Medical Education
Dear students,

We know that you are in pain, as are we, with our national events as our communities mourn the shooting of Jacob Blake and two deaths in Wisconsin. The structural racism and Anti-Blackness in our country, highlighted by these tragic events and the ongoing inequities manifested in the pandemic, are making it difficult to focus on our daily activities. These times make it very challenging to both learn material and show your mastery of the material. We are working on offering you the opportunity to pause your educational activities to take care of yourself and your communities. We trust in your ability to learn the material and demonstrate your achievement at a later date and will work with you individually, along with your course and clerkship directors. For some of you, delaying may not seem the right option, and that is fine. Each of us is processing and responding in our own way. We will work with you individually to help you learn the material and take the exam when you are able. We will be offering a space for our community to come together at tomorrow's all class virtual town hall (August 27, 5:00 pm). We will be getting you further information about pausing educational activities.

Please know that we stand with you for what is right and join the call to action to address the pain in our Black Community and all other marginalized people. Do not hesitate to contact us to let us know how we can support you and our Communities of Color.

Remember that everyone on the Student Experience Team, including Medical Student Well-Being, is available should you need us. 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 are our student support resources.

Student Well-Being 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: 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 either Dr. Howard Rubin or Vittorio Comelli 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.

Best, 

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