and wellness activities. Look for messages from your ASSM representative soon for more details.

Wednesday, November 4: Post-Election Student Check-Ins

Join the deans and members of the Student Experience and Student Wellbeing teams to debrief election results. Two times are offered to accommodate student schedules. Zoom invitation will be posted in student class forums.

  • 12:00-1:00pm Zoom link will be sent week of November 2

  • 5:30-6:30pm Zoom link will be sent week of November 2
We encourage all students, staff and faculty to take care of yourselves during these times. Grab your mask, call a friend and go outside! Take a break, exercise, listen to music, meditate, practice yoga, or watch your favorite streaming show. Do something small every day that brings you joy!

The Student Experience Team compiled a list of virtual resources to give you ideas on how to take care of yourself during COVID.

Should students need additional support, everyone on the Student Experience Team, including Dr. Rubin and Vittorio Comelli are available. Students can reach any of us at (415) 476-1216. After hours, this number will also direct you to an urgent line that will connect you to someone on our team. Below you will also find other emergency student support resources.
Take care of yourselves and others, 

Medical Education Deans
UCSF School of Medicine

Catherine R. Lucey, MD
Vice Dean for Medical Education
Executive Vice Dean for the School of Medicine

Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH
Associate Dean for Admissions

Peter Chin-Hong, MD
Associate Dean for Regional Campuses

John Davis, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for Curriculum

Karen Hauer, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for Competency Assessment and Professional Standards

Lee Jones, MD
Associate Dean for Students

Kevin H. Souza, MS
Associate Dean for Medical Education
Student Well-Being Resources

  • Medical Student Wellbeing Program: Free Psychotherapy and Medication Management: The physician and psychologist in the Medical Student Wellbeing program are especially trained in working with medical students.This service is free to all medical students and will always be confidential. Please schedule an appointment with either Howard Rubin, MD or Vittorio Comelli, Psychologist via email or by calling 415-476-0468.


  • UCSF Student Health & Counseling: (415) 476-1281, option 2

  • Student Experience Team and Medical Student Dean on Call (after hours issues): (415) 476-1216, option 1


  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

  • National Crisis Text Line: 741-741

  • MedPeers Program: Connects medical students with peers who have completed at least three years of medical school. Email medpeer@ucsf.edu and the MedPeer on call will respond within 12-24 hours.