CLERKSHIP PROGRAM - 2008-2009

Clerkship Program Guidelines

Clerkship Offerings (Adobe Acrobat)

Discussion Sessions

Application (Adobe Acrobat)

Clerkship Program Guidelines

The Clerkship is an elective program that allows selected Year IV students to pursue further studies in departmental activities specially designed to meet their needs and interests.  Students devote a portion of their clinic time to this specialized program; the remaining clinic time is spent in the comprehensive treatment of patients in the regular program.  Clerkships are available in both basic science and clinical disciplines. Students in clerkship programs are expected to complete all block assignments as well as all portions of the DDS program.

 GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

I.  Requirements for Selection

A. In order to qualify for consideration, a student must have passing grades in all courses. 

B. Each clinical department or program has additional specific requirements (see clerkship offerings).

 C. The specific departmental requirements for eligibility to participate in the clerkship program will be made known to the students at the end of Year II so that they may pace their work during the following year accordingly.

 D. Although students are not expected to complete all clinical requirements by the end of the third year, they should have made sufficient progress to be able to successfully complete their regular clinical responsibilities in the allotted time.

II. Application and Selection Procedure

A. Applications for the Clerkship Program may be obtained from Ms. Theresa Pate, Dean's Office, 6421, or downloaded from the Web (Application)

1. Clerkship applications must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs no later than May 9.
2. Applications for second semester clerkships must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs no later than December 2.
3. Students may apply for a clerkship in either or both semesters of their fourth year.
4. Students may apply for a clerkship in more than one department, indicating an order of preference.

B. The Clinical Progression Committee will meet at the end of the third year and at the end of the first semester of the fourth year to approve candidates for clerkships.

 1. Departments will make their selections from the students who apply for their programs.
 2. An attempt will be made to match students with the program of their choice.

C. Clerkships will start at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters of the fourth year.

III. Evaluation and Grading

A. The Clinical Progression Committee will review student performance in the clerkship programs.

  1. Clerkship grade

a. Evaluation standards will be established by the departments offering the clerkship and will be made known to the student at the beginning of the course. 

b. Clerkships are graded as Honors, Pass, or Fail.  As an elective, the clerkship grade is not calculated into the dental grade point average for ranking purposes. 

c. Severe deficiencies in the clerkship course will result in reassignment of the student to the regular clinic program on a full-time basis.  

 2. Grades in other clinical departments

a. Students selected for the clerkship program will be expected to maintain the same or higher quality work during their regular clinical assignments as that which entitled them to enter the program.

 b. Students incurring a deficiency in one or more areas of their regular clinical assignment may be reassigned to the regular clinic program on a full-time basis.

B. The Clerkship Program will be evaluated annually by both participating students and participating departments.

IV. Mobility

A. The Clinical Progression Committee may recommend student reassignment to the full clinic program, where appropriate.

B. A student who withdraws voluntarily from a fall semester clerkship is eligible to apply for a spring semester clerkship. 

C. Voluntary withdrawal from the clerkship course must occur during the first half of the semester.

 Interested students may speak to faculty representatives from clerkships in informal discussion groups that are scheduled during the month of April.  See discussion session schedule.  

SUMMARY OF DATES

Last Reviewed 2/14/08

Clerkship Discussion Sessions - 2008

Interested students may speak to faculty representatives from clerkships in informal discussion groups according to the following schedule.  If you are unable to attend the discussion session(s), please contact the clerkship faculty member directly.  

 Please contact the following persons for information about the clerkships listed below:

DBMS Clerkships
Dr. Capra
ncapra@umaryland.edu