2.3: School of Medicine, Technical, Non-Academic Standards

Essential Abilities and Characteristics Required for Admission to and Completion of the MD Degree

The mission of the Stanford School of Medicine is to educate and inspire a diverse group of leaders in medicine and science who will improve human health through discovery, innovation, scholarship, education, and the delivery of outstanding patient-centered care.

A candidate for the MD degree at Stanford School of Medicine must demonstrate the capacity to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to complete the MD Program educational requirements, including those Technical Standards in this document. Graduates will achieve the MD Program competencies in the basic and clinical sciences, and they will be able to graduate as skilled and effective practitioners of medicine with or without reasonable accommodations.

Stanford School of Medicine intends for its graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of entering residency training (graduate medical education) and meeting all requirements for medical licensure. The goal is to develop deep foundational knowledge of medicine, the ability to apply outstanding clinical skills, effective and efficient data interpretation skills, and clinical decision making across a broad spectrum of medical situations in all settings. Critical skills needed for the successful navigation of core experiences are outlined below and include the ability to observe and communicate, as well as to understand, integrate core knowledge and skills, and to behave appropriately in varied educational and professional situations.

For purposes of this document and unless otherwise defined, the term “candidate” means candidates for admission to the MD program as well as enrolled medical students who are candidates for promotion and graduation.

updated August 2023