Medical Education
Dear Medical Students and Medical Education Colleagues,

Yesterday we sent a prescheduled message about the work we have done in response to and supported by our students to address structural oppression in education, health care and the broader society as we mourned multiple critical events of violence that represent the most serious consequences of this long standing social problem. 
 
It was deeply disturbing and frankly horrifying to learn of the death of Daunte Wright, a black man killed by a police officer after a routine traffic stop in Minneapolis. This comes on the heels of reports of the pepper spray assault by police on Army 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario, a Black/Latino Army Officer after police stopped him and approached his car with guns drawn. It shouldn’t matter that both of these stops were for nonviolent minor infractions—no one should have to fear for their life from peace officers. 
 
“It’s just few bad apples” is an unacceptable response. A good system, whether in healthcare, education, or criminal justice, protects vulnerable people from fallible individuals. The system of criminal justice has to be redesigned to protect and defend black people, not to kill. 

As we have responded with other incidents of sociopolitical and racial trauma, we understand that it may be difficult for students to concentrate during this time. Therefore, effective April 13-23, we are enacting our racial and sociopolitical trauma protocol. Please see details below. The goal of this protocol is to support students and allow them time to process traumatic events while also enabling them to progress on track in the curriculum.
Foundations 1 and Class of 2022 Career Launch: Optional Curricular Activities

  • Foundations 1 and Class of 2022 students are able to opt out of required coursework activities without consequence (i.e., it does not use a discretionary absence). Students must complete an absence request form if they need to miss a required session. However, students are responsible for this content within the course in order to progress in the curriculum.

  • Recognizing that many students process and cope best by continuing with work in the curriculum, curricular activities will continue as scheduled and focus on the content of the course.

Foundations 2 and Career Launch: Optional delay in high stakes assessments

  • Foundations 2 and Career Launch students are expected to continue attending clinical rotations to support patients and our communities.

  • Students are allowed to defer high-stakes exams or assignments for up to 30 days as needed. However, students are responsible for achieving all clerkship expectations in order to progress in the curriculum.

  • If you are unable to participate in your clinical assignment or take your clerkship exams, please check in with your clerkship director and attending, and notify your academic advisor on the Student Experience Team.

Should you need additional support, or if you find yourself in a unique circumstance that you would like help navigating, everyone on the Student Experience Team, including Medical Student Well-Being, is here for you. You 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 find our 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 Support Resources

  • Medical Student Well-Being Program: Provides support for our students focusing on mental and physical health, as well as spiritual, financial, environmental, and social well-being. (415) 476-0468

  • Free Psychotherapy and Medication Management: The staff for this program is 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 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.