(Name of)* Clerkship Syllabus
Clerkship #
Department
Date
(*delete material described in parentheses)
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Table of Contents
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BU CARES, Clerkship Goal and Clerkship Learning Objectives 3
Clerkship Description & Site Information
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Contact Information
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Clerkship Schedule
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Roles and Responsibilities
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BU Policies and Student Support
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Learner Evaluation
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Clerkship Grading Policy #
E*Value
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Learning Strategies and Tools #
Learning Materials #
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The acronym BU CARES stands for the BUSM education program’s seven fundamental objectives, which
describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that every graduate should possess. The principles behind
BU CARES guide the management of the curriculum, inform student assessments, and form the basis of
all course and clerkship learning objectives.
The BU CARES Institutional Learning Objectives
The BUSM Graduate: (The linked ACGME competencies are in parenthesis)
Behaves in a caring, compassionate and sensitive manner toward patients and colleagues of
all cultures and backgrounds, using effective interpersonal and communication skills
(Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Professionalism)
Uses the science of normal and abnormal states of health to prevent disease, to recognize
and diagnose illness and to provide an appropriate level of care (Medical Knowledge;
Patient Care)
Communicates with colleagues and patients to ensure effective interdisciplinary medical care
(Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Patient Care)
Acts in accordance with the highest ethical standards of medical practice (Professionalism)
Researches and critically appraises biomedical information and is able to contribute to the
advancement of science and the practice of medicine (Practice-based Learning and
Improvement; Medical Knowledge)
Exhibits commitment and aptitude for life-long learning and continuing improvement as a
physician (Practice-based Learning)
Supports optimal patient care through identifying and using resources of the health care
system (Systems-based Practice; Patient Care)
Clerkship Goals (A broad statement of the purpose of the clerkship describing the expected
educational outcomes by the end of the clerkship in one or two sentences)
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Clerkship Learning Objectives (A listing of the specific observable student learning
performance achieved by the end of the clerkship expressed in outcome-based terms and
linked to BU CARES in parentheses after each bullet.)
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Clerkship Description and Site Information (e.g, one short paragraph with orientation
information)
 Focus of clerkship (clerkship importance to student that emphasizes mastery of life
skills)
 Pre-requisite knowledge and skills (listed, if any)
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Description of Clerkship Sites
Current Changes (made to clerkship as a result of student feedback and other factors)
Contact Information (e.g., Name, email, work phone, and office location)
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Clerkship Director (s)
Site Director(s)
Faculty
Clerkship Coordinator
Clerkship site contact information
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Clerkship Schedule (e.g., weekly didactic sessions, demos, conferences, morning reports,
clinic and ward times) Please note the formal instructional contact hours for each session.
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Roles and Responsibilities (brief description of the roles that apply to the clerkship)
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Clerkship Director
Preceptor
Resident/Fellow
Student Professionalism
A new Professionalism Policy has been approved by the Boston University School of
Medicine to be implemented beginning with the academic year 2012-2013 to ensure
medical student professional conduct, ethical behavior, academic integrity, and
interpersonal relationships with medical colleagues, department administrators,
patients, and patients' families.
See url http://www.bumc.bu.edu/oaa/policies/professionalism
i. Description specified to clerkship requirements
1. Attendance (i.e., weekly work hours, time-off, tardiness)
2. Dress code
3. Use of phones and laptops
4. Late assignments and make-ups
ii. Student Disciplinary Code of Academic and Professional Conduct
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm-osa/files/2009/04/final-revised-disciplinarycode-october-7-03.pdf
BU Policies and Student Support Services
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Student Policy and Reference Manual
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm-osa/student-policy-reference-manual/
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Boston University Sexual Harassment Policy
http://www.bu.edu/safety/harassment/index.shtml
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Appropriate Treatment of Medical Students (ATM) http://www.bumc.bu.edu/atm/
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Policy for Medical Student Time off during Clinical rotations of the 3rd and 4th
years
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to formalize guidelines for time off for planned or
unexpected absences during the clinical years. Clear communication of the expectations
between students and clerkship directors will permit flexibility within reasonable limits in
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a way that does not impact either clinical education or reflect on a student’s
professionalism.
The medical school will centrally track the number of days off for each student. After a
fourth approved absence, the Registrar will send a report to the Office of Student Affairs.
Any student with more than 5 days (per academic year) of time off (not made up) will be
referred to the promotions committee. It is the responsibility of the student to not finish
the year with >5 days absent.
Third Year Time Off Policy - No “personal days” or excused absences can be
permitted from patient care activities except for the specific reasons listed below.
Professionalism in patient care requires reliable attendance.
There will be no time off given for the Step 2 exam in the third year.
Fourth Year Time Off Policy- The same policy for excused absences applies as during
third year. Students are allowed to take additional days off for interviewing as described
below.
The time off policy for the 3rd and 4th years includes:
Anticipated time off:
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Conferences (only if the student is presenting, is an officer in an organization, or
other situations by special permission)
Residency interviews
Religious observances
Jury Duty
Exception: Step 2 CS – days off are considered working days and are not subject to this
policy
Unanticipated time off:
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Personal medical illness
Unexpected personal time needs (including funerals, family illness etc.)
Notification policy:
For all anticipated time off the student will need to notify the Registrar’s Office and the
clerkship director as far in advance as possible:
In the case of religious holidays notification should occur before the start of the
academic year (and at least 6 weeks before the start of the first rotation).
For conferences, requests should be made at least 6 weeks before the start of the
clerkship.
For unanticipated time off:
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In the case of illness, if a student will miss more than 2 days the student will need
to obtain a note from their personal physician.
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The student must maintain communication between him/herself and the medical
school, before traveling to family/etc, and while there. This communication can
include contact with the clerkship director, administrator, site director, registrar
and staff in the office of student affairs.
Time off for residency interviews:
Students requiring time away from clerkships for interviewing may take up to twelve days
off during interview season, which extends from October-February 15th.
1) Students are encouraged to take a four week block of vacation during interview
season. Also, students may request to split a four week rotation over eight weeks
if enrollment and the structure of the clerkship permit. Clerkship directors should
allow this if possible.
2) Students may request no more than 5 days off for interviewing during any four
week rotation, and no more than four days over any two week rotation. This
includes partial day absences of greater than four hours. Students will be
required to make up time missed at the clerkship director’s discretion.
3) All requests for time off must include written verification of the interview location
and date, provided to the clerkship director.
4) Students who require more days off than stated above must arrange with the
clerkship director to make up the missed days, with Spring Break a possible time.
Missed days cannot be made up by taking time from other rotations.
Make Up Time:
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The student will be expected to be available to make up anticipated time off at
the discretion of the clerkship director. The student may also be asked to make
up unanticipated time off if it is felt to negatively impact the clinical experience of
the student.
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If the student's absence will involve missing an examination, the student will need
to retake the exam at the discretion of the clerkship director.
Learner Evaluation
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Formative (e.g., during clerkship non-graded quizzes, presentations, exercises,
projects to provide feedback to student on their progress) (e.g., mid-clerkship review
form)
The purpose of formative assessment is to improve student learning by providing feedback
on how well the student is learning the instructional skills and content during the clerkship.
Formative assessment does not provide grades. In the case of mid-clerkship review, the
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purpose is to identify any clinical competencies that the student has not seen or any other
clinical skills or learning issues.
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Summative (e.g., clinical observation, e*Value C-SEF. NBME shelf exam, final exam,
OSCE)
Summative assessment or summative evaluation assesses the clinical knowledge learning
and clinical skills development of a learner by the end of the clerkship. Summative
assessment proves student learning and is graded.
Evaluation of a medical student's performance while on a clinical clerkship includes all of the above
as well as the student's professional conduct, ethical behavior, academic integrity, and interpersonal
relationships with medical colleagues, department administrators, patients, and patients' families.
Any lapses in professionalism in any of these areas may lower the final grade for the course
regardless of performance in other areas of the clerkship. Any lapses in professionalism will be
documented by the clerkship and forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs.
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Assignments (e.g., oral presentation, evidence-based medicine report, required
cases, online learning)
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Patient Encounter Log link (this is in e*Value and url for each rotation will be
sent to students)
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Alternative patient encounters (e.g., description of alternate sites, video, simulation
exercise)
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Remediation of clinical skills (if student clinical skill performance is not adequate to
after mid-clerkship review or OSCE)
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Make-up exams\clinic time (description of clerkship policy)
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Exam security
“On behalf of the Office of Academic Affairs, we would like to remind all students of the Boston
University School of Medicine Code of Academic and Professional Conduct expectations. Cheating of any
type, including fraudulent excuses, not putting your pen down at the completion of the exam time,
gazing to the side on other student’s test papers or monitors, constitutes a major offense and will be
subject to serious disciplinary action including possible suspension and dismissal from Medical School.”
Clerkship Grading Policy (i.e., assessment of learner’s ability to perform selected
competencies, criterion-referenced)
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All clerkships use criterion-reference grading to measure student learning performance
against pre-defined criteria and not against other students learning performance (i.e.,normreferenced grading).
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Clerkship Grades (Description of how grades are determined, e.g., %clinical skills
evaluation, % for shelf exam, % for oral presentation, % written report, % for OSCE +
completion of Patient Encounter Log and Clinical Skills Passport)
All clerkships with a shelf exam require students who fail the shelf but pass clinically to receive a failing
grade and to repeat the Shelf exam, but not the clinical components. If the student fails the shelf a
second time they are required to repeat the entire clerkship. This will be effective for the 2013-14
academic year. Students must retake Shelf exam within 12 months of their first failing grade. If a
student deviates from this, he/she will be presented at the SEPC.
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Final Grade range ( score range for Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Fail)
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Score Requirements for Honors grade
Student Evaluation of Clerkship (Office of Medical Education online evaluation form and
preceptor/lecturer evaluation is in E*Value and a url will be sent to students for each rotation)
Learning Strategies and Tools
 Recommended Textbook (s)/Required Readings
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Blackboard Site (http://blackboard.bu.edu & description of learning materials
provided online)
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Study Guide/Tips on Learning (optional)
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Practice Questions (optional))
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Additional Resource Website (optional)
Clerkship Learning Materials
 Learning Session Learning Objectives (each lecture, conference, seminar, talk
needs to have learning objectives matched to BU CARES for each bullet)
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iii. Special guides (e.g., Pocket Guide, Student Handbook, Guideline for Oral
Presentation)
iv. Lecture notes
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v. Additional learning resources (e.g., Journal articles, Online links)
vi. Practice Exams, mock self exams
vii. Clinical Problem Sets
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