Senior Electives

General Objectives

Senior Electives should provide the student with advanced, structured, individualized education/training/experience in some branch of medicine. Primarily this should build upon the junior year clinical clerkship experience, and should be clinical in nature. To a limited degree, however, senior electives may also involve (1) structured training and experience in medical sciences research; (2) advanced, structured training in basic medical-biological or medical-behavioral sciences; or (3) structured, advanced training in universal skills essential to clinical practice.

Specific objectives of Senior Electives are to:

1. Provide an opportunity for development of clinical knowledge-skills-experience, either (1) beyond the level developed in a junior year clerkship, (2) in a field of medicine not specifically covered in the junior year (or in a subdivision of a medical field covered in the junior year), or (3) in advanced development of some phase of clinical skills.
2. Provide an opportunity for a student to further define and develop specific clinical or medical research interests as part of his/her decision-making with regard to a medical career.
3. Provide an opportunity for the student to explore graduate medical education at the institution.
4. Provide a student with the depth and breadth of clinical training and experience which will maximize the value of subsequent graduate medical education.

Elective Policies

1. Each senior must take at least 32 weeks of electives. (Your 4 weeks of MSI or PSI is a separate requirement and does not count as part of the 32 weeks of electives)

   All electives must be affiliated with an accredited University residency program in that specialty field. A senior Elective may not consist of an unstructured preceptorship experience or library study.

   All electives must be approved by the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs at least four weeks before scheduled start date.

   Credit will not be given toward graduation for an elective taken without prior approval by the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs.

   1. 14 weeks must be selected from the CMS Senior Elective Intramural Directory (http://66.99.255.20/curriculum/database/senior.asp)
   2. 18 additional weeks may be done as either an extramural or intramural rotation
   3. 24 of the 32 weeks must be clinical rotations. You are allowed a maximum of 8 weeks of non-clinical electives. This includes all online electives, research electives, and other electives that are not “clinical” in nature. Exceptions to this must be approved in advance by the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
   4. research electives require a letter from the preceptor explaining the research project and the student’s involvement in that project. The elective must be scheduled for at least four weeks. This letter should be addressed to the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and accompanied by the appropriate elective request forms at least 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the clerkship.
2. A clinically-oriented Senior Elective may only be taken after completing and passing the junior clerkship in the relevant medical field.
3. . A student may take no more than 12 weeks of their Senior Electives in any one major field of study (e.g., surgery, neurology, psychiatry, etc.). Medicine and Pediatrics are exempt from the 12-week rule. Students are urged to keep the proportion in any one field well below one-half of total time, in the interests of their own professional development. Upon petition and approval of the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs, a student may take more than 12 weeks of their Senior Electives in one specialty area, if the student is doing research in the same field. The research would be counted as non-clinical credit.

HOW TO ARRANGE ELECTIVES

On Monday February 26, 2007, after you’ve chosen your MSI Senior schedule at Lottery, you may begin this elective process for intramural and extramural electives.

Decide where you want to do electives by using the following resources:

a). Access the Extramural Electives Compendium which contains essential information about elective opportunities at LCME-accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada.

(www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/electives/start.htm)

b). Access the CMS Senior (Intramural) Selective Directory online at for electives at our affiliate hospitals in Chicago and Connecticut. http://66.99.255.20/curriculum/database/senior.asp

c). Read the Green Book, which can be purchased from AMA. Copies can be ordered from Book & Pamphlet Fulfillment OP-167/9, American Medical Association, P. O. Box 10946, Chicago, IL 60610. Cost estimate: $38.00 discounted student rate through CMS – Student Affairs Office. Details for ordering will follow.

d). Access FREIDA Online (a fellowship and residency electronic database) for information about the residency programs where you may want to go to do extramural electives.

Select http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html

e). Ask seniors, graduates, friends, faculty and administration, etc., for advice and suggestions.

Write or phone programs in which you are interested; initial contact persons are usually departmental secretaries or the Office of Medical Education. Many programs may make arrangements over the phone with paper work to follow. If you are interested in Ophthalmology, Radiation/Oncology, Otolaryngology, Urology, Orthopedic or Dermatology, it is recommended that you contact these competitive programs now if you are interested in getting information. Same advice goes for California programs. They usually will not register an out-of-state student until May, but they may put your name on a waiting list.

Official Paperwork. ALL paperwork required for electives is completed through the CMS - Student Affairs. It is imperative that all the paperwork for any given elective be submitted at the same time (if applicable - application from the program, fee required, health form, copy of medical insurance card and the CMS - STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE elective request forms, etc.)

Immunizations and Health Form Requirements for CMS students doing senior electives.

Medical students are required to show current immunization history at each clinical site when starting a new rotation. The RFUMS Student Immunization form must be updated annually and can be used at most hospitals.

The Chicago hospitals which you are familiar with from doing third year clerkships (i.e., Mount Sinai, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, NCVA, Hines VA, Swedish and the Advocate Health System sites (LGH, IMMC, Christ) all require and will accept the RFUMS Student Immunization Form. They require that this information be provided at least four (4) weeks in advance of starting the rotation so the orientation/registration process can be done in a timely manner.

If you are planning to do an elective at the NCVA or any Veterans Administration Hospital, you MUST have:

• · Your immunization records up to date, including your PPD and have documentation with you on the first day
• · If indicated, according to VA policy, chest x-rays must be updated annually
• · TWO forms of official government IDs (drivers license, social security card or birth certificate)
• · If you are NOT a US citizen, you will also need INS documentation, VISA card or naturalization papers
• · If you do not have these required items, you will NOT be able to do the elective.

Also be aware that Stroger Hospital of Cook County, the VA Hospitals and the Advocate Health System sites (LGH, IMMC, Christ) have very strict regulations regarding immunizations and the appropriate forms must be current and on file the first day of orientation or you will not be allowed to begin the rotation.

When doing extramural electives, hospitals may require students to complete health forms and application prior to the start of the rotation. Read each elective application carefully to determine what is required.

Each student is responsible for keeping his or her health forms current. Failure to provide the appropriate forms may result in clerkships being cancelled and students' progress being delayed. Also, failure to comply with hospital check-in and checkout procedures may adversely affect your final elective grade.

Are you a US citizen? - Please be aware that students who are not US citizens may not be permitted to do clinical rotations at some VA hospitals. If this pertains to your situation, be sure to ask the appropriate questions BEFORE you apply for an elective/selective.

Intramural Electives

CMS Intramural Elective Request Form:

This form is used for CMS intramural electives only. Complete the Intramural elective request form and any other hospital related forms and submit it to the Office for Student Affairs. You will be notified by email whether or not your elective has been approved.

Extramural Electives

Extramural Elective Request/Approval Form:

Complete this form for all (non-CMS) extramural electives and submit it to the CMS – Student Affairs Office with all additional application paperwork required. Once the elective has been approved by the Student Affairs Dean, the elective application will be processed and mailed. Included will be a “Letter of Good Standing” which states that the student is in good academic standing, has health and malpractice insurance, and has our approval to take the elective. When the elective application has been mailed, the Extramural Request/Approval form is dated and a copy of all paperwork sent will be placed in your file as a matter of record in the Office for Student Affairs.

All elective forms are available either in the Office for Student Affairs, or may be downloaded from the CMS – Student Affairs Office website under the “Forms” section.

Elective Application Packets currently available in CMS – Student Affairs Office:

All ADVOCATE sites (LGH, Christ, IMMC) Application Packets:

These application packets include:

Medical Student Information Form (MSIF) - must accompany every elective request (intramural or extramural)

Confidentiality Statement – also must accompany every elective request (intramural or extramural)

Medical & Immunization History Form – A completed and signed copy of the RFUMS Student Immunization form will be accepted in place of their specific immunization form. The Medical Health History information is good for a 12 month period.

North Chicago VA Medical Center Application Packet:

Included is a Certificate of Compliance Medical Immunization form that must be completed and returned to the hospital a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the start of a rotation. This immunization information is good for a 12 month period.

Stroger Hospital of Cook County Elective Clerkship Application Packet:

This packet includes a Medical Student Clerkship Application form which must accompany every elective (extramural or intramural) request. Also included is a Certificate of Compliance Medical Immunization form that must be completed and returned to the hospital a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the start of a rotation. Current 2-step PPD information must also be submitted at this time. This immunization information is good for a 12 month period.

Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut, Elective Application:

This application must accompany every elective (extramural or intramural) request for Norwalk Hospital.

All forms are currently available either in the CMS Office for Student Affairs or can be downloaded from the CMS-Student Affairs website in the FORMS section. Please make every effort to submit your paperwork to CMS – Student Affairs Office in a timely manner. This office successfully handles a tremendous paper chase and your cooperation is most appreciated.

INTERNATIONAL ELECTIVE GUIDELINES

Fourth-year students wishing to participate in international electives must complete and submit to the Office for Student Affairs the standard Extramural Elective Request/Approval Form. If a requested program is not from the AMSA International Health Electives for Medical Students database (http://www.amsa.org/global/ih/ihopps.cfm), students must also submit information (hard copy or internet address) describing the program and what they expect to gain from their participation in it. As with any elective request, receiving credit for a requested international elective is contingent on the approval of the Sr. Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Medical Education.

Prior to departing for international electives, students must also verify to CMS – Student Affairs Office that they have met the following requirements:

• · Received appropriate immunizations/vaccinations (see www.cdc.gov/travel).
• · Obtained appropriate health and evacuation insurance (see http://www.internationalsos.com/buymembership/).
• · Read and understood the RFUMS Guidelines for Study and Travel Abroad (http://66.99.255.20/CMS - Student Affairs Office/InternationalHealth/WaiverPolicy.pdf).
• · Signed and submitted a RFUMS Waiver and Release Form for Study Abroad (http://66.99.255.20/CMS - Student Affairs Office/InternationalHealth/WaiverForm.pdf).

Please note the importance of the bulleted information above, as the University does not bear any liability or responsibility for health-related misfortunes (to our students) related to foreign elective travel.

The following web sites have a variety of useful information related to international electives and foreign travel in general. Each site has many links to other sites with helpful information.

Guidelines for Scheduling Intramural Electives

Chicago Medical School intramural electives are only those listed in the Senior Intramural Electives Directory, which is published online by the Curriculum Office.

The website address is: http://66.99.255.20/curriculum/database/senior.asp

When you have determined which electives you are interested in applying for, the procedure is:

DO

An intramural elective request form must be completed and submitted to CMS - Student Affairs for each intramural elective you would like to do. Apply as least 4-6 weeks before it is scheduled to begin.

If the elective is at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH), no additional forms are required. If the elective is at Stroger Hospital of Cook County (SHCC), Norwalk Hospital, North Chicago VA, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH), Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (AIMMC) or Advocate Christ Hospital (ACH), then additional forms are required.

* Form must be submitted with intramural elective request form

** Information is good for a one year period, submit as required.

If you do not include the appropriate form(s), the elective request will not be processed.

Senior Elective FAQs

All paperwork for senior electives is initially approved and processed through CMS – Student Affairs Office.

Submit only completed applications. Please include all "additional" pieces that you are responsible for gathering (immunizations, checks, copy of board scores, etc.)

What types of senior electives are there?

There are 3 types:

• · Intramural electives - a series of electives that have been developed and selected to give students access to a broad range of expertise of the faculty and the resources of our affiliated hospitals. They offer an assortment of courses with which to explore career options. You are required to do a minimum of 14 weeks of intramural electives to meet your graduation requirements.

• · Extramural - any elective that is not an intramural elective. These will most likely be places where you might want to consider applying for a residency program.

• · International - extramural electives done outside the USA.

Where do I find these electives?

• · Intramural electives - These are listed on the following website:

http://66.99.255.20/curriculum/database/senior.asp

• · Extramurals - Graduate Medical Education Directory ("BIG GREEN BOOK"), AAMC,

FREIDA Online: www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html

Extramural Electives Compendium:

http://services.aamc.org/eec/student.cfm

• · International - AMSA International Health Electives for Medical Students database located at: www.amsa.org/global/ih/ihopps.cfm

What forms do I use to apply for electives?

• · Intramural electives - intramural elective request form
• · Extramural – Extramural elective request/approval form
• · International - same as for extramural forms.

Pick up forms in CMS - Student Affairs Office, or download all forms from the CMS – Student Affairs Office website under the "Forms" section.

You can mail them, fax them, or slide them under CMS – Student Affairs Office 's office door.

Some elective sites (STROGER, ALGH, ACH, AIMMC, Norwalk, and NCVA) require additional forms: application, student info form, confidentiality agreement, immunizations. You must turn in the additional required forms at the same time you turn in your elective request form - otherwise your elective request cannot be processed.

How many electives can I apply for at the same time?

You may submit TWO elective requests for any same dates.

When can I apply for senior electives?

Apply for an elective at least 4-6 weeks before it is to begin, but not more than 6 months from the start date.

Yes, there are a few exceptions to this -- and they will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Class of 2008:

2/26/07 – May submit elective requests with start dates from June 18 through Sept. 30, 2007

5/1/07 – May submit elective requests through end of December

Then – May submit elective requests 6 months before elective start date.

What day do most electives start on?

Most electives start on any Monday, not just the first Monday of the month.

How do you know if you've been approved?

When we receive your intramural form back from the elective site, CMS – Student Affairs Office will send you an email advising you whether or not you were approved for the intramural elective. YOU will receive notice from the extramural sites, please notify CMS – Student Affairs Office whether or not you were approved. Also notify CMS – Student Affairs Office if the original elective date was rescheduled.

How do I get an evaluation form for the elective?

Evaluation forms are automatically sent out with all extramural elective applications.

The hospital sites for intramural electives already have a supply of the evaluation forms.

If the hospital site cannot locate your evaluation form, email CMS – Student Affairs Office with all the pertinent information, including contact person’s name and email address, fax number and the name of the elective. CMS – Student Affairs Office will then send an evaluation form to the elective program.

How do I cancel an elective?

You must cancel electives in writing at least 4 weeks before start date. Send an email message or written note to CMS – Student Affairs Office and to the "Contact Person" listed for the elective.

If already approved for one elective and the start date is less than 4 wks away, you may not cancel it, nor can you submit a different elective request for that same time period.

Proof of Health Insurance Coverage and Other Certification Needed:

Proof of Health Insurance - All extramural elective applications request verification of your health insurance coverage - please make sure you include a copy of your health insurance card with all extramural elective application requests.

HIPAA and BSIS/Universal Precautions – Log onto D2L to self-enroll for these. You must have either a printed certificate or a letter requested from the Registrar’s Office to prove that you have been certified for both of these.

Missing Parts Folder - Caution!!

Here is an area where the elective request process gets slowed down.

You must submit the additional forms at the same time you submit the elective request form – intramural or extramural.

If you do not – then into the MISSING PARTS Folder your paperwork will go. . . And you won’t get out until your paperwork is complete – it cannot be processed.

So please make several copies of your immunizations forms, HIPAA, BSIS, and your medical health insurance card and attach to the elective applications as needed.