A formal affiliation agreement between XUSOM and its affiliated hospitals and clinical centers exists for the purpose of establishing a clinical training program for the University’s third and fourth year medical students. Clinical centers and hospitals accept qualified students into organized, patient-based teaching programs and provide additional instruction with pertinent lectures, conferences, ward rounds and seminars.
The hospital and its staff supervise the educational program and assess each student’s progress during the clinical attachment there. Within the bounds of its own teaching programs, it adheres to the precepts and standards of the University teaching program as outlined and detailed in the latest edition of the Curriculum.
Based on the appropriate qualifications and recommendation from the hospital, XUSOM appoints a Program Director, some to whom also serve as appointed clinical Chairs, who are responsible for the XUSOM student program and is the liaison with the School of Medicine. These designees receive formal appointments to the School of Medicine’s faculty that commensurate with their qualifications and duties. Their principal role is to supervise the clinical program and ensure its quality and its conformity with the University’s guidelines as described in the Faculty Handbook. Numerous members of the hospital’s medical staff, as well as its house staff, play an active role in the teaching of XUSOM’s students; many also have clinical faculty appointments at XUSOM. This group of clinical teachers gives orientations, lectures and conferences. They conduct rounds, teach clinical and manual skills, conduct mid-core formative assessments, keep students’ records and help formulate students’ final grades. For the purpose of achieving uniformity in the clinical training program at different sites and University-wide integration, XUSOM clinical faculty participate in the University’s ongoing educational activities, administrative meetings, and clinical department meetings.
The University has the sole and final right to evaluate the student’s total academic accomplishments and make all determinations as to whether or not to advance a student to the next level within the medical school, to fail or pass the student, to determine remediation if necessary or to grant the individual the Doctor of Medicine degree.
The University budgets a specified sum of money to help defray the expenses incurred in the teaching program at each hospital; provides professional liability insurance coverage for all its students working in any of its affiliated hospitals; ensures that all students fulfill health care requirements required by hospitals; completes a criminal background check and only assigns students to hospitals with academic qualifications consonant with the demands of the clinical program provided by the hospital.
All hospitals have been carefully selected to ensure their facilities meet XUSOM’s standards. They must demonstrate a continuing commitment to medical education and furnish the necessary infrastructure to provide a successful clinical training program: integrating medical students into the health care team, providing access to the library and other ancillary facilities and supervising involvement with patients.