Medical Student Handbook

ADA Ombudsperson

Table of Contents Handbook Homepage POLICIES & GUIDELINES - Privacy & Access to Academic Records - Disabilities Technical Standards Policy - Assistance for Individual w/Disabilities - ADA Ombudsperson - Mistreatment of Medical Students - Sexual Harassment - Assessment Data - Religious Observance - The U.S. Medical Licensing Examination - Alcohol Use On School of Medicine Property - Impairment Due to Substance Abuse - Self Disclosure in the Course of Learning - Confidentiality - Teaching Exercises with Student Subjects - Video Equipment Use - Regulatory, Health and Other Requirements --- Infection Control --- In-Service Education Competency Exam --- Certification in Use of Clinical Information System --- Medical Student CPR Certification --- University Health Requirements MD Student Responsibility, Conduct, & Academic Policies ACADEMIC ISSUES - Verification of Eligibility for Matriculation - Verification of Academic Credentials - Completion of Required Experiences - Remedial Work - Completion of Academic Deficiencies - Grading Policy up to Class of 2002 - Double Helix Grading Policy - Student Assessment Guide --- Comprehensive Assessments - MD with Distinction - AOA and Dean's Letter Rankings - In-Depth Experience - Plagiarism - Absences from Classes & Academic Responsibilities - Policy on Time Away From Clerkships - Class Attendance - Leaves of Absence - Year-Out Fellowships - Drop/Add Deadline Policy SUPPORT SERVICES - Academic Support Services - University Health Service - Counseling and Mental Health Services - Chaplain's Office - Division of Medical Informatics - Women in Science, Dentistry & Medicine (WISDM) - Assistance for Pregnant Medical Students - Miner Library ADVISING & STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS - Advisory Dean Program - Student Enrichment Programs - Student-Sponsored Symposium CONSUMER & LEGAL ASSISTANCE - Integrity Hotline - University Housing - Executing Legal Documents - Consumer and Legal Assistance OFFICES FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION - Medical Education - Student Services Center - Advisory Deans - Student Affairs Office - Registrar's Office - Financial Aid Office - Bursar's Office - Office for Ethnic & Multicultural Affairs - Admissions Office - Medical Alumni Affairs - Student Enrichment Programs - Graduate Studies - Offices for Educational Research - Curricular Affairs Office - Facilities for Students - Student Computing DOUBLE HELIX CURRICULUM MEDICAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES

The School of Medicine and Dentistry's ADA Ombudsperson, Sarah Trafton, J.D., is available to assist with issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), student disability and illness, and accommodations requested of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Because of the sensitive nature of some of these issues, the ADA Ombudsperson is a resource in addition to, and separate from, the ADA-related services provided by the School of Medicine and Dentistry's administration.

Among the ways the Ombudsperson may be able to provide assistance are:

• To explain the application, if any, of the ADA to a personal situation;
• To discuss the decision whether to disclose a disability to the School of Medicine and Dentistry;
• To identify disability resources in the University and the Rochester community;
• To explain and interpret University and School of Medicine ADA-related requirements, procedures and documentation;
• To advocate on a student's behalf with respect to the provision of ADA-related accommodations, and
• To assist and participate with students, faculty and medical school administration in continuous quality improvement with respect to ADA-related policies and procedures.

The ADA Ombudsperson, Professor Sarah Trafton, can be reached by telephone (275-2194) or email (trafton@prevmed.rochester.edu) or by scheduling an appointment with her secretary, Helen Weeks (275-0165). Her office is in Helen Wood Hall in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Room 4W-159.

Additional Student Responsibilities

1. Students will be responsible for contacting each course director to review their individual needs.
2. The ADA Coordinator should be contacted if the students encounter difficulty in accessing the accommodations.
3. The ADA Coordinator will meet with each student once a semester to review the accommodations and any requests for modifications.

Assistance For Students Who Become Disabled After They Matriculate

The same procedures will be followed to assist students who become disabled after they matriculate. If a student is suspected of having a leaning disability, the student will be referred to the Learning Assistance Services for a preliminary assessment. If there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full neuropsychological evaluation, the student will be responsible for the cost of the evaluation. The student retains the right to withhold the results of any evaluations from the school. However, if accommodations are desired, appropriate documentation would need to be provided.

A letter will be sent to the SMD's Financial Aid Office requesting an adjustment to the student's financial aid budget (loan) if the student has limited resources to cover the cost of the evaluation.

As is the case for the neuropsychological evaluations, students will be responsible for the cost of all assessments to document other ADA eligible disabilities. The exception to this policy will be when the Medical School Promotion Review Board mandates, as a condition for continued matriculation, that a student be evaluated. In such instances the Medical School will be responsible for all related costs and will have access to the full reports.