 | The University of Virginia record February, 1909 |  |
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Requirements for Admission to the Department of Medicine.—
Applicants for admission to the work of the first year of the Course in
Medicine are required to present the diploma of a recognized institution
of collegiate rank; or a certificate of good standing in such an institution;
or the diploma of a recognized public or private high school having at
least a three years' course; or acceptable certificates which represent
work equivalent in amount and character to such a high school course;
and, in addition, to present satisfactory evidence of the completion of
college courses in physics, chemistry, and biology equivalent to but not
necessarily identical with those at this institution. A student may be
conditioned on physics or biology (but not on both), this condition to be
removed before entering on the work of the second year. The requirement
in biology may be waived in the case of graduates of approved colleges
and universities.
Further information concerning the character of these requirements
and forms for certificates may be obtained by addressing the Dean of the
University, or Mr. Howard Winston, Registrar, at the University.
Announcement of Change in Entrance Requirements beginning
with 1910.—From and after June 1, 1910, the minimum amount of
preparation necessary for admission to the Medical Department will
be the completion of a four-year high school course or its equivalent,
and, in addition, the completion of college courses in Inorganic Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, and one foreign language, preferably German.
Facilities for and Methods of Instruction.—In recent years many
additions have been made to the laboratory facilities of the Department,
so that there are now well-equipped laboratories for the study of Organic
Chemistry, Gross Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Bacteriology
and Pathology, Physiological Chemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and
Materia Medica. These laboratories are all presided over by trained
teachers, to whom teaching and investigation are primary considerations.
The number of hours assigned to the laboratory subjects is quite large
and affords ample time for thorough study by the best methods. The student
is brought into close contact with teachers who are both willing and
able to guide him; he gains a very large part of his knowledge at first
hand and by his own exertions, and thus acquires the habit of working
out things for himself; he becomes self-reliant, a quality essential to the
practice of his difficult profession. Trained in this manner he not only
acquires an understanding of the medical sciences but, more important
than this, the ability to apply the facts of these sciences to the subsequent
study of disease. For these reasons the great fundamental sciences receive
two years.
The methods of clinical instruction are based upon the belief that
no clinical teaching is efficient which is not governed by essentially the
same principles as those which govern the best laboratory teaching.
This instruction is accordingly designed to enforce a careful, thorough,
face-to-face study of disease and its management by the individual student.
The facilities afforded by the University Hospital and Dispensary
are described on a subsequent page. In the third year, after two sessions
devoted to laboratory training, the student is introduced to the study
of disease in living persons. In the dispensary and, to a less extent, in
the hospital, he learns the methods of examining patients, of diagnosing
their diseases, and of instituting rational treatment; and he learns these
things in much the same way as he studied in the laboratory, that is to
say, by doing them himself under the direction and criticism of the
instructors. The material for this purpose is ample—all that can be employed
thoroughly. With this preparation the student is ready to enter
upon the hospital work in his fourth year. Here he has advantages for
clinical training similar to those enjoyed by internes. Each clinical patient
on admission to the hospital is assigned to a student, and that patient
is regarded as his "case." The student conducts a complete examination,
records his observations in a scientific manner, makes a diagnosis,
states his views as to the treatment indicated, and keeps a complete record
of the case, all under the advice and criticism of the physician or surgeon
in charge. He is expected to keep himself informed of the progress of
the case throughout its course; if it is one requiring surgical treatment,
he assists at the operation, and thus is able to follow all the procedures
of the operator at close range. In addition students make frequent visits
to the wards with the attending physicians and surgeons, during which
visits the nature, treatment, and progress of various cases are gone over
in detail. To carry out this method of clinical instruction the Hospital
had last year 850 cases. When it is added that this number will be largely
exceeded this year, and that the classes of students are quite small, it is
clear that the Department offers capable young men clinical advantages
which are distinctly exceptional.
Opportunities are offered in the fourth year for more extended training
in certain subjects with a view toward possible specialization after
graduation. See especially the description of courses in physiology,
pharmacology, and pathology.
A Medical and Biological Journal Club is maintained by members of
the faculty, at which reviews of important articles or original research
are presented by the instructors and by invited guests. Its sessions are
open to the more advanced students.
Regulations.—The records given after the regular examination on
a course, with their explanations, are as follows:
PASSED indicates the satisfactory completion of the course and admits
to all dependent subjects.
CONDITIONED means that to obtain a clear record on the course the
student must pass the next special examination. Failure to take or to
pass this examination is equivalent to a record of "failed."
DEFICIENT indicates that part of the work of the course has not
been completed. Upon the satisfactory completion of this work within
the time and in the manner prescribed by the professor in charge the
student receives the record "passed"; otherwise the record is "failed"
on the entire course.
FAILED indicates that the course must be repeated; except that
when the laboratory or other practical work has been satisfactorily
performed, the professor in charge may, at his discretion, excuse
the student from repeating the same; and, by special vote of the
faculty, the student may be granted optional attendance upon the course,
in whole or in part. In general a student who is repeating a course will
be required to attend all the exercises of the course, and will not be
excused from any exercise thereof because of schedule conflicts with
more advanced work.
Absence from a regular examination, when excused because of
illness or other equivalent cause, gives a record of conditioned; if not
excused, a record of failed.
To pass a regular or a special examination a grade of eighty per
cent. is required. If the grade is less than eighty per cent. but not less
than seventy per cent., the student is entitled to the record conditioned.
No student will be admitted to any subject of the second or the
third year if more than one third of the work of the preceding year remains
unfinished. If at the beginning of the year his deficiencies have
not been made up by the satisfactory completion of courses at some
school approved by the instructors in charge at this University, he may
continue as a student in the Department of Medicine only by repeating the
courses in which he has failed. In the interpretation of this rule the
values of the subjects of the first and second years are estimated in
points as follows:
Anatomy 1, 16 points; Anatomy 2, 5 points; Organic Chemistry
15 points; Histology, 14 points; Embryology, 6 points; Physiological
Chemistry, 8 Points.
Anatomy 3, 16 points; Physiology 2, 20 points; Bacteriology, 8 points;
Pathology, 20 points; Pharmacology, 8 points.
Students will not be allowed to undertake the work of the third
or fourth year until they have completed that of the first year, save by
special consent of the Medical Faculty.
A student may not take any course, either in whole or in part (as
explained under the above definition of "failed"), more than two times.
A second record of "failed" on the same course involves withdrawal from
the Department of Medicine.
Advanced Standing.—Students are admitted to advanced standing
in the second and third years under the following conditions:
1. Satisfaction of the requirements for entrance into this Department.
2. The presentation of a certificate from an accredited school of medicine
showing that the applicant has completed work equivalent to that
maintained by this Department with a grade of at least eighty per cent.
in each subject for which credit is sought. Applicants complying with
these conditions will be admitted to advanced standing without examination.
Applicants who have not completed all of the work of the year
or years preceding that to which they seek admission are admitted to
the Fall Examinations under the conditions stated in the subsequent
paragraph on Examinations. The right is reserved in every case to
obtain satisfactory evidence of the genuineness of a certificate by correspondence
with the proper authority of the school from which the applicant
comes.
No credit can be allowed for time not spent in a regular school of
medicine; except that applicants holding the degree of A. B. or B. S.
from a reputable college or university will be admitted to the second
year, provided their academic course has included the equivalent of the
first-year medical course.
A student who is already a graduate of a reputable school of medicine
may be received as a student in this Department for the fourth
year.
Certificates of Attendance.—Students who attend the whole regular
course of one or more of the fourth years are entitled to certificates
of attendance.
Requirements for Graduation.—The degree of Doctor of Medicine
is conferred by the University of Virginia upon candidates who have
complied with the entrance requirements of this Department; attended
a regular medical course of four years of at least eight months each,
the last two of which must have been at this institution; and have satisfactorily
completed all of the subjects included in the medical course.
Examinations.—These are in writing, accompanied in most subjects
by individual practical examinations. The regular examinations
are held each year during the week immediately preceding the
beginning of lectures. To the latter are admitted:
1. Students of the previous session, who from illness or other
equivalent cause approved by the faculty, were unable to present themselves
for examination in any particular subject at the regular time.
2. Students who at the regular examination of the preceding year
have attained a grade less than eighty per cent. but as much as seventy
per cent. on one or more subjects, as explained in a preceding paragraph;
or any student who has received the record of "conditioned" on a course
taken in this University.
3. Certain applicants for advanced standing, who satisfy the requirements
stated under "Advanced Standing," and meet the above conditions
of this section.
The Fall Examinations for 1909-1910 begin September thirteenth,
and close September eighteenth. Application for admission to them should
be made in writing to Dr. R. H. Whitehead, Dean of the Department
of Medicine, not later than September first.
Expenses.—The tuition fees are $110 for the first year, $100 for
the second year, $80 for the third year, and $60 for the fourth year.
The annual expenses exclusive of tuition are $40 for the University
fee (which entitles the student to the use of the library, the gymnasium,
to medical attention, etc.), an average of about $200 for living expenses,
and $20 for books.
| The University of Virginia record February, 1909 | |