Medical Student Handbook
Welcome from the Dean for Student Affairs
On behalf of the Medical School and our Education Staff, it is my pleasure to extend to you a warm welcome. We in the Medical School want your educational experience to be a positive and rewarding one. The Medical School faculty and staff are here to serve and assist you in achieving your goal of becoming a Doctor of Medicine.
Your years in medical school will transform your life. The transition to physician requires commitment to learning not only the science of medicine, but also its art. This vocation asks for hard work, compassion, dedication and enthusiasm. Many people will help you along the way. Faculty, classmates, friends, spouses, and the Dean's Office will partner with you to ensure your success. The experience over the next few years will be memorable and indelible. As I reflect on my own medical school experience, the mentoring by faculty, physicians and students played a most significant role in shaping my career. The mentoring programs for learning at our Medical School will also provide you with encouragement, advice and sponsorship for your career.
This handbook is one of the resource materials to make your "networking" easier. Take a minute to review these policies which guide an ethical, open and professional learning climate. Throughout the year, we will undertake projects designed to encourage a sense of community among the medical student body, provide a liaison between the students, faculty, and administration, and promote the excellence of our Medical School. We are strongly committed to our role of supporting and encouraging student organizations and activities.
The Education Administrative offices are located on the sixth floor of the Mayo Memorial Building. Financial Aid, International Health, Student Affairs, Curriculum Affairs, Minority Affairs and Diversity, Medical Educator Development, RPAP, M.D./Ph.D. Program, Learner Development and a Student Resource Room (Mayo B-622) are conveniently located to better serve your needs. The Medical School Student Computer Lab is located on the second floor of the Phillips Wangensteen Building in 2-134 PWB; this includes study rooms, a small lounge and computers that provide access to e-mail, word processing and the Internet.
Professionalism will be celebrated in October with the White Coat Ceremony. This milestone will remind you of the importance of professional values and responsibilities of this calling. The compassion, kindness, self-sacrifice, scientific expertise, ethics, humanity and equanimity of future physicians require that these values be taught and modeled by us.
We welcome your comments and concerns and encourage your involvement in our activities throughout the year. I look forward to meeting you and working with you over these next few years.
Helene M. Horwitz, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
