Our students are told in Year 3, typically in March or April, what weeks they have to be on campus. And yet... every year, when I teach the mandatory 1 week class in March, I get several requests to be excused for a host of reasons. Some, like religious observances, are understandable. Others, like haircuts, not so much.
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Carolyn Pointer (she/hers)
Associate Professor
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
cpointer49@siumed.eduOpinions my own.
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2025 08:04:00 AM
From: Lindsay Pier
Subject: Increase in final year medical students dropping AIs and electives?
Hi All,
I work in our GME office scheduling students for their final year electives and acting internships at our hospital.
Every year scheduling final year students can be like keeping several plates spinning at once, with requests to switch dates, conflicts, etc. However, this year, I feel like there has been an increase in students dropping or having conflicts. Has anyone else noticed this?
One thing that confuses me in particular are the students that have to drop after acceptance due to mandatory courses/responsibilities at their school. I admit, I'm not on the med school side of things, but I would assume that it's communicated to students well in advance what dates they cannot do away rotations. Students seem to characterize this as something the school just notified them of, which I find a little difficult to believe.
I'd be interested to learn what others are noticing and/or enlighten me to what I might be missing from the med school perspective.
Thanks!
Lindsay
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Lindsay Pier
Student Coordinator
MetroHealth Medical Center
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