Preamble: We are committed to providing clear, transparent, and timely communications to all our students. Please review the menu items to the right for the most recently available updates.
Weekly Updates
For the week of November 16, 2020, updates and/or references have been made to the following page(s):
Announcements
11/23/2020
11/16/2020
We wanted to wish you Happy Diwali for those who celebrated this past weekend as well as a Happy Thanksgiving next week!
We support student participation in social justice activities, including protests and rallies. As with all other activities, students should practice hand hygiene, wear masks and practice physical distancing. Please remember that if you test positive for COVID outside of clinical care you must quarantine.
Interview Updates
Thirteen residency interview spaces will be available at Erwin Square Tower from 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturday 8 am to 1 pm. We would ask that you look at this space first for interview space. If nothing is available, fourteen rooms in Trent Semans have reservation availability from 8 am to 5 pm. Students can use our Medical Library spaces for interviews as well. They are open 9am – 4 pm.
Some general information:
- You must reserve space at least 48 hours in advance of your interview.
- There is an approval process- in that Steven Wilson or I will approve your need for the space. There are 16 students with priority as indicated from the Advisory Dean Survey. Please note that if for some reason they are not able to get a space, another reservation may be altered. I am very hopeful that this will not happen but please know that it might.
- You can reserve up to six hours at a time for you interview and multiple reservations are ok. There are no restrictions.
- For interviews in Erwin Terrace, your interview can exceed the cap, (for instance for West Coast interviews), but once you leave the building you cannot reenter.
- Each student will need to bring their own laptop and phone for use during the interview.
- Each student is responsible for disinfecting the space before and after use.
- Bathroom facilities are available at each site.
For Erwin Terrace, once your reservation is approved, an email will be sent to you with a code for the cypher lock to get into the suite. Please do not share the code. A QR code will also be sent to claim the space. If you do not appear within fifteen minutes, the reservation will be cancelled and the space made available to others. PLEASE do not reserve space you do not need—be mindful that others are trying to interview as well.
URLS -
Please refer to your emails for additional instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.mccorison@duke.edu
Office of Student Affairs Update
Student Affairs is conducting a survey about mental health resources to determine what resources students have used or would use. We need responses about preferences from all students -whether they have or have not needed mental health services- to understand how any financial resources we obtain can best be used in designing a system that works best for students. The survey is short and should take no more than 2-3 minutes to complete. You should have a link to it in emails from Dr. Haynes and from your Wellness Committee. Thanks for your help and to the 75 people who have already responded!
11/02/2020
Holiday Travel and Testing Plan
We strongly encourage students to stay local for Thanksgiving and be judicious regarding large gatherings, while finding ways to celebrate safely. Please see CDC recommendations and best practices. Please see below for expectations and plans for the holidays and likely testing plans. Please note the testing plan below may change, depending on government and institutional changes based on COVID-19 rates this fall/winter.
COVID quarantine/isolation and impact on Clinical Rotations
Reminder of our policy that supports more flexible make-up options for clinical courses in case of COVID related quarantine/isolation. The policy allows extended time past the end of the rotation date to make up learning WITHOUT requiring an “Incomplete” for the rotation. See below for quick overview of the process. Any questions regarding the policy please contact Aditee Narayan and/or Lori Crooks.
CeLe’s/Dr. Nancy Knudsen’s Student Office Hours for November, December and January.
- November 11, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
- November 18, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- December 2, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- December 9, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
- January 20, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- January 27, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Zoom Meeting: https://duke.zoom.us/j/96496188947?pwd=ZmlGbTFBMlhwNDZIYldLbHBvZmlDdz09
10/19/2020
Surveillance Testing
See email from Dr. Buckley-all students must comply, instructions for who to notify if you are more than an hour away included
Quarantine for students
If asked to quarantine, please contact BOTH your course director and Advisory Dean to best determine make-up learning.
To support students, the Curriculum Committee approved an extension in cases of quarantine. This provides additional time after the rotation ends to make-up learning, without requiring an “incomplete” designation.
Contact Dr. Narayan as an additional resource for course directors and students to develop appropriate learning make-up plans, as needed
Leadership Training Opportunity
North Carolina Medical Society is offering “Future Clinician Leaders College” as a one-year interprofessional leadership development program to improve health care in NC.
Library Updates
The Med Center library has a number of important updates:
- Our website has changed! Please consider sharing your thoughts here: https://mclibrary.duke.edu/about/blog/website-usability-survey
- Library study space reservations can now be made for up to 6 hours at a time!
- Our contactless checkout service, Library Takeout, has launched! You can request up to 5 physical books at a time. More information at the link here: https://mclibrary.duke.edu/borrow-request renew/takeout
- BEx users – many of you will be shifting to new rotations very soon. If you are done with the books from your current rotation, please return them ASAP so we can facilitate a timely redistribution.
Wellness
Coping card shared by PDC
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response: Free ½ day symposium Nov 19 1-5pm to support each other through both personal and professional grief open to students. Presentation by Meghan Price about survey on student grief and how it impacts them.
On Thursday, November 19th, join us for a free half-day symposium where we will learn about ways that we can support each other through both personal and professional grief, share stories of support, and identify resources available at Duke.
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response will feature diverse and multidisciplinary panels, engaging didactic sessions, and surprise guests from across the university. Just some of the highlights include:
Coach K delivers a special message
Duke medical students will discuss the research behind grief and finding support through peers
Well-Being experts and Duke Health leadership discuss normalizing discussions about grief
The virtual event runs from 1-5PM on November 19th, 2020. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live event. Reserve your space today at bit.ly/mattersofgrief
Y2Q Survey - Thank you to all current MS2s for completing the AAMC Y2Q. Your responses guide us on how to continue to improve our first-year experiences. Please complete via your individual survey link if not done so already.
09/28/2020
Dear School of Medicine faculty, staff and students,
We are living in challenging times. Each week, it seems that we are faced with new uncertainties to navigate on the road towards equity and justice.
As many of you know, on September 22, 2020, there was an Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping issued by President Trump, which has understandably caused great concern amongst many of our students, faculty and staff in the School of Medicine, and those in the larger Duke University community.
We want to assure you that Duke University is carefully reviewing the executive order and we are confident that Duke can continue our efforts in diversity and inclusion training and education, and we remain highly committed to doing so.
Concerns and emotions were also compounded by last week’s news that no indictments were issued by the Grand Jury for the killing of Breonna Taylor. Our hearts go out to her family and to so many others who continue to be disproportionately impacted by systemic racism.
As promised in our Moments to Movement event in June, the School of Medicine has launched a strategic planning process to dismantle racism in our School and in the communities around us. In the words of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Real change, enduring change happens one step at a time.” The work ahead of us is difficult and emotional, yet we remain steadfast in our pursuit. Change will not come quickly or in many cases easily, but we will move forward and continue with an unwavering pledge to create a diverse, inclusive and equitable School and nation.
The School of Medicine’s commitment to dismantling racism is and will continue to be a key priority and as such we stand in firm solidarity with the statement from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) released last Thursday.
Watch for more information and updates on the Moments to Movement initiative on the School of Medicine and Duke Health websites and during upcoming Town Halls where we will engage in continued dialogue toward action.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Klotman, Dean, Duke University School of Medicine
Judy Seidenstein, Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, Duke University School of Medicine
- New recruitment resources available from SOM for students/residents with virtual tour and facts and figures-interesting for all.
- As a reminder, green scrubs may not be worn outside of the hospital and if worn outside of the OR must be covered. If you are seen in a parking deck or off campus wearing green scrubs you may receive a professionalism notification and/or may be taken off service.
- View a Documentary on how COVID-19 has affected the Latinx community in NC with work done through the LATIN-19 group with multiple partners.
New secured outdoor seating near hospital; new entry instructions for Trent Semans Center and Seeley Mudd Building
On Wednesday, August 19, Duke Health will open a secured outdoor seating area between the Duke Medicine Pavilion (DMP), Trent Semans Center and Seeley Mudd Building (Searle Center/Medical Center Library).
Faculty, staff, students, patients and visitors who have entered the hospital through one of the approved screening locations will be able to access this new space through the DMP or Duke North/Duke Central Tower entrances. These doors will remain unlocked 24/7, allowing re-entry to the hospital. (Smoking is not permitted in this space.)
Faculty, staff, and students who park in the Bryan Parking Deck or who need access to the Seeley Mudd Building or Trent Semans Center must use one of the main hospital or clinic entrances as their daily entry point, then make their way through the new secured space and to the front door of the Trent Semans Center or Seeley Mudd Building. Building hours will be posted on entry doors to the Trent Semans Center and Seeley Mudd Building.
Student Verification Requirements.
Two times a year, we request that students verify their personal information. The verification process adds a hold to your record that prevents any spring 2021 enrollment activity - fall 2020 registration will not be impacted. You will still be able to view your class schedule, view financial aid, and pay your bursar bill before you verify. Please disregard this message if you have already completed the verification process.
To complete the verification process:
Log into Dukehub.duke.edu
Click on the "Select to complete Student Verification" link in the orange notification section on your homepage in DukeHub.
Special Notes:
Once you have completed the verification process, the message on your DukeHub homepage should disappear. If not, log out of DukeHub and log back in - the message should then disappear.
Instructions for completing student verification can be found here: https://registrar.duke.edu/announcements/registration-hold-complete-student-verification
For any questions or concerns, please contact us at medreg@dm.duke.edu.
All Doctor of Medicine program students are required to complete the provided attestation (COVID 19 Safety Plan) and comply with the policies put forth in the Student Responsibilities for Approved Classroom Activities.
Official guidance from the School of Medicine regarding making decisions about community service activities:
It speaks to the Duke spirit that so many of you are seeking opportunities to volunteer at this crucial time, and we encourage you to find ways to make contributions in your own time while ensuring that you take steps to minimize the risks to yourself and others. If you decide to pursue a volunteer opportunity that might expose you to the COVID-19 virus, such as working in a testing laboratory or any direct community work, please seriously consider your responsibilities and communicate to your colleagues, fellow students and mentors. If you develop symptoms, refer to https://keepworking.duke.edu/faqs/staffing/ and follow the directions contained there.
Finally, please be aware that any future instructions from the state and federal governments, for example regarding sheltering in place, take precedence over the guidance above.