Medical Student Handbook

Medical Student Education

Site Assignments: Clerkship Level

Policy 524.00

Policy Statement

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont clinical curriculum includes clinical opportunities at the University of Vermont Health Network and our affiliate sites which include the Nuvance Health Network, in Danbury and/or Norwalk, CT; and Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Glen Falls, NY.

During the Clerkship level students who participate in the block clerkship program must complete a minimum of two rotations within the UVM Health Network. When assigned to Vermont, placements occur at sites throughout the region. Please note related Policy 520.00 Transportation to and at Training Sites.

Alternative enrollment options exist when students request year-long placement at the Connecticut Branch Campus or within a Longitudinal Integrated Curriculum.

Policy Elaboration

Extenuating Circumstances
The Office of Medical Student Education reserves the right to reassign students to complete their rotation in Vermont for personal, academic, or professional reasons.

Site Exemption Requests
To be considered for a site exemption allowing completion of all block clerkship rotations within 1 hour commuting distance from the UVM Medical Center, the student must file a request form citing one or more of the eligibility criteria:

• Have children under the age of 18 living in their household. 
• Have a medical condition that limits their ability to live away from their primary residence.
• Have a family member with a significant medical condition for whom they provide care locally.

The options for applicable grounds above are the only options that the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont can take into consideration; the Larner College of Medicine is unable to make exemptions for pet ownership or other situations not listed.

The request form must be submitted through OASIS no later than noon, two weeks prior to the October block clerkship sequence (flight group) lottery.

If the site exemption request is based on a documented disability, students must contact Student Accessibility Services at the University of Vermont (SAS).  By itself, a diagnosis does not establish a need or an entitlement to accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADA-AA). Another way of saying this is that having any disorder or condition does not, by itself, lead to any conclusion under Section 504 or the ADA. Therefore, the documentation required by University of Vermont extends beyond the medical diagnosis and encompasses the four key elements of a person's disability status under Section 504 and the ADA. Those key elements are that:

• the student has a physical or mental impairment
• the impairment limits the student's participation in a major life activity
• the degree of limitation is substantial

An in-person or phone narrative and provision of documentation that meets the SAS guidelines is required. Note: this process could take up to 4 weeks.

Upon receipt of the electronic request including any supporting documents, the Office of Medical Student Education will review and process the exemption request prior to the clerkship lottery. IMPORTANT: Documentation to support a medical request should not include any medical information. When working with SAS, medical information should be submitted directly to SAS, and only the SAS accommodation letter should be uploaded to OASIS with UVM Larner College of Medicine Clerkship Site Exemption Request Form. Requests made after the annual deadline will be subject to UVM Medical Center capacity. If space is not available, the student can meet with the Director of Student Support or the Associate/Assistant Dean for Students to discuss alternative options.

In cases where an unexpected issue arises during the clerkship level, students have the option to request a temporary re-assignment to UVM Medical Center for an upcoming clerkship. To apply for a temporary exemption students will need to complete and submit the same UVM Larner College of Medicine Clerkship Site Exemption Request Form through OASIS. Note, if the temporary request is based on medical considerations, students must still to go through the SAS office for documentation as described above.

Please note: Students with approved exemptions from clerkship placement outside of the local area will be distributed evenly among the seven clerkship sequences. Students with exemptions will be given priority for location in Vermont; however, may lose flexibility in selecting a clerkship sequence.

Applicability of the Policy

Clerkship Level Students

Related Larner College of Medicine Policies

• 300.00 Technical Standards for Admission, Advancement and Graduation
• 310.00 Support for Disabilities: Technical Standards Procedure for Admission, Advancement & Graduation for Students with Disabilities Seeking Accommodation
• 520.00 Transportation to and at Training Sites

Related University of Vermont Policies

Not Applicable

Related Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Standard(s)

10.9 Student Assignment

History

• 12/19/2017 Policy Adopted/Affirmed [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 6/19/2018 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 12/18/2018 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 8/20/2019 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 1/21/2020 Reformatted [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 4/21/2020 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 2/16/2021 Policy Edited [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 7/19/2022 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]

Policy Oversight

Level Director of Clinical Clerkship

Previous | Next