DATE: January 14, 2004

TO: First Year Medical Students

FROM: Michael Ainsworth, MD

Associate Dean for Regional Medical Education

Medical students who will be completing Year 1 on April 30, 2004 have the opportunity to register for research or pre-clinical preceptorship(s) between their Year 1 and Year 2 studies. Credit earned for these activities will apply toward the 20 weeks of electives required for graduation. These credits may give you the opportunity to take additional electives during your fourth year, provide additional vacation time during your fourth year, or provide some flexibility in the event that you find it necessary to take a leave of absence or be required to complete remediation during your studies.

Research Preceptorships:

All research for academic credit between Year 1 and Year 2 must be coordinated and approved through the 8-week Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP). In addition, research students will be required to attend an orientation program, weekly conferences and lectures, and present their work at a poster session as part of the preceptorship requirement. The faculty Co-Directors of this program are Drs. Rita Patterson, John Heggers, and William Buford. For further information regarding the MSSRP, please contact Ms. Sandra Garvock, 1.208 Ashbel Smith Building (Old Red) Telephone: 772-6026.

Pre-clinical preceptorships are available through programs across most departments and disciplines in the School of Medicine. The information attached describes each program, its dates and requirements, as well as information about preceptor identification and possible stipends. You may enroll in one or two preclinical preceptorships (4 weeks each), as long as they are sponsored by different departments and the dates of enrollment do not overlap.

Please note:

1. There is no increase in tuition and fees for registering for research or pre-clinical preceptorship(s) since tuition and fees are on a per-year basis. Financial Aid information will be provided at the class meeting.

2. These programs are available only to first-year medical students who successfully complete Year 1 on April 30, 2004. Year 1 students who do not successfully complete the Year 1 curriculum on April 30, 2004, are not eligible to participate. Such students include those who will be completing or repeating some or all of Year 1 during 2004-05, and those who may be remediating courses during the summer of 2004.

3. As with all School of Medicine electives, registration in advance is required, and credit is limited to work actually done during the official four or eight week period of enrollment. No credit will be given for work done without proper registration, or for work done prior to, or following the official enrollment period.