Kira Zwygart MD, FAAFP

Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Deborah DeWaay MD, FACP

Associate Dean, UME

Tuition Invoice Term 1 - Due July 28th

Tuition for years 1 and 2 is due on 7/28/23. Check "All Students" section for more information on how to pay your tuition.

White Coat Ceremony - August 31st at 6pm

This will take place at the Tampa Convention Center. Click here for more information.

Evaluations and Anonymity

We switched evaluation systems for this academic year. I want to assure you that all evaluations that students fill out on courses, faculty, and residents are anonymous. Faculty and residents are not given access to the evaluations filled out on them until there are enough completed that they can’t figure out which student did the evaluation. This is NOT a new practice. There is a mechanism by which the evaluation team can deidentify an evaluation if there is a threat of harm within an evaluation. I think in this day in age we can all appreciate why this is necessary. BUT, this would only be used in that case. In my tenure at USF MCOM, this has never been used. I personally assure you that you can fill out your evaluations honestly, without any worry about repercussions. I do ask that you fill them out with respect and make the criticism constructive. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Having said that, if there is an unproductive comment, we won’t know who said it. 

- Dr. D

Unexcused tardiness and absences to exams

This new procedure applies to Year 1-3 for unexcused tardies and absences for exams. It does not apply if your exam/tardy is excused. Please see the handbook and your syllabi for how to get your absence/tardy excused. Please note that these consequences are cumulative across the year and do not reset at the beginning of each course.

Exam Tardiness

Students arriving late for a scheduled exam will not be allowed to enter the testing room and take the exam. Arriving late for an exam will be considered an unexcused absence pending review of the circumstances provided. Students who demonstrate a pattern of repeated exam tardiness will be referred to the Academic Performance Review Committee (APRC) for concerns regarding professionalism.

The consequences for exam tardiness across the preclinical phase of the curriculum are as follows:

• First incident: 5% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the associate dean for student affairs
• Second incident: 10% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the APRC
• Third incident: 25% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the APRC
• Subsequent incidents: 50% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the APRC

Unexcused Exam Absence

A student who has an unexcused exam absence needs to reschedule the exam as described below. Students who demonstrate a pattern of repeated unexcused exam absences will be referred to the Academic Performance Review Committee (APRC) for concerns regarding professionalism.

The consequences for unexcused exam absences across the preclinical phase of the curriculum are as follows:

• First incident: 10% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the associate dean for student affairs
• Second incident: 25% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the APRC
• Third incident: 50% will be deducted from the affected exam grade and referral to the APRC
• Subsequent incidents: students will receive a zero for that exam but must demonstrate a passing grade on the exam to be eligible to pass the course. 

Class of 2025 - Core

    7/27 – Obstetrics NBME Exam

    7/28 – Primary NBME Exam

    7/28 – Medicine NBME Exam

    7/28 – Pediatrics NBME Exam

Class of 2026 - Core

    8/14 – Course 5 Test 1 Exam

Resident and Faculty Evaluations of Students

Any written evaluation you receive is qualitative by nature. This has always been true and always will be true. Anytime faculty have a rubric, it is still subject to interpretation. In the past, one person did the grading for a course, so theoretically, it was all the same. However, in medical school, it is not possible to have one person do all of the evaluations unless we were to completely limit your exposure. If we did that, it would be detrimental to your training. Please remember the following when it comes to your evaluations:

1. Faculty and residents receive development on how to fill out your evaluations
2. Unlike a term paper, your evaluation has a context that may affect the evaluation. Every patient you see, and every encounter you have, gives context. You may be excellent when working in one specialty or one type of patient but struggle with another. This doesn’t mean that the different evaluations are wrong, it just means that your development is more advanced in one context than another. This is normal.
3. We use the RIME system because it is a developmental model which helps you see your progression and give a common language for us to articulate where you are on that model. This model is well established within medical education literature. It will not be reported in your MSPE letter.
4. Please be aware that it can be difficult to self-assess your performance in the clinical environment. Also, use caution when comparing yourself to your peers. Since you are not videotaping your clinical encounters, it isn’t possible to have the same perspective on your performance as your peers.
5. How your evaluations are applied to your grade is determined by your course director in order to take into account the fact you all work with multiple preceptors.

New Method for Collecting Tuition and Fees

This academic year, your tuition charges will appear in OASIS, the same website where you view your financial aid award. When your tuition has been assessed, you can log in to https://my.usf.edu, click “My Resources” then “OASIS Student.” Once in OASIS, click the middle “Student” tab then the “Tuition & Fees” link. Finally, click “View Account Summary and Pay My Bill.” If you receive financial aid, your aid amount will be applied to your balance. Any remaining funds for cost of living will be disbursed directly to you according to the method you have set up within OASIS. Please keep an eye out for a tuition assessment email closer to the start of your classes. Remember, each cohort is billed on a different date depending on their first day of class in AY 23-24.

In the meantime, please note the following methods for payment. If you have bill pay set up, also note the change in mailing address.

If your balance is not covered by a financial aid award, please utilize one of the following methods:

• eCheck (recommended) – check payments can be made in OASIS by entering the routing and account number from your checking account paper checks. Benefits: There is no additional cost to pay using this method and payments post immediately.
• Credit Card – MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit card payments can be made in OASIS. A 2.5% convenience fee will be charged.
• Mailed Check/Money Order – Checks and money orders (with student ID included) can be mailed to the address below.  Please allow sufficient time for the checks to be received before the bill due date:

USF Student Payments

PO BOX 946571

ATLANTA, GA 30394-6571

What if I cannot pay by then and do not have an approved tuition deferment/late fee waiver on file?

You will be assessed a $100 late fee. If you are using financial aid for the entirety of your tuition payment, you automatically have a tuition deferment on file that expires on 9/18/23. 

What happens if I am on a military scholarship?

If you are on a full military scholarship, the appropriate branch will be billed. If you participate in other partial scholarships such as the Yellow Ribbon or MyCAA programs, please contact me. Please remember that members of the Navy and Army HPSPs will have to pay some fees not covered by their respective scholarships.

What if I have questions about my financial aid?

Please visit https://health.usf.edu/well/financial-aid and click on your program for helpful information about disbursement dates. If you have a specific question about your financial aid disbursement, you can click the “ServiceNow Email Questions” button at the bottom of the page to send a secure inquiry directly to the USF Health Office of Financial Aid. 

Debt management coaching appointments are available!

Melissa Toohey, Financial Aid Team Manager, is at MDD through July 28th to meet with students (in person or virtually) and provide one-on-one coaching sessions to students who would like to discuss debt management, money management, or general financial aid inquiry.

A few things to note: Her office will be located on the 4^th floor during this time, MDD 452 – Office of Student Affairs conference room. If you will be booking an in-person appointment you will be meeting with her there. Walk-in appointments are available however, they are based on availability. If you would like to ensure that you are seen in a timely manner, please make an appointment on her calendar.

Crunch Student Membership

We are doing one last push for Crunch Membership Enrollment. If you have not done so already and wish to utilize your free membership, please fill out the Google Form ASAP

• Crunch Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVECfENiwcS9fpe6SAdnekA1cXJlatnKS3gxjngU-UXYDYYw/viewform     

FAQ:

• What does my student membership include? Please see attached for membership details
• What is the $10/Month ‘USF PEAK RESULTS’ membership? For $10/month, you can upgrade your membership if you would like access to all Crunch locations, guest privileges, HydroMassage, and more. To upgrade, you will do this in person at Crunch Channelside.
• I already have a Crunch membership. How can I change my plan or join the USF plan? If you have a preexisting membership, you still need to complete the Google Form. (Links to an external site.) Once your USF Crunch membership is activated, please speak with the Crunch team in person (at Crunch Channelside) for any account modifications.
• Can I share this with my friends and family? No, I will be verifying student enrollment for each submission. Crunch has special rates for friends and family, but please speak with them directly about this.
• Where do I go for additional information? Please contact mdstudentaffairs@usf.edu if you have any additional questions. Specific membership account questions will need to be addressed with Crunch Channelside.

Discord Server (a new way to stay connected)

The end of June OSA created a centralized USF MCOM MD Discord Server to assist you in your time at USF. There are channels dedicated to each cohort year, Collegia, Scholarly Concentrations, as well as miscellaneous socia-based channels. Find information about student organizations, student leadership, giveaways, events, free food, etc. by participating in the server.

All that join and do the following will be eligible for prize drawings.

• Join the server: https://discord.gg/8nkQuuDaca
• Answer the "Channels & Roles" questions to assign your cohort year, Collegia, and program tags
• Set your displayed username to include your full name
• Introduce yourself in the #introductions channel

MCOM Student Org Fair

Morsani Student Council will be hosting a Student Organization Fair where all student orgs can showcase their work at the MDD auditorium on Wednesday, September 13 from 5-7 PM. Please hold this date on your calendar! All who attend will be eligible for prize drawings

Register your org: https://forms.office.com/r/tnJ4gePHet

All past issues can now be found at the bottom of the Helpful Links page (that is on you QR Code cards)!