FACILITIES FOR AND METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
The new Medical Building now nearing completion contains modern well-equipped
laboratories for the study of biochemistry, gross anatomy, histology and
embryology, bacteriology and pathology, physiology, pharmacology, materia medica,
hygiene and public health, animal experimentation, and clinical diagnosis. These
laboratories are all presided over by trained teachers, to whom teaching and investigation
are primary considerations. The number of hours assigned to 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 acquires an understanding of
the medical sciences and the ability to apply the facts of these sciences to the
subsequent study of disease. For these reasons the great fundamental sciences
receive the utmost consideration, constituting the entire work of the first 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 with the individual student a careful, thorough, face-to-face
study of disease and its management. The facilities afforded by the University
Hospital and Out-Patient Department are described on a subsequent page. After
two sessions devoted to laboratory training, the student is introduced in the third
year to the study of disease in living persons. In the Out-Patient Department
and 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. This practical training
is accompanied by a systematic study of the various subjects by means of
lectures, textbooks, and recitations. 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 view 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 over 6,400
cases. The patients of the Blue Ridge Sanatorium afford additional material for
clinical instruction. Since the number of students in each class is relatively small,
it is clear that the department offers capable young men clinical advantages which
are distinctly exceptional.
Opportunities are offered in the third and fourth years for more extended
training in certain subjects with a view toward possible specialization after graduation.
At the meetings of the Medical Society of the University of Virginia reviews
of important articles, clinical cases and results of original research are presented
by the instructors and by invited guests. These meetings are open to the students.
Registrar's Records of Student's Work.—The results of the work of each
student are recorded in the Registrar's office in such manner as to show (1) the
grade received on each course, (2) whether the student has or has not absolved
the course and, if not, what is necessary to obtain a clear record and admit to
dependent subjects, and (3) a valuation in "honor points" of the results of the
work for each session.
1. The grade received on each course. These grades with their percentage
equivalents are as follows:
| 1 + = |
95-100 per cent |
| 1 = |
90- 94 per cent |
| 2 = |
85- 89 per cent |
| 3 = |
80- 84 per cent |
| 4 = |
70- 79 per cent |
| 5 = |
below 70 per cent |
The passing grade is 3. A grade of 4 entitles the student to a condition, as
explained below. A grade of 5 means a failure for the course.
No passing grades are reported to the Registrar's office on didactic work unless
the laboratory or clinical part of the course is completed in a satisfactory
manner; nor are any grades reported when the student is deficient until the deficiency
has been made up.
2. Whether the student has or has not absolved the course, and, if not, what
is required to obtain a clear record and admit to dependent subjects. This is
indicated in the following terms:
Passed (P) indicates the satisfactory completion of the course and admits
to all dependent subjects.
Conditioned (C) means that to obtain a clear record on the course the student
must pass a special examination. Failure to take or to pass this examination
is equivalent to a record of "failed." The record "conditioned" is not given in
fourth-year subjects, except in case of illness or other equivalent cause approved
by the faculty.
A student may be conditioned on any examination because of failure to maintain
a reasonable standard of English composition.
Deficient (D) indicates that part of the required laboratory or clinical 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 (F) 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
equivalent cause gives a record of conditioned; if not excused, a record of failed.
3. A valuation of the general results of the work on each course and of the
student's work for the entire session. Honor points.
This is expressed in honor points.
Each course is valued in the usual manner in terms of session-hours. An
honor point (or simply a point) may be defined as the honor value of one-half
session-hour of a course on which a grade of 2 has been received; the honor value
becomes 2 for each half session-hour of a course on which 1 has been received
and 2½ for each half session-hour on which a grade of 1+ has been received.
Thus for each session-hour of a complete course:
A grade of 3 gives no honor points.
A grade of 2 gives 2 honor points.
A grade of 1 gives 4 honor points.
A grade of 1+ gives 5 honor points.
A grade of 4 subtracts 2 honor points.
A grade of 5 subtracts 4 honor points.
No honor points are given on a course on which a condition or failure has
been received at the time of the final examination on the course; except that, in
case of illness or equivalent cause, the results of re-examination or of repetition of
the course—instead of the record on the completion of the course—may be made
the basis of estimating honor points.
Students who receive on the entire curriculum of any one year of medical
study, or its equivalent, a total of 40 honor points have optional attendance on
all the didactic work of the next session.
Special Rules Governing Advancement and Registration.
I. At the close of the University in June, the status of the students shall be
fixed for the next session, classification being made as follows: (a) Promoted;
(b) Required to withdraw; (c) Provisionally Promoted; and (d) Required to
repeat.
(a) Promoted. This group shall be composed of all students who have satisfactorily
completed the entire work of the year.
(b) Required to Withdraw. This group shall include such students as are
not deemed competent to continue their training in this school. The record requiring
withdrawal, reckoned in session-hours, is as follows:
For first-year students—(1) Failures in 9 session-hours; (2) failures in 6
hours plus conditions in 6 hours.
For second-year students—(1) Failures in 10 hours; (2) failures in 8 hours
plus conditions in 4 hours.
For third-year students—(1) Failures in 6½ hours; (2) failures in 4½
hours plus conditions in 4 hours.
(c) Provisionally Promoted. This group shall include students who have
incurred only such deficiencies as can with reasonable expectation be removed by
the opening of the next session. The record entitling provisional promotion, reckoned
in session-hours, must not be lower than the following:
For first-year students—(1) Failures in 6 session-hours; (2) failures in 4
hours plus conditions in 4 hours; (3) conditions in 10 hours.
For second-year students—(1) Failures in 7 hours; (2) failures in 6 hours
plus conditions in 3 hours; (3) conditions in 11 hours.
For third-year students—(1) Failures in 4½ hours; (2) failures in 3 hours
plus conditions in 3 hours; (3) conditions in 8 hours.
(d) Required to Repeat. This group shall include all students not placed in
groups a, b, and c. A student who is repeating must attend all exercises of the
year, or courses, and pass the examinations, regardless of the grades previously
made.
II. Students, classified in June as "Required to Withdraw" or "Required to
Repeat," shall not change their status by passing summer courses and (or) special
examinations.
III. A student who has been permitted to repeat a year, or prescribed
courses, shall not be granted the privilege for a second time, i. e., he shall not
spend more than five years in completing the requirements for graduation.
IV. A clear record at the opening of the session in September on all subjects
of the preceding year is required for advancement to the third and fourth
years.
V. Summer courses taken for the removal of deficiencies must be approved
by the professor in whose subjects the deficiencies were incurred; but it shall be
the duty of the student concerned to provide the information on which to base
the decision as to acceptability of courses; he must absolve the summer work
and have an official record mailed directly from the institution to the professor at
the University in charge of the subjects; and in addition he must report for the
special examination at this University and make a passing grade therein.
VI. Any student, who makes a grade below passing on any term's work or
is in any way derelict in his duties, shall be warned, warned and placed on probation,
or dismissed, according to the merits of the case.
The value in session-hours of the courses of the first three years:—
| First Year |
Second Year |
Third Year |
| Anatomy 1 |
6 |
Anatomy 3 |
2 |
Clinical Diagnosis |
2.5 |
| Anatomy 2 |
2 |
Physiology |
5 |
Medicine |
4.5 |
| Histology |
4 |
Bacteriology |
3 |
Surgery |
4.5 |
| Embryology |
2 |
Pathology |
6 |
Obstetrics |
2.0 |
| Biochemistry |
4 |
Pharmacology |
3 |
Orthopedics |
1.5 |
|
|
Materia Medica |
3 |
Pediatrics |
2.0 |
|
|
Physical Diagnosis |
1 |
Urology |
1.0 |
|
|
|
|
Dermat. & Syph. |
1.5 |
| Totals |
18 |
Totals |
23 |
Totals |
19.5 |
Similar rules are enforced at practically all medical schools. It is exceedingly
difficult for a student who has been dropped or not advanced at one school to
secure admission to another. Compulsory withdrawal may therefore terminate a
medical career.
Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine, who have less than one full
year's work to complete, may be required to take such additional work and to
pass such additional examinations as the Medical Faculty may prescribe. This
additional work may be selected from any of the courses given in the Department
of Medicine, even when such prescribed courses have previously been taken
and passed by the candidate in question.
Certificates of Attendance.—Students who attend the whole regular course
of one or more of the four years are entitled to an official statement under the
seal of the University, showing all courses for which the student was registered
each year as a medical student and the record (see above under "Regulations")
with the grade received on each course for which he was registered. These statements
will also contain any special faculty votes affecting the student's registration
in this school.
In no case will the University give an official certificate of the completion of
a part of a course. The professor in charge may, at this discretion, make a personal
statement by letter to the head of the same department in another medical
school of the work done by the student in his course; but he must at the same
time clearly state that this letter does not give credit in this medical school.
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 years 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 many subjects by individual
practical examinations. Examinations may be held only during the regular
examination periods at the end of each term or during the vacation periods.
No examinations may be given while regular class work is in progress; provided
this rule is not to be interpreted to prohibit unannounced written tests or regular
daily or weekly tests which count on the class standing of students. The regular
examinations are held at stated periods during the session. In addition, 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 in any first-, second-, or third-year
subject of the preceding session 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 conditioned on
a course taken in this University.
3. Certain applicants for advanced standing who are required to take examinations
by the Committee on Advanced Standing.
The usual period for special or conditioned examinations is in September
during the week of registration; but such examinations may be scheduled, at the
option of the professor in charge, for any other time, provided regular class work
is not in progress and also provided all students entitled to take examinations
agree to the change of date. For a special or condition examination held at any
other time than that assigned for all students entitled thereto a fee of five dollars
is charged. This fee must be paid to the Bursar before the examination is held.
In all courses in which there is practical work, either in the laboratory or in
the outpatient department or wards of the hospital, two records are returned to
the Registrar's office for each student; one of these records is for the practical
laboratory or clinical work in which the record is P(assed), D(eficient), or
F(ailed), the other record is for the didactic work, including the final examinations—in
which case the record is P(assed), C(onditioned), D(eficient), or
F(ailed), with the approximate percentage grade. To obtain a clear record on
the course a student must have a record of P(assed) both on practical and on
didactic work; in no case will the two grades be averaged. No record whatever
is given on didactic work unless there is a record of P(assed) on practical work
nor will any record be given on practical work until a clear record is obtained on
didactic work; failure on practical work gives a record of F(ailed) on the entire
course.
The Fall Examinations for 1929-1930 begin September 9 and close September
14. Students entitled to admission to these examinations will be informed of
the date of examination by the Dean.
Expenses.—The fees for instruction are 1, the tuition fee; 2, the university
fee which entitles the student to the use of the Library, Gymnasium, to medical
attention, etc.; and 3, special laboratory fees, as specified below:
|
First
Year |
Second
Year |
Third
Year |
Fourth
Year |
| Tuition (Virginians) |
$195 00 |
$195 00 |
$195 00 |
$195 00 |
| (Non-Virginians) |
215 00 |
215 00 |
215 00 |
215 00 |
| University fee |
60 00 |
60 00 |
60 00 |
60 00 |
| Laboratory Fees: |
|
|
|
|
| Biochemistry |
10 00 |
|
|
|
| Anatomy |
17 50 |
2 50 |
|
|
| Histology and Embryology |
7 50 |
|
|
|
| Physiology |
|
10 00 |
|
|
| Bacteriology and Pathology |
|
12 50 |
|
|
| Pharmacology |
|
5 00 |
|
|
| Clinical Diagnosis |
|
|
10 00 |
|
| Materia Medica and Toxicology |
|
|
5 00 |
|
| Total (Virginians) |
$290 00 |
$290 00 |
$265 00 |
$255 00 |
| (Non-Virginians) |
310 00 |
310 00 |
285 00 |
275 00 |
The minimum for necessary living expenses, including room, heat, light,
furniture, service, board, books, and laundry, is estimated at $400.
In the course in Biochemistry, a deposit of $10 is required to cover cost
of breakage.
Beginning with the session, 1929-1930, each student in the department of
medicine may be required to provide himself with a satisfactory microscope.
Voluntary Withdrawal from the University requires the written consent of
the Dean of the University and the Dean of the Department in which the
student is registered. When a permit is granted upon the University Physician's
certificate that withdrawal is necessary on account of ill health, which
must not be due to dissolute conduct, the fees are returned pro rata. Under no
other circumstances will there be a return of fees.
Combined Degrees in Arts (or Science) and Medicine.—Students who have
credit for the forty-eight session-hours of the group electives required in this
University for the cultural baccalaureate degrees in arts and science may substitute
for twelve session-hours of electives-at-large the first-year course in the Department
of Medicine and receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of
Science at the end of the year. For further information, see the General Catalogue
of the University.
The University offers also the degree of Bachelor of Science in Medicine.
This degree has recently been placed in charge of the Medical Faculty. It is
awarded on the recommendation of the Medical Faculty after the completion of
the second year of the medical curriculum to students who (1) present 33 session-hours
of acceptable work in premedical academic subjects (whether taken in this
University or elsewhere) as specified below; (2) complete the first two years of
the medical course in this University with grades in general higher than the
lowest passing grade; and (3) demonstrate by examination a reading knowledge
of medical French and German.
(1) Premedical Academic Subjects.—These must include:
| One year of College English |
3 session-hours |
| College Algebra, Solid Geometry, Plane Trigonometry |
3 session-hours |
| Physics, Chemistry, and Biology |
24 session-hours |
With minimum requirements in each subject as follows:
| (a) |
General Chemistry (including in this term
analytical or physical chemistry) |
6 session-hours |
| (b) |
Organic Chemistry |
4 session-hours |
| (c) |
General Physics |
4 session-hours |
| (d) |
Biological Science |
6 session-hours |
|
|
Elective in subjects other than physics, chemistry and
biology |
3 session-hours |
(2) First two years of the Medical Curriculum, completed with a record of
30 honor points on first-year subjects and 40 honor points on second-year subjects.
(3) Reading knowledge of Medical French and German.—This will be
tested by examination consisting of the translation of passages from text-books of
Anatomy and Histology, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pathology. No specific
college work is required although the equivalent of three session-hour college
courses in each of these languages is desirable and may be offered as part of the
premedical credits. The vocabulary of medical French and German may best be
acquired by using foreign text-books, etc., in the above medical sciences as
parallel reading, or as summer reading after the completion of the above subjects
in the regular medical course.
The William A. Herndon Scholarships are founded upon the bequest of
Dr. Cumberland George Herndon, a graduate in medicine of this University.
They are awarded by the Medical Faculty after a competitive examination held
during the summer vacation preceding enrollment as a student in the Medical
Department. Candidates must be unable to defray the expenses of their medical
education and must signify their intention of entering the medical service of the
army or navy of the United States. These scholarships provide for the necessary
expenses of the student during the entire four years of his medical course and are
awarded whenever there is a vacancy. Two appointments were made in September,
1928; two will be made in September, 1932. Applications must be made
not later than July 1 of the year of appointment. For information as to the
examinations and other requirements, address the Dean of the Department of
Medicine.
The Richard Henry Whitehead Scholarships, founded by an anonymous
donor in memory of Dr. Richard Henry Whitehead, Professor of Anatomy and
Dean of the Department of Medicine, 1905-1916, are awarded to young men of
promise who contemplate entering upon lines of medical work which will advance
medical knowledge either pure or applied. They are usually awarded only to students
who have completed at least two years of the medical curriculum. There
are three of these scholarships. Two appointments were made for session 19281929;
another will be made for the session 1929-1930. For further information,
address the Dean of the Department of Medicine.
The Seven Society Alumni Medical Scholarship, established in 1926 by
the Alumni of the Seven Society with an annual emolument of $350, is awarded
to a student in the Department of Medicine upon nomination by the Dean of the
Department of Medicine.
The Virginia State Medical Scholarships, established in 1925 by the Rector
and Visitors of the University of Virginia. Two scholarships are awarded annually
in the Department of Medicine, towards the close of the session, to the
students from Virginia on the basis of rank and need, retroactive for the session.
Tenure four years, conditioned upon maintenance of satisfactory scholastic record.
Emolument, remission of tuition fee.
The Doctor William Selden Memorial Scholarship in the Department of
Medicine, with an emolument of $500. Established through the Centennial Endowment
Fund. Appointment made by the Rector and Visitors upon the nomination
of the Dean of the Department of Medicine.
The Dr. Edward May Magruder Medical Scholarship, founded in 1927 by
the American Clan Gregory Society, with an emolument of $60, is awarded upon
the recommendation of the Society.
Other Scholarships and Fellowships open to medical students in common
with students in other departments of the University are: The Valentine Birely
Scholarship; the Thompson Brown Scholarship; the Isaac Cary Scholarship; the
Philip F. duPont Scholarships and Fellowships; the Richard Eppes Memorial
Scholarship; the William C. Folkes Scholarships; the D. J. Hennessy Scholarship;
the James Rufus Humphrey Scholarship; the McCormick Scholarship; the Thomas
Fortune Ryan Scholarships; the James Parker Williams Scholarship; the Virginia
Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Scholarship; the Bennett
Wood Green Fellowships; and the John Y. Mason Fellowship.
Loan funds also are available. For full information regarding scholarships,
fellowships, and loan funds, see the General Catalogue of the University.
The John Horsley Memorial Prize in medicine with the emolument of
$1,000. Founded in 1925 by Dr. J. Shelton Horsley, of Richmond, Va., as a
memorial to his father, Mr. John Horsley, of Nelson County, Virginia. The
prize will be awarded every two years by a committee of the Medical Faculty of
the University of Virginia for the best thesis upon some subject in general surgery.
The term "general surgery" is used in a broad way and includes the specialties
commonly associated with general surgery such as orthopedic surgery, urology and
gynecology but not the specialties of the surgery of the eye, ear, nose and throat.
The prize is open to all graduates of the Medical Department of the University
of Virginia of not more than fifteen years standing. The award for the first
time was made at the final exercises in June, 1927, to Charles Bruce Morton, M.D.,
of the class of 1922. For further information, address the Dean of the Department
of Medicine, University, Va.
The Alpha Omega Alpha Society.—On November 15, 1919, a charter was
issued for the establishment in this University of a chapter of the honor medical
society, Alpha Omega Alpha, to which there are chosen annually one-fifth of each
graduating class, on the basis of scholarship, character, and professional promise.
Since publication of the catalogue of 1927-1928 the following have been elected to
membership: from the class of 1928, Elizabeth Cocke Cole, B.A., Lewis Henry
Edmunds, B.A., Carson Lee Fifer, B.A., Walter Jackson Lackey, William Louis
Lacy, James Winston Watts, II, B.S.; from the class of 1929, Wilbur Allen
Barker, Donald Osborne Hamblin, Jed Hotchkiss Irvine, B.A., Robert Wingfield
Crenshaw McClanahan and William Cowell Stephenson, Jr.
The Iota Sigma Society.—In the spring of 1927 there was organized a local
honor medical society, Iota Sigma, whose membership is open to medical students
who have completed the first term of the third year with a total of not less
than 81 honor points. Prospective candidates must further qualify with regard to
congeniality, personality, interest in research, practicability and future professional
promise. The primary aims of this society are to raise the standard of scholarship,
to stimulate sympathetic interest in research, and in every possible way to
aid the Medical School in the maintenance of its high ideal of medical training
and service. The present student membership includes James Porter Baker, Jr.,
B.S., Wilbur Allen Barker, Donald Osborne Hamblin, William Childs Hutcheson,
Paul Otto, Robert Tunstall Pierce, Jr., B.S., William Cowell Stephenson, Jr.,
Harrison Rawlings Wesson, and Bascom Brockenbrough Young.
