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Senior Year Extramural ElectivesAAMC Visiting Student Application Service Information General InformationExtramural electives are electives that are taken at other medical schools or sites. You should discuss all plans regarding extramural electives with your clinical assistant dean, and obtain his/her approval. You are responsible for making all specific arrangements. The following procedures pertain to standard length (4 weeks) electives taken at LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) accredited schools (USA medical schools). No more than 8 weeks of away (extramural) electives will count towards the 20 week graduation requirement. Restrictions on Who May Take Extramural ElectivesStudents on probation during the senior year of medical school are required to complete their electives at the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University or a major affiliate hospital. Extramural (away) electives may be completed only with the prior approval of the student’s clinical assistant dean. A student on probation for the senior year must also meet on a monthly basis with his/her clinical assistant dean. At the discretion of the Academic Promotions Committee, academic and/or clinical probation is noted in the Dean’s letter and/or the official college transcript. Procedure for Applying For an Extramural (Away) Elective And Requesting Approval to Receive Clinical Elective CreditTo Apply to the Host Institution:
To Request Approval for Clinical Elective Credit
International ElectivesYou may take an elective abroad for academic credit (provided that the corresponding department at SUNY Downstate approves it as an extramural elective), or you can complete the experience on your own time (non-credit). Due to the additional time required for overseas mail delivery (always use air-mail), you are advised to start these procedures at least six (6) months in advance. Also, contact the United States Department of State for their travel advisory for the country you intend to visit, and contact the Centers for Disease Control and/or the World Health Organization for a list of any additional vaccines or other health precautions you should obtain before you start your elective. You will also need to make certain that your health insurance has a "repatriation" section (the SUNY Downstate student health insurance plan has repatriation coverage). If it does not, "repatriation" insurance is available for a low cost from the SUNY International Student insurance (it also covers US students going abroad). This may be purchased through the Bursar’s Office. You must provide proof of this coverage before your elective will be approved. You will also be required to sign an "Agreement and Release" form, found in the Office of the Registrar. You will be required to meet with the Dean of Students to review these guidelines. It is advisable to allow time during the months of November-January for interviewing at your residency programs. Therefore, the ideal time to participate in an away elective would be in April/May of your senior year. How do you arrange for an international elective? You can contact a SUNY Downstate faculty member who may be from the country you are interested in. He/she may have colleagues or contacts in that country who can help you set up an elective. Or, you can write directly to a hospital department in the country you are interested in, explain what you are interested in doing, and ask for the name of someone at the hospital that might be interested in serving as your preceptor. The AMSA website has useful resource information about international electives. Our College of Medicine (through the School of Public Health) offers an overseas elective- Global Health in Developing Countries - in the senior year for a limited number of students. Application is through the School of Public Health by December of your third year. Please note that you have the option to participate in an overseas experience on your own. You can also have the person you work with send a letter of recommendation for inclusion in your academic file. You must provide proof that medical malpractice/liability insurance is not required. Senior Year Research ElectivesTo obtain academic credit, the length of a research elective is generally limited to 8 weeks of full-time effort. If you are interested in a research elective, you should develop a brief, written research plan in consultation with a faculty mentor. Attach the plan, signed by the faculty mentor, to the Extramural/Tailor-made Elective form, signed by the department chair of the research department and your clinical assistant dean, and submit to the Office of the Registrar. Your plan must include:
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