MD Student Policies

MD Program Handbook & Policy Manual

Stanford School of Medicine

Section 1: Introduction
The online Stanford School of Medicine MD Program Handbook and Policy Manual is a guide to current policies, standards, procedures and resources that govern students in the MD program at Stanford University. In addition, students participating in Stanford University’s MD program are also subject to policies and standards established by Stanford University, many of which can be found in the Stanford Bulletin.
Every effort is made to ensure the information contained in this online handbook is accurate and current. Stanford University and the School of Medicine reserve the right to make changes and revisions in the applicable regulations, procedures, policies, requirements, and other information contained on the website at any time without notice.
The online version, and not a hardcopy or PDF summary, of the MD Program Handbook and Policy Manual governs.
Questions regarding the MD Program Handbook and Policy Manual can be directed to the Office of Medical Education at jshields@stanford.edu.
Section 2: General Standards
2.1 Competencies and Objectives for Medical Student Education
2.2 Specification of Requirements for Graduation
2.3 School of Medicine Technical, Non-Academic Standards
2.4 School of Medicine Professionalism Principles
2.5 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Uniform Teacher-Learner Agreement
Section 3: MD Requirements and Procedures
3.1 Academic Records and Privacy of Student Information, and Consent to Use of Photographic Images
3.2 Registration and Study Lists
3.3 Data Security and Privacy (HIPAA) Training
3.4 Definition of Medical Student Practice Role
3.5 Disability Accommodations
3.6 Ethical Conduct of Biomedical Research
3.7 Evaluation Completion Requirements
3.8 Industry Interactions Policy
3.9 Leaves of Absence, Discontinuation and Reinstatement
3.10 Malpractice Liability for Medical Students
3.11 Medical Health Requirements and Immunizations
3.12 Policies and Resources for Device Encryption, Security and Use
3.13 Respectful Educator and Mistreatment Policy
3.14 Safety Training
3.15 Stanford Medicine Policy for the Removal and Transport of Phi
3.16 Stanford University School of Medicine Education Research Policy
3.17 Stepping Out of the MD Curriculum Sequence
3.18 Student Duty Hours and Work Environment
3.19 Student Participation in Clinical Activities Involving Personal Risk
3.20 Surgical Procedures for Medical Students
3.21 Universal Precautions and Needlestick Protocol
3.22 USMLE Requirements: Step 1 and Step 2 CK
3.23 Stanford Hospital Computer Access for Medical Students (EPIC)
3.24 School of Medicine Learning Spaces and Study Spaces
3.25 Absence Policy and Expectations
3.26 N95 Respirator Mask Fit Requirements for Medical Students
3.27 School of Medicine Dress Code Guidelines for the Clinical Setting
3.28 School of Medicine Criminal Background Check Policy
3.29 Dual Degrees
3.30 Academic Advising
3.31 Conscientious Objection Policy
3.32 Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Section 4: Discovery Curriculum Overview
4.1 Discovery Curriculum Schematic
4.2 Academic Calendar
4.3 Academic Requirements for Graduation
4.4 Scholarly Concentration Requirement
4.5 Required Pre-Clerkship Curriculum and Pathways
4.6 Calendar of Clerkship Periods
4.7 Required Clerkship Curriculum
4.8 Selective Clerkship Requirement
4.9 Absences during Clerkships
4.10 Dropping Clerkships less than Four Weeks before Start of Period
4.11 Completing Clerkships at Other Institutions
4.12 INDE 297: Reflection and Contextual Medicine
4.13 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Requirement
4.14 Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) Series
4.15 Curriculum and Assistantship Limits
4.16 Directed Reading Unit Enrollment Limits
Section 5: Assessment of Student Academic Performance
5.1 Health Provider Non-Involvement in Student Assessment
5.2 Evaluation of Performance in Pre-Clerkship Courses
5.3 Exam Policy for Pre-Clerkship Courses
5.4 Evaluation of Performance in Clinical Clerkships
5.5 Standardized Patient Teaching and Assessment Activities
5.6 Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
Section 6: Committee on Performance, Professionalism and Promotion (CP3)
6.1 CP3 Introduction
6.2 Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
6.3 Promotion
6.4 Procedures for Addressing Performance, Professional and Technical, Non-Academic Standards Concerns
6.5 Chart of Responses to Student Issues
Section 7: Tuition and Financial Aid
7.1 Financial Aid
7.2 Tuition & Fees
Section 8: Stanford University Policies
8.1 As students at Stanford University, medical students are governed by the applicable rules, regulations and policies of the University. Many of these are set forth in the Stanford Bulletin and in the Administrative Guide.
8.2 Nondiscrimination Policy
8.3 Community Standards
8.4 Sexual Harassment
8.5 Consensual Sexual or Romantic Relationships In the Workplace and Educational Setting
8.6 Student Academic Grievance Procedure
8.7 Student Non-Academic Grievance Procedure
8.8 Ownership and Use of Stanford Trademarks and Images
8.9 Computer and Network Usage Policy
8.10 Copyright
8.11 Smoke-Free Environment
8.12 Campus Safety and Criminal Statistics
8.13 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
8.14 Student Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
8.15 Dangerous Weapons on Campus
8.16 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
8.17 Pregnancy, Childbirth, Adoption, and Lactation: Policy
8.18 Campus Disruptions
updated August 2025

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MD Program Handbook & Policy Manual