Academic Medicine Open Forum

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

At the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, the following is mandatory:

Attendance at the first meeting of lecture-based courses; otherwise, attendance at lecture-based courses is not required unless explicitly stated in the syllabus (1 course) or as stated for single lectures (occasional) on the quarterly block schedule.  

Attendance at all scheduled anatomy laboratories, OMM and clinical skill development workshops, team-based workshops or other small group components of preclinical courses

Attendance at all scheduled assessments

Attendance at quarterly Grand Rounds (2), Clerkship Orientation meetings (2) and any other Dean's office or Clinical Education meetings at which mandatory attendance is announced on the quarterly block schedule. 

Best,

Kathy

------------------------------
Kathleen O'Hagan
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

Thank you so much for sharing, Kathy.

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2025 09:23:30 AM
From: Kathleen O'Hagan
Subject: Attendance policies

At the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, the following is mandatory:

Attendance at the first meeting of lecture-based courses; otherwise, attendance at lecture-based courses is not required unless explicitly stated in the syllabus (1 course) or as stated for single lectures (occasional) on the quarterly block schedule.  

Attendance at all scheduled anatomy laboratories, OMM and clinical skill development workshops, team-based workshops or other small group components of preclinical courses

Attendance at all scheduled assessments

Attendance at quarterly Grand Rounds (2), Clerkship Orientation meetings (2) and any other Dean's office or Clinical Education meetings at which mandatory attendance is announced on the quarterly block schedule. 

Best,

Kathy

------------------------------
Kathleen O'Hagan
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

Hi Leila,

Here is our full attendance policy:  https://med.ucf.edu/media/2024/06/UCF-COM-Policy-8.8.2_Attendance-Policy_6.21.2024.pdf

In short, our faculty identify mandatory sessions in advance through the learning management system.  Straightforward lectures are generally not mandatory, though lectures do not make up the majority of our curriculum.  Any team or group-based sessions are mandatory, including flipped classroom approaches.  

Thanks,

Marcy

------------------------------
Marcy Verduin
Associate Dean for Students
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2025 09:23:30 AM
From: Kathleen O'Hagan
Subject: Attendance policies

At the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, the following is mandatory:

Attendance at the first meeting of lecture-based courses; otherwise, attendance at lecture-based courses is not required unless explicitly stated in the syllabus (1 course) or as stated for single lectures (occasional) on the quarterly block schedule.  

Attendance at all scheduled anatomy laboratories, OMM and clinical skill development workshops, team-based workshops or other small group components of preclinical courses

Attendance at all scheduled assessments

Attendance at quarterly Grand Rounds (2), Clerkship Orientation meetings (2) and any other Dean's office or Clinical Education meetings at which mandatory attendance is announced on the quarterly block schedule. 

Best,

Kathy

------------------------------
Kathleen O'Hagan
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

Hi Leila,

Here is our full attendance policy from our student handbook: MD Program

In practice, for our pre-clinical students what this all translates to is that students are expected to be at all events that we label "attendance required."  Most lectures can be attended live and in person, live over zoom, or review the recording later based on the students' learning preferences. Lecture/interactive large group sessions that are required typically include patient visits, panel discussions, sessions directly related to upcoming small groups and other similar criteria. We label them as attendance required on their schedule and have an attendance "assignment" on Canvas as a way for us to record their attendance and also serves as a reminder to students to attend. We scan their ID badges on their way in to the required session.

All labs (e.g., Anatomy), small group sessions are attendance required and attendance is tracked by small group facilitators, notifying the semester curriculum manager if a student does not show up, who then follows up with the student.

Students are able to submit (preferably in advance when able) absence requests online for any number of reasons. While we don't have a threshold for a specific number of absences, each pre-clinical semester curriculum manager tracks student absences, manages make up work assignments to ensure the student has made up the work of the required session, the reasons for the absences, and works with the student if we're concerned about the number of absences (and loops in a dean as necessary). Our online system (built in-house by our IT specialists) connects with the students' schedules so that the curriculum manager knows exactly what class will be missed, who the small group facilitators are that need to be notified, etc...  This also takes away any responsibility that small group facilitators are adjudicating absences in inconsistent ways. Turning work in on time and arriving on time to class are items that the facilitators would include in their evals so that we are aware if a student is showing up, but late or unprepared.

While not a perfect system, we've found that it generally works well for us. Students understand the expectation that absences should be rare, but that if they are ill or have an emergency of some kind, that we support their need to occasionally miss class and make up the work.

I hope this is helpful!

Carrie

------------------------------
Carrie Bernat
Associate Director, Pre-Clinical Curriculum
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
carrie-bernat@uiowa.edu
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2025 08:38:30 AM
From: Marcy Verduin
Subject: Attendance policies

Hi Leila,

Here is our full attendance policy:  https://med.ucf.edu/media/2024/06/UCF-COM-Policy-8.8.2_Attendance-Policy_6.21.2024.pdf

In short, our faculty identify mandatory sessions in advance through the learning management system.  Straightforward lectures are generally not mandatory, though lectures do not make up the majority of our curriculum.  Any team or group-based sessions are mandatory, including flipped classroom approaches.  

Thanks,

Marcy

------------------------------
Marcy Verduin
Associate Dean for Students
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2025 09:23:30 AM
From: Kathleen O'Hagan
Subject: Attendance policies

At the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, the following is mandatory:

Attendance at the first meeting of lecture-based courses; otherwise, attendance at lecture-based courses is not required unless explicitly stated in the syllabus (1 course) or as stated for single lectures (occasional) on the quarterly block schedule.  

Attendance at all scheduled anatomy laboratories, OMM and clinical skill development workshops, team-based workshops or other small group components of preclinical courses

Attendance at all scheduled assessments

Attendance at quarterly Grand Rounds (2), Clerkship Orientation meetings (2) and any other Dean's office or Clinical Education meetings at which mandatory attendance is announced on the quarterly block schedule. 

Best,

Kathy

------------------------------
Kathleen O'Hagan
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

At Yale University School of Medicine in the pre clerkship period attendance is encouraged in all events but required in those that meet certain criteria:

• Direct patient contact experiences and clinical skill building sessions
• Learning events that rely on the presence of patients and/or their family members, or community volunteers and leaders to enhance the learning experience
• Required training sessions

In keeping with the philosophy of the Yale System of Medical Education, students accept their responsibility to actively participate in the curriculum and recognize that certain activities require their presence and engagement for effective learning and meaningful assessment to take place. Student attendance is required in all sessions that focus on clinical skills, required trainings, or simulation or involve a patient. In addition, attendance is required for all sessions of courses designed to facilitate the transition between phases of the curriculum and orient students to evolving responsibilities and professionalism expectations.

The 'Yale System' is explained here: https://medicine.yale.edu/md-program/admissions/yale-system/

------------------------------
Gary Leydon
Associate Director of Medical Education Technology
Yale School of Medicine
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------

Hello Leila;

   Our school--the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) utilizes a similar approach to that described below.  i.e. Since almost all of our lectures are pre-recorded and posted on our learning management system, they can be viewed at a student's own time & pace.  That said, all in-person sessions such as anatomic and pathology labs, physical diagnosis sessions, small group session focusing on clinical reasoning, etc, are all mandatory.

           --Arnyce Pock MD

             Associate Dean for Curriculum, USUHS

------------------------------
Arnyce R. Pock, MD, MHPE, MACP
Associate Dean for Curriculum
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
Bethesda, MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 11:45:57 AM
From: Leila Amiri
Subject: Attendance policies

Dear Colleagues, 

Would you be willing to share your attendance policy for your medical students during the preclinical phase of  your curriulum? Specifically, what is required and what is not if you have a flexible policy?  

With appreciation,

Leila 

------------------------------
Leila Amiri
Associate Dean for Admissions
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
------------------------------