Policies

In the first two years of study, students must complete all the components of the curriculum in order to progress. The program offerings are known as themes in the first two years. The requirements are made known at the beginning of each academic year. Students must also complete the requirements of each of the longitudinal themes: Health Care and Society; Evidenced Based Health Care; Nutrition; Clinical Skills Laboratory; and LaGrange Medical Informatics. In the summer of the first year, students from combined degree programs may be required to complete specific program components.

Between the second and third year, students must take USMLE Step 1. Students cannot participate in any academic activity until they have taken USMLE step 1 unless approved by the Deans Committee- see USMLE Policy below. After taking USMLE 1 student MUST take a two week Orientation Clerkship in order to qualify for the third year. The Orientation Clerkship refines clinical skills and introduces procedures and protocols serving as the underpinnings of the third year rotations while allowing weaknesses in clinical skills to be rectified.

In the third year, students must complete the six required experiences: Medicine; Psychiatry; Surgery; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Family Practice; and Pediatrics.

To be assigned to a rotation off campus during the third year, a student must be in good academic standing. If a student has been placed on academic concern, warning or probation, they are not in good academic standing. Students on non-academic probation are also not eligible for away rotations.

The senior year consists of ten periods of four weeks each. There are 20 weeks of required rotations, 16 weeks of electives and 4 weeks of vacation. Students can take up to 12 weeks of one specialty area for academic credit within the 16 weeks of electives. Students taking more than 12 weeks in one specialized area of study must use vacation time for the endeavor. Such activities will show on their official transcript but no credits will be associated with the listing.

Required senior clerkships are Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Teaching to Learn/Learning to Teach, and a Clinical Selective (choice of Family Practice, Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology). Required clerkships must be spent on campus. The directors of fourth year required clerkships may allow the required clerkship to be taken at another institution. If the required clerkship allows students off site, a student can request to take the required fourth year clerkship at another institution. The Albany Medical Center Clerkship Director of the required clerkship must approve it as an equivalent experience and monitor the student experience with the offsite faculty. The faculty at the institution where the student is rotating must evaluate the student based on Albany Medical Center Clerkship criteria and use an Albany Medical Center form to document their evaluation. The Albany Medical Center Clerkship director will determine the final grade for our transcript.

To do away rotations during the fourth year a student must be in good academic standing. If a student has been placed on academic concern, warning or probation, they are not in good academic standing. Students on non-academic probation are also not eligible for away rotations.

Away clerkships and electives are not permitted during Period 10. Students cannot take two required courses / clerkships at the same time. Any variation for good cause must be approved by the Dean’s Committee.

All students are required to complete 40 hours of service learning activities over the four years of medical school. The hours and demonstration of reflection will be monitored. The Office of Community Outreach and Medical Education is responsible for monitoring student progress, designing and approving qualified experiences.

In order to comply with New York State law, Occupational and Safety Administration requirement and policies of Albany Medical College, all students must provide proof of immunity to certain diseases, have an annual physical or health assessment, and all students interacting with patients must be respiratory fit tested. Students who do not comply will not be allowed to attend class or participate on a clinical rotation.

All students must pass the Albany Medical Center Health and Safety Module and the HIPAA Module required of all employees yearly. Failure to do so will result in being removed from clinical rotations or prevented from attending class.

In compliance of New York State Education Policy 129 A, students must not participate in any reckless activities which may include but not be restricted to any activities that would endanger the physical or mental health of others. Any student accused of such activity will be investigated and disciplined. No student may be involved in activities that force students to drink or take drugs. If these activities are proven the students involved will be dismissed.

Students found to be abusing alcohol or drugs will be required to have an administrative psychiatric evaluation and be required to be evaluated and followed by the Committee on Physician Health of the New York State Medical Society. Lack of compliance will result in dismissal.

Social Media is not appropriate for clinical pictures or discussions. Anyone violating HIPAA in this manner will face an Honor Code or Disciplinary Hearing.

As students of medicine and of the medical sciences, we embrace the foregoing physician statement and hereby acknowledge the confidence that has been bestowed upon us along with all the responsibilities attendant with this privilege. As future physicians, teachers, and scientific investigators, we recognize the importance of conducting ourselves at the highest level of professional ethics and our duty to serve our mentors, our colleagues and ultimately our patients.

It is in this spirit that we affirm the Student Honor Code of the Albany Medical College and agree to abide by the principles and requirements as set forth in the following document.

Honor System:

An honor system is supported through a continuing resolution of the governing body of the College, adopted at the instigation of the student body some years ago. The system is enthusiastically supported and enforced by the student body. The resolution reads:

"That inasmuch as the practice of medicine requires a degree of personal integrity unexcelled in any other field of human endeavor, the faculty of Albany Medical College assumes that its students are dedicated to live and work together in the spirit of honor which their profession expects and demands."

"The faculty, therefore, absolves itself from any direct responsibility for the surveillance of student conduct during examinations and thereby delegates this responsibility to the students."

A revision of the Student Honor Code, the basic element of the honor system, was approved by the student body on May 2, 1977. The Honor Code now incorporates, more specifically, a greater range of student activity and includes graduate students in the basic medical sciences within its purview.

In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, the Office of Student Records at Albany Medical College collects and maintains information about students. Although these records belong to Albany Medical College, both college policy and federal law accord you a number of rights concerning these records. The following is designed to inform you concerning where records about you may be kept and maintained, what kinds of information are in those records, the conditions under which you or anyone else may have access to information in those records, and what action to take if you believe that the information in your record is inaccurate or that your rights have been compromised.

Albany Medical College and Albany Medical Center have adopted this policy and the accompanying procedures to promote and maintain an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, that encourages respect for the dignity of each individual and that complies with applicable federal, state or local laws. The Office of Academic Administration is responsible for managing the College's Student Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure and for coordinating compliance activities under these policies and the applicable federal, state and local laws. It has been designated as the Office for Title IX, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and affirmative action laws.

Students may contact the Office of Academic Administration to inquire about their rights under College policies, request assistance, and seek information about filing a complaint, or report conduct or behavior that may violate these policies. The Title IX Deputy Compliance Officer conducts investigations of all complaints filed under the Policy and Complaint Procedure, and fulfills required duties in the absence of the Title IX Compliance Officer.

Albany Medical College is committed to the academic, social, and cultural integration of individuals with disabilities. Students with physical, learning, or other disabilities as defined by law may apply for and receive reasonable accommodations to help them attain the necessary level of achievement.

Albany Medical College is in full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the New York State Human Rights Law, and will ensure provision of necessary services and reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Request Disability Accommodations: [email protected]