Readiness to Return policy
The UF COM wants to ensure that any student who has had a leave of absence for medical reasons or an extended leave of absence for educational or disciplinary reasons is evaluated for their readiness to return to registration. Exceptions to this policy include any student who takes an educational leave of absence of 1 year or less and MD-PhD students who already have a curriculum in place for their return. All other students will be required to provide documentation of their readiness to return or will be required to have an evaluation from a 3rd party that specifically addresses their ability to return successfully to the medical school curriculum. The most common scenarios, but not all, in which a student would be required to provide documentation for their readiness to return include:
- A situation in which a student is unable to perform essential functions of a medical student because of a physical illness. (short term or long term)
- A situation in which a student is unable to perform essential functions of a medical student because of a mental health diagnosis.
- A situation in which a student is unable to perform essential functions of a medical student because of addiction.
- A situation in which a student may pose a direct threat of harm to self or others due to a physical or psychological condition.
- A situation in which a student’s ability to perform essential functions may be impaired by the duration of time they spent away from the medical school curriculum. (e.g.-completing a 2 year MBA or MPH program or taking 3 years to do a research project)
For situations 1-4, a fitness for duty evaluation will be required. This may come in the form of a complete evaluation of the student’s stressors, abilities, and accommodation requirements (e.g., after a diagnosis of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, a physical injury that impacted cognitive function). It may also be in the form of a note from the treating physician stating the physical limitations of the student and indicating when the student may be able to return to full function (e.g., after a broken leg, surgery, or cancer treatment). The decision for which type of evaluation will be required will be made by the Academic Status Committee, which has oversight of the student’s entire academic history.
The following is a thorough, but not exhaustive, summary of possible scenarios that may occur.
Medical Leave of Absence
A. Non-cognitive or physical impairment (Situation #1 above)
a. Return to registration approvals and documentation will be required for students who have both short term and long term absences.
b. Documentation should describe the following:
i. When the student is able to return to registration
ii. Whether there are limitations to their return
- The student will have to apply through the DRC for accommodations if they are recommended by their treating physician, and those accommodations will be determined to be appropriate, or not, based on the written technical standards of the COM
iii. The need for on-going appointments/supports and the duration of those
c. In some cases, a fitness for duty evaluation will be required that can also assess the student’s medical situation in the context of the stressors of the medical school curriculum. Please refer to the Medical Student Fitness for Duty Policy.
i. This may be due to time away from the curriculum or other concerns including, but not limited to, previous academic difficulties.
ii. This determination will be made by the Academic Status Committee
iii. If the ASC does not determine a FFD evaluation is necessary, then (b) applies
B. Cognitive Impairment (Situation #2,3,4)
a. Mental Health Diagnosis
i. Return to registration approvals and documentation of appropriate treatment will be required for any student who has taken a short-term medical leave of absence (less than 6 weeks) and
who has not had prior academic or professionalism concerns.
ii. Documentation from the treating physician should describe the following:
- When the student is able to return to registration
- Whether there are limitations to their return
a. If yes, then the student will have to apply through the DRC for accommodations if they are recommended by their treating physician. Those accommodations will be determined to be appropriate, or not, based on the written technical standards of the COM.
3. The need for on-going appointments/supports and the duration of those
iii. Return to registration for a student who has taken a leave of absence that exceeds 6 weeks may require a fitness for duty evaluation (Please refer to the Medical Student Fitness for Duty Policy). The need for this evaluation will be determined by the Academic Status Committee (ASC).
- Options for a fitness for duty evaluation include
a. Physician Resource Network (PRN)
b. Private Forensic Psychologist or Psychiatrist who provides fitness for duty evaluations
2. If a FFD evaluation is deemed unnecessary, then (ii) would apply
iv. Any student who takes repeated short or long-term absences for any cognitive impairment will require a fitness for duty evaluation after the second leave in order to return to registration
b. Addiction
i. Any student who is suspected of having a drug or alcohol addiction will be given the option of self-referring to PRN. If the student refuses to self-refer, he/she will be referred by the COM PRN liaison.
ii. In addition, if the student is considered to be impaired, they will be immediately removed from any patient interaction until after their PRN assessment is completed.
iii. Any student who is deemed by PRN to require a contract and monitoring will be required to adhere to the recommendations of PRN prior to their return to registration.
iv. Any student who is not compliant with their monitoring contract will be subject to dismissal from the COM.
Educational Leave of Absence
Any student who is on an education leave of absence that exceeds one year will be required to participate in a return to registration program in order to prepare them for their return to the medical school curriculum. This re-orientation may take the form of a formal intensive course, the development of an individualized learning plan followed by an assessment, or a videotaped standardized patient encounter. The return plan will be dependent upon the student’s prior academic history, the phase in which they will return, and the duration of time away from the medical curriculum. The Academic Status Committee will determine what type of re-entry program is indicated.