Technical standards have been developed and approved by the faculty of the Kerkorian School of Medicine and reflect the essential relationship of medical education to the practice of medicine. Central to the school’s mission, it is recognized that all candidates must demonstrate attainment of essential functions, as delineated below, to practice medicine safely and effectively. Medical students admitted to the MD program must be able to meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, these essential functions throughout their enrollment in the MD program.

Essential Functions

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation refer to the cognitive, behavioral, and physical abilities required for the satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum, and the development of professional attributes required by the faculty of all students approved to graduate with the MD degree. Essential functions for each technical standard are listed below and cannot be altered without fundamentally risking patient safety and the well-being of patients and the public, and the institutional educational mission. The individual student must be able to function independently in his/her care and interactions without the use of a surrogate in any of the following categories:

Individual and Cognitive Ability

Students must have the ability to master information presented in coursework presented in multiple formats including lectures, small group discussion and seminars, written materials, projected images, other forms of media and web-based formats, and simulations requiring different skills. Students must have the cognitive abilities needed to master relevant content in basic science and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty. Students may be required to comprehend, memorize, and analyze material. They must be able to discern and comprehend dimensional and spatial relationships of structures and to develop reasoning and decision-making skills appropriate for the practice of medicine. Successful completion of examinations is an essential component of the medical school curriculum and is a requirement of all students as a condition for continued progress through the program.

Professionalism, Behavioral and Social Aspects of Performance

The student must possess personal qualities including compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, responsibility, sensitivity to diversity and tolerance. The student must understand and apply appropriate standards of medical ethics. The student must maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries in all settings, including those in which he/she is caring for patients and their families, or when interacting with faculty, residents, peers, staff, and other members of the health care team. The student must be able to function as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team in each setting and regardless of medical specialty.

Communication

The student must communicate effectively in English with patients, families, faculty, physicians, and other members of the health care team. The student is required to process all information provided by patients, families, peers, coworkers, and faculty, including the recognition of the significance of non-verbal responses in order to provide appropriate, timely, and focused follow-up inquiry. The student must be capable of responsive and empathetic communication, which establishes rapport and promotes openness on issues of concern and sensitivity to cultural differences. The student must process and communicate information on a patient’s status in a timely manner and with a level of accuracy and in a comprehensive manner to physicians and other members of the health care team in settings in which time is limited. Written, dictated, or electronic medical record entries of patient assessments, treatment plans, prescriptions, etc., must be timely, complete, and accurate. The ability to interact with and utilize electronic medical records is essential. Of primary importance is patient safety and the student must recognize that he/she may lack the skills or knowledge to make the correct decision or manage a situation without assistance.

Physical and Mental Requirements

These include required abilities in the area of observation, perception, sensory and tactile functions, fine and gross motor coordination, and stamina necessary in the examination, assessment, and safe care of patients. The student must be able to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination, with or without reasonable accommodation. The student will be required to perform a comprehensive physical examination.

Medical student learning takes place in an environment focused upon unpredictable needs of patients. Academic and clinical responsibilities of students may require working during day and evening hours, at unpredictable times and for unpredictable durations. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, demonstrate flexibility and learn to function during the uncertainty inherent in clinical environments. In addition, the student must have the physical and emotional stamina, stability, and capacity to function in a competent manner in clinic, hospital, classroom, and laboratory settings which may involve heavy workloads, long hours, and stressful situations. The student must have the emotional and psychological stability to function under stress.

The student must possess the emotional health required for appropriate utilization of intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment, and the timely completion of all responsibilities attendant to their academic work, teamwork, and patient care.

An individual whose performance is impaired by the abuse of alcohol or other substances is not a suitable student for admission, retention, promotion, or graduation.