Technical Standards for Admission

I. Purpose

A candidate for the M.D. degree at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine (UC San Diego SOM) must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to complete the core UC San Diego SOM educational requirements, including those Technical Standards outlined in this document; achieve the UC San Diego SOM competencies in the basic and clinical sciences; and be able to graduate as skilled and effective practitioners of medicine.

The goal of medical education is to receive the training and skills needed to integrate the arts and science of medicine and be positioned to have meaningful locally, regionally, nationally, and/or globally impactful careers aimed at bettering humanity. To do this, candidates for the M.D. degree at UC San Diego SOM connect to a mission greater than themselves and develop both deep and robust medical knowledge bases and outstanding clinical skills. Furthermore, candidates develop the ability to appropriately apply this knowledge base and skills, effectively interpret information, and contribute to decisions across a broad spectrum of medical situations in varied settings—all while attending to self-care and seeking help when needed, both professionally and personally. Critical skills needed for the successful navigation of core experiences are outlined below, and include the ability to observe and communicate, as well as to understand, integrate core knowledge and skills, and to behave appropriately in varied educational and professional situations.

The University of California San Diego SOM is committed to the full and equitable inclusion of diverse qualified learners with and without disabilities and fully supports the use of reasonable accommodations when needed. The UC San Diego SOM does not consider the disability status of applicants during the admissions process, nor does it share information with external parties regarding accommodations granted to students.

Policy Statement

The following standards define the essential abilities all candidates must demonstrate to meet the academic and professional requirements of the M.D. program at UC San Diego SOM.

Observational Skills

Students must be able to obtain information from demonstrations and experiments in the basic and clinical sciences. Students must be able to assess a patient and:

Evaluate examination findings accurately
Accurately incorporate data derived from written documents, still and video images, and diagnostic studies of physiologic function

Communication Skills

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the English language and be able to communicate in-person and in written form with patients, families, faculty members, other students, and all members of the healthcare team, to:

Elicit information
Convey information
Clarify information
Collaborate and create rapport
Develop therapeutic relationships
Complete the UC San Diego SOM general requirements for graduation as outlined in this Advisor and Student Handbook

Examination and Diagnostic Skills

Students must possess the capacity to appropriately gain information from physical and diagnostic examinations and to provide or direct general care and the provision of emergency treatment to patients, including, but not limited to:

Basic airway management
CPR
Emergency bleeding control
Injury stabilization and dressing
Emergency medication administration
Emergency delivery

Intellectual-Conceptual Skills

Students must be able to demonstrate a wide variety of intellectual-conceptual skills, including:

Assimilate detailed and complex information presented in both didactic and clinical coursework and engage in problem solving
Measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information
Understand the spatial relationships of structures
Effectively learn, participate, collaborate, and contribute as a part of a team
Synthesize information effectively both in person and via remote technology
Interpret causal connections and make accurate, fact-based conclusions based on available data and information
Formulate a hypothesis, investigate the potential answers and outcomes, and formulate appropriate and accurate conclusions
Adapt to different learning environments and modalities
Achieve all the above within academically and clinically appropriate time frames

Behavioral Attributes, Social Skills and Professional Expectations

Students must exhibit sufficient maturity and emotional stability required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities. This includes, but is not limited to:

Exercise of good judgment and the prompt completion of responsibilities associated with the diagnosis and care of patients
Exhibit integrity, honesty, professionalism, and compassion
Display a spirit of cooperation and teamwork
Understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within the law and ethical standards of the medical profession
Interact with patients and their families, health care professionals, colleagues, faculty, and staff in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner
Accept responsibility for learning and exercising good judgment
Contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments
Accept constructive feedback from others
Assume personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes, including seeking mentorship and help when needed
Possess the physical and emotional endurance needed to tolerate physically demanding workloads and function in a competent and professional manner in high stress, fast-paced situations
Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and manage the uncertainty intrinsic to the care of patients and the health care system.

II. Procedures for Certification, Evaluation, and Accommodation of Technical Standards

Technical Standards Certification

At the time of acceptance to the UC San Diego SOM, students will be provided with a copy of the Technical Standards and will be asked to certify that they understand they must meet those standards. Please refer to section IV, Statement of Understanding and Agreement. The Technical Standards will be periodically reviewed and updated as needed. The version of the technical standards at the time of a student’s matriculation will be applicable throughout the student’s enrollment.

Evaluation and Implementation of Reasonable Accommodations*

Students with concerns about their ability to meet the Technical Standards without accommodations, should contact the Director of Disability Resources for Health Sciences and the UC San Diego Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) prior to matriculation or during enrollment if new accommodation needs arise. The OSD will engage in a collaborative process with the student, the Director of Disability Resources for Health Sciences, and/or other UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty members as needed to determine reasonable accommodations. Given the clinical nature of medical education, additional time may be needed to implement accommodations. Timely information and requests by students are essential and encouraged as accommodations are not applied retroactively.

Statement of Understanding and Agreement

The following statement confirms that, upon matriculation and annually thereafter, the student certifies their understanding of and commitment to the UC San Diego SOM Technical Standards. This certification applies throughout their medical education and acknowledges that meeting these standards does not guarantee fulfillment of the technical requirements of all residency programs.

“I understand that fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation from the UC San Diego SOM does not mean that I will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of every residency program.

This document applies to all years of my medical school training at the UC San Diego SOM.

I have read and understood the above UC San Diego SOM Technical Standards. I agree to adhere to the stated procedures.”

*In rare circumstances, there may be disagreement between the student, the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and the UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty regarding the impact of proposed accommodations on student learning and the fundamental nature of the curriculum. If two or more of the three Associate Deans (the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, or the Associate Dean of Diversity and Community Partnerships) agree that a proposed accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the School of Medicine curriculum, or would be inconsistent with the Technical Standards, the School of Medicine administration will engage in an iterative and collaborative process between the student and the Director of Disability Resources for Health Sciences and/or the Director of the OSD. If the student disagrees with the collaborative process between themselves, the Director of Disability Resources for Health Sciences, and the OSD, and/or other UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty members as needed to determine reasonable accommodation(s), then the student may appeal to the Academic Senate’s Committee on Educational Policy, as described in Appendix III to the Manual of the San Diego Division of the Academic Senate.