About the College
The GHSU Medical College of Georgia, which has one of the largest class sizes in the nation, is expected to grow by 60 percent over the next dozen years to a total student body size of 1,200. The Medical College of Georgia expanded its incoming class from 190 to 230 students for the Fall 2010 class. The additional 40 students matriculate at the four-year Georgia Health Sciences University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership campus in Athens.
School administrators are laying the groundwork for a 187,000-square-foot medical education building on the Augusta campus that will feature high-tech classrooms, group study rooms and a food court. Outside the classroom, MCG students have the opportunity to learn at the Georgia Health Sciences Health System Medical Center, a 478-bed facility ranked in the top 100 teaching hospitals nationwide. Students also rotate at affiliated clinical sites throughout the state, including regional clinical campuses in Southwest and Southeast Georgia. In July, the first cohort of 15 residential students will be assigned to the Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus, with its hubs in Savannah and Brunswick. The Southwest Georgia Clinical Campus continues with a total of 27 residential students.
In Athens, beginning Fall of 2012 in Athens, Phase 1/2 are completed at the University of Georgia Health Sciences Campus on the former Navy Supply Corp School grounds. Clinical rotations in Northeast Georgia will include private practices, community clinics, and hospitals, including Athens Regional Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital and Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
MCG’s numerous student organizations and student-led activities, including international medical mission trips, provide fun, camaraderie and inspiration to future physicians.
Administration
| Dean |
Peter Buckley, MD |
| Vice Dean for Academic Affairs |
Paul M. Wallach, MD |
| Executive Associate Dean for Administration |
Vacant |
| Chief of Staff |
Jeanette K. Balotin, MPH, MA |
| Director of Operations |
Joel Covar |
| Campus Dean, GHSU-UGA Medical Partnership |
Barbara Schuster, MD, MS |
Senior Associate Dean for Primary Care and Community Affairs
|
Joseph Hobbs, MD |
Senior Associate Dean for VA Affairs and GME
|
Walter J. Moore, MD |
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research
|
Anthony L. Mulloy, MD |
Associate Dean for Curriculum
|
T. Andrew Albritton, MD |
Campus Associate Dean for Curriculum, GHSU-UGA Medical Partnership
|
W. Scott Richardson, MD |
Associate Dean for Regional Campus Coordination
|
Linda Boyd, DO |
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
|
Kathleen M. McKie, MD |
| Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs |
Kimberly Halbur, MD |
Campus Associate Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs, GHSU-UGA Medical Partnership
|
Cheryl Dickinson, MD, MPH |
Campus Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, GHSU-UGA Medical Partnership
|
Shelly A. Nuss, MD |
| Campus Assistant Dean for Business Operations, GHSU-UGA Medical Partnership |
Marsha O’Connor |
Associate Dean for Evaluation
|
Andria M. Thomas, PhD |
Associate Dean for Faculty Development
|
Vacant |
Interim Associate Dean for Admissions
|
Kathryn Martin, PhD, MPA |
| Campus Assistant Dean, Southwest Georgia Clinical Campus |
C. Granville Simmons, MD |
Campus Assistant Dean, Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus
|
Kathryn Martin, PhD, MPA |
| Campus Assistant Dean for Curriculum, Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus |
T. Wayne Rentz, MD |
Campus Assistant Dean, Northwest Georgia Clinical Campus
|
Leonard Reeves, MD |
| Assistant Dean for Ambulatory Care Services |
Julian Nussbaum, MD |
Admissions Requirements
Application Fee: There is no application fee at the Medical College of Georgia in addition to the AMCAS fee.
Application Deadline: MCG participates in the American Medical College Application Service, a centralized application service administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges at www.aamc.org. Applicants may obtain the AMCAS application and return the completed application to that office between June 1, 2010 and Nov. 1, 2010 for admissions to the August 2011 class.
Early Decision Program: Applicants must file applications for admission with AMCAS between June 1, 2010 and Aug. 1, 2010. All applications and official transcripts must be received in the AMCAS office by Aug. 1 to be considered under the Early Decision Program. Early Decision Program applicants must have taken the MCAT by June 17, 2010.
Regular Decision Program: Applicants must file applications for admissions with AMCAS between June 1, 2010 and November 1, 2010. All official transcripts must be received in the AMCAS office by November 15, 2010. All applicants must have taken the MCAT no earlier than April 2008 and no later than September 2010.
Degree Requirement and Official transcripts: Preference is given to applicants with a baccalaureate degree in an accredited college prior to entering the Medical College of Georgia.Official transcripts from U.S. and Canadian post-secondary institutions must be received by AMCAS no later than Aug. 1, 2010 for GHSU’s Early Decision Program and Nov.15, 2010 for GHSU’s Regular Decision Program.Transcripts must arrive to AMCAS directly from the Registrar’s Office.
Transcript evaluation of foreign transcripts: An official, professional course by course evaluation is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
Letters of Recommendation: All applicants will be required to have their letter writers submit ONLY to AMCAS their Letters of Recommendation before an interview invitation is considered. The Admissions Committee will not review an applicant’s file without having received all three letters of recommendation. The three letters of recommendation include one from the Pre-Health Advisory committee from the undergraduate institution and two personal references. It is strongly preferred, but not essential, that one of the personal recommendations come from a physician. AMCAS will receive letters from users of VirtualEvals, Interfolio, and via the U.S. Postal Service. In addition, letter writers who currently mail letters can opt to upload letters directly to AMCAS through the AMCAS Letter Writer Application. Instructions can be found at: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/faq/amcasletterwriter.htm.
Campus Assignments: There is no separate admissions process. All applicants applying through the Early Decision Program or the Regular Decision Program to the Medical College of Georgia will complete one application through the American Medical College Application Service and one secondary application. Interviewed applicants will be asked to identify a campus preference (Augusta, Athens, or no preference). While student preference will be considered, there is no guarantee that any applicant will be assigned to his/her preferred campus. Accepted applicants will learn of their campus assignment prior to matriculation.
Program Specific Requirements
M.D. Degree
Technical Standards for Admission are required. For further information visit www.georgiahealth.edu/som/admit/admitreq.htm.
Applicants must have completed:
- Biology: One academic year** of general biology or zoology with lab
- Chemistry: One academic year of general/inorganic chemistry with lab
- One academic year of advanced chemistry, two quarters or one semester of which must be organic chemistry with lab. The other quarter or semester may be fulfilled by any advanced chemistry course (lab not necessary).
- Biochemistry is strongly recommended.
- Physics: One academic year of physics with lab
- English: One academic year of English or whatever portion in the academic year is required for the baccalaureate degree in an accredited college or university.
** One academic year is equal to two semesters, three quarters, or two quarters and a semester
Courses recommended:
- Cellular biology and statistics
- All required courses should be taken on a graduated grading scale (e.g., A, B, C, D, F) when possible. A pass/fail type system should not be used.
Additional Requirements: Admissions Committee expects applicants to have experiences shadowing physicians and/or volunteering in a clinical setting.
Interviews: Interviews, by invitation only, are open-file with one member of the Medical College of Georgia Admissions Committee who helps assess personality, motivation and ability to make adjustments necessary for medical school.
MD/PHD Degree
The combined M.D./Ph.D. degree program provides complete training in medicine and research biomedical sciences required for careers in investigative medicine.
Students complete the academic requirements for the M.D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia and the Ph.D. degree from a degree-granting department of biomedical sciences in the University System of Georgia. Students may choose from eligible Ph.D. programs at GHSU, the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University. The degree can typically be completed in seven to eight years.
MD/PHD Requirements for Admission
Applicants must fulfill Medical College of Georgia admissions requirements in addition to admission requirements to the combined program.
Completion of a supplemental M.D./Ph.D. program application is required in addition to the Medical College of Georgia application. Candidates for the dual-degree program must demonstrate outstanding academic credentials in addition to a strong interest in a career in research and investigative medicine.
Generally, prospective candidates for the dual-degree program are interviewed concurrently with interviews for the Medical College of Georgia. Non-resident applicants to the M.D./Ph.D. programs are encouraged and they should contact the program’s office while submitting the AMCAS application.
For more information, please visit the M.D./Ph.D. Program website or contact Dr. Edward Inscho, Director, M.D. /Ph.D. Program, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta GA 30912, 706-721-5615.
Admissions Recommendations: The average MCAT score for the class that matriculated August 2009 was 30.4. The average GPA was 3.6.
Phase 1 and 2 Course Policies and Procedures
(Subject to change; please check with your specific campus)
Observance of Religious Holidays: Students should meet with the module director at the beginning of the module to make him/her aware of any religious obligations that would require the student to miss required module activities. Arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Online course evaluations: Every student evaluates both faculty and courses via the same anonymous electronic evaluation system at the end of each module.The evaluation system has been designed so that no identifying information can be connected to a specific evaluation form. In order to ensure that all students have participated in the evaluation process, students must login to the online system, this login is not linked to the evaluation form itself. This process exists to keep a record of students who have completed evaluations. Students are required to complete the evaluation form in its entirety. Each student has been randomly assigned a group of module faculty to evaluate. You are expected to evaluate all faculty in your assigned group. Students will be sent reminder emails to let them know which faculty they are responsible for evaluating. Emails will be sent a few days prior to the sessions you are required to evaluate. Module director and module evaluations will be made available for 2 days prior to the final exam and 3 days following each module’s final exam. Students can log into the evaluation system using a login name (first initial and last name with the last four digits of your social security number) and a password (that will be sent to you via email) via this website: https://www.one45.com/webeval/georgia/public/login.php
Proofing note-taker notes: Proofing student note-taker notes will be at the faculty member’s discretion.
Examinations: All examinations will be administered on the dates and at the times documented in the Phase 1/2 examination schedule. Students will not be permitted to take examinations early. If an emergency results in a student not being able to take a scheduled examination, the student must provide the module director with written documentation as to the reason why they were not able to take the examination as scheduled. The module director will make the decision on when the student takes the missed examination. Documented personal illness, the death and funeral of an immediate family member, and family emergencies are examples of legitimate reasons for not being able to take a scheduled examination. Weddings, visits to family and friends, pre-purchased airline tickets, etc. are not acceptable reasons to reschedule an examination. If a student arrives late for an examination, they will not receive additional time to complete the test. All students must turn in their examinations when time is called. If a student does not turn in their examination when time is called, the examination will not be scored and the student will receive a zero.
The NBME Subject examinations will be administered only on the dates and at the times documented in the Phase 1/2 examination schedule. If a student, regardless of the reason, does not take the examination at that time, s/he will have to take the examination after spring semester ends. The Curriculum Office will determine the date for the makeup examination.
Adjusting examinations: All students will be given credit for those questions that are adjusted. If the Module Director determines there is more than one correct answer for a particular question, credit will be given for all correct answers.
In Athens, examinations are administered at the dates and times specified on the Phase 1 and Phase 2 course syllabi and are done via electronic testing software. Students with documented testing accommodations can work with the Offices of Student Affairs and Curriculum for these adjustments. Specific, allowable reasons for excused absence from tests are available in the campus testing policy.
Test Administration Guidelines: Include in the module syllabus and announced to the class before the exam the following information.
- Students will not be permitted to bring the following items to take a test
- Cellular telephones, PDAs or handheld computers
- Written notes
- Books
- Book bags
- Food and beverages
- Students will not be permitted to wear hats with brims or bill such as baseball caps during the exam
- Only pencils and erasers are permitted in the testing area
In Athens, the overall examination instructions are similar, yet they involve primarily the use of electronic testing software. Specific instructions are provided in the campus testing policy.
Test Administration Instructions
- Please remove everything from your desk except for pencils and erasers
- Please remove your hats
- Distribute the exams
- You are permitted to make calculations or notes in your test book; however, you will receive credit only for those answers recorded on your answer sheet.
- All students must turn in their examinations when time is called. If a student does not turn in their examination when time is called, the examination will not be scored and the student will receive a zero.
- If you need to leave the testing room for any reason, you must return your test and answer sheet to the proctor.
- You will not be given additional time for the time lost during your absence.
- You have XXX hours to complete the time
- You will be given a 30 minute and 10 minute warning.
- 30 minute warning: You have 30 minutes remaining in which to complete the exam. Please remember that all responses must be recorded on your answer sheet in order to receive credit. No additional time will be permitted for transferring answers.
- 10 minute warning: You have 10 minutes more to work. Please remain seated. You may not leave the testing room until you are dismissed at the end of the session.
- Stop. Please remain in your seat and refrain from talking until you are dismissed.
- The exam is over. You may now leave.
In Athens, the overall examination instructions are similar, yet they involve primarily the use of electronic testing software. Specific instructions are provided in the campus testing policy.
Questions during exams: No specific questions regarding a test question will be answered during any exam. Typographical errors, however, will be acknowledged and posted during the exam.
Posting Answer Keys: If an answer key is posted on the day of the exam, the key will not be posted before 12:00 noon. The module director decides on the day the key is to be posted.
Standard Grading Policy (Except for courses with weighted exams)
Final grade = total number of points obtained/total number of possible points
Final grades are based on the following scale.
- A: 90-100
- B: 80-89.99
- C: 70-79.99
- D: 60-69.99
- F: 59.99
Final grades are not rounded up.
In Athens, we adhere to the USG grading scale as shown. Details on calculation of final scores are provided in individual course syllabi.
Grade Appeal: Once a final grade is posted, students have four weeks to appeal their grade in a course or clerkship if they think their evaluation is unjust by:
Step 1: Discuss a Concern
The student must discuss the concern with the module or clerkship director (in Athens this will be the site clerkship director) first and not with any other faculty member (e.g., the student’s attending physician) who taught in module or clerkship. A violation of this step will result in a student forfeiting the right to officially appeal the grade.
Step 2: Appeal a Grade
To appeal a grade, a student must submit to the module or clerkship director in writing the reasons for the appeal and provide objective documentation to support a change in a grade. The module or clerkship director reviews the students’ appeal either independently or through a committee. The module or clerkship director notifies the student in writing (may be electronic) of the decision.
The student may appeal the decision of the module or clerkship director to the department chair. If several departments comprise the module, the student may appeal the decision to the associate dean for curriculum. If a student does not agree with the decision of the department chair or associate dean for curriculum, the student may appeal the decision to the dean.
Phase 3 Standard Policies and Procedures
Attendance
- If a student is absent or late for any reason, s/he is required to contact the attending physician and/or resident for that rotation and the clerkship director’s office that day. This policy applies to all students regardless of whether the rotation is on or off-campus. In Athens, clinical students at the GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership should contact the site clerkship director in Athens as well as their attending physician.
- Students are required to be present for all clinical activities. The clerkship director must excuse all absences. If an emergency results in a student being absent three days during a four-week rotation or 5 days during a six-week rotation, withdrawal or an incomplete grade will result, unless both the clerkship director and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs feel that circumstances allow the student to complete the clerkship. Personal illness, death and funeral of an immediate family member, and family emergencies are examples of legitimate reasons for being absent. Weddings, visits to family and friends, pre-purchased airline tickets, interviews, etc. are not acceptable reasons to be absent from the rotation. All absences for unacceptable reasons will reflect in the student’s narrative comments. In Athens, absences at the GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership are addressed by the site clerkship directors and the Campus Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
- Dress Code for Clinical Activities: Students are expected to dress professionally in appropriate attire and maintain a neat and clean appearance. Professional attire is a shirt and tie for males and slacks/skirt and blouse for females. As members of the medical community, all students engaged in patient care activities should wear a clean, short white coat (unless instructed otherwise by the attending physician) and have the required student identification visible. Students are to adhere to the professional standards of their assigned clinical sites. Appearances that have the potential to offend or distract patients must be avoided. Examples of these appearances include but are not limited to:
- Easily visible tattoos or body piercing (e.g., lip, eyebrow, tongue)
- Unusual hair coloring or style
- Casual clothing (e.g., jeans and shirts without collars for men.)
- Revealing or ill-fitting clothing
- Scrubs and tennis shoes are to be worn only when on overnight call or when students are in the operating room or labor and delivery.
- For safety reasons, no open-toed shoes or sandals
- Unwashed or unkempt appearance
- Limited use of cologne, perfume, or after shave
- Vacation Schedule. Vacations begin and end on the following dates.
Main Campus:
Thanksgiving Holiday: November 21 - November 25
Christmas Holiday: December 15 - January 1
Spring Holidays: April 8 - 14
Athens Campus Phase I & II:
Thanksgiving Holiday: November 21 - November 25
Christmas Holiday: December 15 - January 1
Spring Holidays: Coincides with local school counties
Athens Campus Phase III:
Thanksgiving Holiday: November 21 - November 25
Christmas Holiday: December 15 - January 1
Spring Holidays: April 6 - April 14
- Holidays. The following holidays are treated the same as a Saturday or Sunday.
Labor Day
Columbus Day (VA holiday only)
Veterans Day (VA holiday only)
Martin Luther King Day
President’s Day (VA holiday only)
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Policy for Medical Students’ Observance of Religious Holidays
Students should meet with the clerkship director or site clerkship director in Athens (or designee if the clerkship director is not available) prior to the beginning of the rotation to make him/her aware of their religious obligations. The clerkship director will notify the attending physician that the student has permission to be away from their clinical responsibilities for the time the religious observance(s) take(s) place. In addition, students should meet with their attending physician and resident to make arrangements for the care of their patients. If possible, students should arrange for a colleague on the rotation to cover their patients. The time away from the rotation will not impact on students’ evaluations.
Students should meet with the Associate Dean for Curriculum prior to beginning Phase 3 if: (1) they need to be away from their clinical responsibilities on any required rotation for more than three days (or three 26-hour periods) or if (2) they are required to be away for more than seven days (or seven 26-hour periods) during an academic year. In such instances, the Associate Dean for Curriculum will work with the student to modify the curriculum to ensure the student meets the educational requirements for graduation. Modifications might require a delayed graduation date and should be approved by the student’s promotion committee.
- Students do not take call on the Wednesday night prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday and may leave that afternoon after all their patient care responsibilities have been completed.
- Students do take call on the Friday PM prior to the Spring Holiday and may leave Saturday AM after all their patient care responsibilities have been completed.
- Students do not take call on the Thursday prior to the NBME Subject Examination and may leave that afternoon after all their patient care responsibilities have been completed.
Administrative Issues
- Any student requiring special testing conditions must notify the clerkship director (in Athens this is the site clerkship director) or coordinator before the start of the clerkship or on the first day of the clerkship.
- NBME subject examinations are given on the final Friday of each clerkship. If a student, regardless of the reason, does not take the examination at that time, s/he will have to take the examination whenever it is offered again at the end of that clerkship.
- Students must achieve a minimal passing score on each end-of-clerkship NBME Subject Examination to pass the clerkship. If a student does not receive a passing score, s/he will receive a “D” for the clerkship regardless of their clinical grade. At a minimum, students will be required to remediate the deficiency by taking a four-week period to prepare for retaking the examination. Longer periods of remediation may be required depending on the deficiencies of the student. During this time, students cannot be on a core clerkship, selective, or elective. Scheduled vacations are not considered part of the remediation. Students must take the month of July in the senior year as vacation to remediate deficiencies if s/he failed the end-of-clerkship exam prior to the June rotation. A student failing an end-of-clerkship exam in June will be required to remediate the deficiency during the August rotation. If the student successfully remediates the clerkship, the grade will appear as a “D”/remediated grade on the transcript and count as a 2.0 in the calculation of the GPA. A student who fails the end-of-clerkship exam as part of remediation will receive a grade of “F” for the remediation.
- If a student has a concern regarding a clinical grade, s/he must discuss it with the clerkship director first and not the attending physician or residents. A violation of this policy will result in a student forfeiting the right to officially appeal the grade.
- If a student formally appeals a clerkship grade, the student’s narrative will reflect the fact the student appealed her/his grade with the result of the appeal.
- Clerkship grades are based on the following scale.
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A: 90-100
B: 80-89.99
C: 70-79.99
D: 60-69.99
F: Below 59.99
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Final grades for the clerkships are not rounded up. |
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- For each of the clerkships, students must complete the Student Patient Encounter Log (SPEL) using one45 to fulfill the requirements for the clerkship. On the Family Medicine Clerkship, you are to complete the department’s log.
- For each of the clerkships, students must submit an evaluation on the faculty, residents, and clerkship to fulfill the clerkship requirements. A student’s grade will not be posted until the evaluations have been submitted to Evaluation Services.
- All electronic communication will be through Outlook. Students are responsible for all information sent via GroupWise. All students should routinely check their GroupWise e-mail regarding clerkship announcements and information.
- If a student has had a recent name change, s/he must notify the clerkship director or coordinator before the start of the clerkship or on the first day of the clerkship.
- Students should not arrange for a core clerkship rotation, senior elective or selective at any of the participating clerkship sites. All assignments are made through the Clerkship Director’s office. A violation of this policy will be reflected in the student’s narrative comments.
- If a student sustains a needle stick or blood/body fluid exposure, s/he must notify the attending physician and clerkship coordinator and/or director of the incident. The clerkship coordinator or director will notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of the occurrence. In Athens this is the campus clerkship coordinator and Campus Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
