UNIVERSITY POLICIES - Pertinent to Medical School


  UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE POLICY STATEMENT ON RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT  

DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT POLICY

The School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh is committed to providing a safe, comfortable, and supportive academic environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, culture, religion, or ethnic origin. In addition, any form of discriminatory behavior or harassment based on one's gender or sexual orientation is also a violation of University policy as well as federal, state, and local laws.

Any individual who is accused and found to have violated the University's policy against intentional physical or verbal abuse, harassment, or discrimination of another person based on their race, color, religion, culture, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation; with the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic work, or social environment, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to reprimand, suspension, termination or expulsion.

Definition of Sexual Harassment and Procedures to Follow

Sexual Harassment takes many forms. It may range from unwelcome comments, gestures, or facial expressions, to unwanted physical contact. Both men and women, regardless of sexual orientation, can be victims. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcomed sexual advance, request for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
 

This policy will be applied with due respect of the University's commitment to equality of opportunity, human dignity, diversity, and academic freedom.

Any student, faculty, staff member or employees who believe that they have been discriminated against or harassed has both formal and informal avenues of addressment.
For additional information or to file a complaint one can contact: Office of Affirmative Action 901 William Pitt Union University of Pittsburgh (412) 648-7860

WHERE TO GO...

Students of the School of Medicine are encouraged to discuss their concerns regarding this matter with: The Associate Dean of Student Affairs; the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Director of Diversity Programs; the Medical Student Counseling Service at the addresses listed below. Alternatively, any student or faculty member of the Honor Council Advisory Committee may be consulted.

The purpose of such a conversation would entail an appraisal of the situation and information about available options and assistance in making decisions about further steps to be taken.
 
 

Office of Affirmative Action 
University of Pittsburgh 
901 William Pitt Union 
(412) 648-7860 
 		 Associate Dean of Student Affairs 
Joan Harvey, MD 
M-218 Scaife Hall 
(412) 648-9040 
 
Office of Student Affairs & Diversity Programs
http://www.medschool.pitt.edu/future/future_03.asp
Paula Davis
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Diversity Program 
M-247 Scaife Hall 
(412) 648-8987		 Medical Student Counseling Office 
Lee Wolfson, M.Ed
3434 Fifth Avenue, Room 229 
 (412) 624-1041 

 
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY  
The School of Medicine recognizes that its students are potentially vulnerable to the destructive effects that drug and alcohol problems cause on a personal and societal level. We therefore offer support and assistance to students who seek help for a drug or alcohol problem.

INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE FOR ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUG ABUSE

An important step in overcoming any problem is to know where to turn for assistance. Information, counseling, and treatment for alcohol and/or drug problems is available through resources in the community and costs may be covered by health care benefits. Confidential support services are available for those with abuse problems who individually pursue treatment and counseling. Some of those resources include:
 

Lee Wolfson, M.Ed  SHARP Committee 
School of Medicine  Contacts: Joseph Conigliaro M.D. 
3434 Fifth Avenue, Room 229 (work) 412-688-6000 ext 4068 
Pittsburgh, PA 15260  (home) 412-784-0365 
(412) 624-1041 Melissa McNeil, M.D. 
(work) 692-4891 (home) 963-0504
University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center  University of Pittsburgh Student Health Service 
 334 William Pitt Union Medical Arts Building Suite 500
Pittsburgh  PA  15260 Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 648-7930 (412) 383-1825
Western Pennsylvania Institute & Clinic  
Comprehensive Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program 		  
3811 O'Hara Street   
Pittsburgh PA 15260   
(412) 624-1561  


 SHARP Committee/ University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine [http://www.pittmed.pitt.edu/sharp/home.html]
 

The Student Health Advocacy Resource Program (SHARP) exists to provide with compassion and confidentiality, a support, referral and advocacy service for students with substance abuse or mental health problems so that they can continue their education and training. Any medical student may obtain assistance by calling, e-mailing or contacting in person, any member of the committee, which is comprised of medical students and faculty members.

Faculty contacts are: Joseph Conigliano, MD (work:412-688-6000 ext 4068/home: 412-784-0365) and Melissa McNeil, MD (work: 412-688-6113/home: 412-963-0504), Jason Rosenstock, M.D. (work:  412-246-5565) and William Cohen, MD (work: 412-692-5560)

Deals primarily with undergraduates. Personal are trained as drug and alcohol abuse counselors.

24 Hour Hotline

Local Chapters of National Support Organizations

NOTE: AA groups are often comprised of older while NA groups often are comprised of younger individuals and those who have mixed a lot of chemicals during their period of dependency.

POTADA is primarily for parents of teen alcoholics and drug abusers, although they will help parents who are concerned about their children of any age.

For Individuals Recovering from Substance Abuse

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  DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE/DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS POLICY  

In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools Act of 1989, the University of Pittsburgh prohibits, at a minimum, possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on its property or as part of any of its activities.

The University of Pittsburgh prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance on University property or as part of any University activity. Faculty, staff, and students of the University must also comply with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the possession and consumption of alcohol.

Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action within 30 days, including, but not limited to a warning, written reprimand, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, and/or mandatory participation and successful completion of a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved by an appropriate health or law enforcement agency.
 

WEBSITE: http://www.pitt.edu/~provost/ch2_wkpl_drug_free.htm
 
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  STUDENT HEALTH POLICY  

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shares the responsibility for maintenance of student health with the individual student.  It is recommended that each entering student will have a medical history and physical examination by a physician.

It is required that the following immunizations be complete prior to matriculation in the School of Medicine. The student may submit a copy of laboratory reports of a positive titer documenting immunity. Specific proof of immunizations is required and may consist of copies of personal records, school records, or doctor's records or correspondence.
 

It is required that each student's tuberculin status be known by testing after May but prior to matriculation be updated on a yearly basis.

All medical students must carry disability and health insurance to cover hospitalization and physician fees during medical school. Documentation of current coverage must be on file in the Office of Student Affairs at all times.

Documentation of immunization, tuberculin testing and health insurance shall be included in the student's academic record. This will allow the School of Medicine to answer queries from hospitals and clinics that need to know a student's status with respect to immunity to infectious disease while caring for patients.

Approved by Medical School Executive Committee - December 16, 1986
Revisions approved by Student Health Committee - May 5, 1992
Revised - May 1996; Revised - May 10, 2000
Revised - November 13, 2000
Revised - April 3, 2001

 
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  UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE POLICY ON ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)  

It is the policy of this school that applicants who are HIV positive will not be excluded on this basis.
 

Any testing of students for HIV will be done only with the permission and informed consent of the student. All results will be strictly confidential, with only the student and his/her physician aware of them. Any student is encouraged to discuss his/her situation with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and if done the information remains confidential.
 

Beginning with the early first year and for each subsequent year, AIDS should be taught - etiology, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment - to all students. The responsibility for this teaching is with the clinical faculty of this school and should be coordinated by the Division of Infectious Diseases.
 

If a student is infected and is symptomatic (for example, because of skin lesions there would be increased possibility of the spread of body fluids), then the student's coursework and patient contact should be carefully evaluated and appropriate changes made on a case by case basis. These decisions should be coordinated by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

If a student is infected and is not symptomatic,(for example has no skin lesions and has not increased possibility for spread of body fluids), then the usual course work can be taken and the usual precautions for patient contact should suffice. These policies apply not only to HIV positive students, but to students with any infection (ex: Hepatitis B) which poses a risk to the student and those he/she is in contact with because of the spread of body fluids. All students, HIV positive or negative, are expected to use precautions recommended by the CDC for safety (i.e., hand washing, gloves). Furthermore, students should be carefully supervised when learning procedures potentially dangerous to them and for patients (blood drawing procedures in high risk patients, etc.)
 

A student may not refuse to participate in the care of an AIDS patient or any other type of patient. Under unusual circumstances the rule may be relaxed upon approval by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
 

If a student is exposed to HIV by a needle puncture or contact with secretions, the student should immediately follow the Blood Borne Pathogens Policy, or if available, the appropriate hospital's health service. The most up-to-date procedure, recommended by CDC, should be followed for management of this exposure. Follow up should be done by UPMC Employee Health and coordinated by Student Affairs Office and the Associate Dean.

Approved by Medical School Faculty Committee - February 18, 1988
 
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SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HEALTH POLICY FOR PREGNANT STUDENTS  

The School of Medicine complies with the Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PL95-555) which has as its basic principle that pregnancy and related conditions must be treated the same as any other disability or medical condition. The school accepts the responsibility for alterations in the academic program, if necessary, to protect the health of the pregnant student and her fetus. Academic standards will not be altered and if course work, either pre-clinical or clinical, is missed because of any disability, arrangements will be made to permit the student to make up the deficiency to the satisfaction of the faculty.

The Student Health Committee has reviewed the environmental exposures of medical students with course directors and the course director's reports were reviewed by a perinatologist. Medical student's exposures to any hazardous materials or compounds are no different than those of other women working full time in the hospital or school environment, so a normal pregnancy in a healthy medical student would require no alteration of her academic program. If the medical student has another health problem or a complicated pregnancy, alteration of the academic program would be individualized based on the obstetrician's recommendations. The pregnant medical student will be permitted class or clerkship release time for regular supervision by her obstetrician. The student will be given perinatal leave of absence without prejudice up to two (2) weeks before delivery and six (6) weeks postpartum. With the recommendation of the student's obstetrician, this period of leave may be lengthened or shortened.

The responsibilities of the pregnant medical student include the following:

This policy is based on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Guidelines on Pregnancy and Work. This document is in the files of the Office of Student Affairs and available to students and faculty who wish additional information.

There is a Lactation Room available when you return to school. You may sign up to use this area by seeing Sue Black and calling 647-8315. Before you leave the hospital, you should request a universal kit for breast pumps and your insurance should pay the cost.

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BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS POLICY  
HBV IMMUNIZATION AND PREVENTION TRAINING

Before engaging in a University programmed activity where exposure to human blood and/or Other Potentially Infectious Materials is probable or possible, each student must present either evidence of HBV immunization, or serologic evidence of protective antibody titer against hepatitis B virus disease (HBV) and undergo training to prevent or minimize exposure. Students should check with their health insurers about coverage of, or reimbursement for, HBV Immunization. Students who want to forego such immunization must sign a formal disclaimer statement.

PUNCTURE WOUNDS, CUTS, EXPOSURE TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

*PLEASE NOTE: Strict adherence to universal precautions is required in all clinical situations. Students are required to use appropriate personal protective equipment whenever contact with blood or other infectious material is expected. (Please see definitions below.) Personal protective equipment includes, but is not limited to, gloves, masks, gowns, face shields, and eye protection.

Any student who sustains a cut or puncture wound from a needle or other potentially infected instrument, or has another type of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as an eye splash with potentially infected fluid (please see definitions below) while performing responsibilities as a medical student, must comply with the following procedure:
 

If the exposure occurs after 4:00 p.m. or on the weekend, call UPMC Employee Health  on the morning of the next workday.

DEFINITIONS

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH E-MAIL USAGE POLICY AND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE E-MAIL USAGE GUIDELINES

Use of computers, including the electronic mail system, is governed by formal University of Pittsburgh policies and procedures.  As with all University policies, any breaches are subject to adjudication through the University Judicial Board.  Please refer to the University publication "Student Code of Conduct & Judicial Procedures". (http://www.pitt.edu/~provost/ch3_stud_code.htm)

You may also access the  document "Access and Use of University Electronic Resources" (Document 10-02-05) under "Support Services" on the University website http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/PP/procedures/10/10-02-05.html.

In addition, School of Medicine computer users are governed by the following guidelines, in keeping with the Student Honor Code:

The students, faculty and staff of the School of Medicine wish to foster an environment where all members of the community treat each other professionally and with respect in all facets of interaction.  To that end, we expect our students to conduct their electronic communication using the same standards as they would in face-to-face communication.  Please do not distribute e-mail to your colleagues that could be considered to be offensive, discriminatory, derogatory or harassing.  In addition, please be cognizant of the purpose of the student e-mail distribution lists, and use each of them for the purpose for which they were intended.

It is not our intention to hinder the free exchange of ideas, only to ensure that communication is accomplished in a civil, professional manner.  Should any student have a concern about e-mail communication, he or she may bring that concern to a member of the Student Honor Council, a faculty member of the Honor Council Advisory Committee, or a member of the administration.  Any conduct issues are handled as per the Student Honor Code guidelines.

 SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ELECTRONIC RECORD ACCESS GUIDELINES: 
 

During the third and fourth years, each student is given an individual account and password to access clinical records within the UPMC Health System. Patient records are highly confidential and may be accessed only be those physicians and students who are directly involved in the care of that patient.  Students may not access their classmates or their own family members.  The password is for the use of the individual student only and should not be given to or used by any other individual.  Records of patient information accessed by each student are audited on a regular basis.  Any breach of confidentiality or inappropriate access of medical records will be handled as per the guidelines of the Student Honor Code.  

  SCHOOL OF MEDICINE POLICY ON USE OF UNIVERSITY SPACE:

Space within Scaife Hall, to be used for nonacademic activities, must be prearranged with the Office of Student Affairs.  The requesting entity must be an official student organization.  Requests must be made not later than two (2) weeks in advance of the activity.  If food and/or audio visual (AV) equipment is to be ordered, the student organization must provide the necessary paperwork for reimbursing the school for the cost.

Access the "ZONE" to complete a room request form
http://zone.medschool.pitt.edu/C11/Room Request Form/default.aspx
Complete all appropriate fields on the form and submit.
You will receive a confirmation that your request has been received along with a tracking number.
Within three (3) days, you will receive an official confirmation of the assigned room, which will have been added to the calendar.
Approved - January 29, 2002

AUTHORSHIP POLICY

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) Authorship Policy establishes minimum requirements for Authorship and Acknowledgments. The School recognizes that many journals may have additional requirements. An author must comply with the authorship requirements of the journal to which a manuscript is submitted, provided that he/she also meets the minimum requirements of the School of Medicine.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine minimum requirements are excerpted from "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals". The current document (updated October 2001) is produced by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and can be obtained on line at http://www.icmje.org/index.html.

This policy applies to all written submissions by all School of Medicine faculty, students, residents, fellows, research associates, staff, and other School of Medicine personnel.

UPSOM Minimum Requirements for Authorship

(excerpted from "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals")

All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify should be listed. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content. One or more authors should take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, from inception to published article.

Authorship credit should be based only on a) substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data and b) final approval of the version to be published. Conditions a and b must be met. Acquisition of funding, the collection of data, or general supervision of the research group, by themselves, do not justify authorship.

Authors should provide a description of what each contributed, and editors should publish that information. All others who contributed to the work who are not authors should be named in the Acknowledgments, and what they did should be described (see Acknowledgments).

The order of authorship on the byline should be a joint decision of the coauthors. Authors should be prepared to explain the order in which authors are listed.

UPSOM Minimum Requirements for Acknowledgments

(excerpted from "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals")

List all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship, such as a person who provided purely technical help, writing assistance, or a department chair who provided only general support. Financial and material support should also be acknowledged.

Groups of persons who have contributed materially to the paper but whose contributions do not justify authorship may be listed under a heading such as "clinical investigators" or "participating investigators," and their function or contribution should be described, e.g., "served as scientific advisors," "critically reviewed the study proposal," "collected data," or "provided and cared for study patients." Because readers may infer their endorsement of the data and conclusions, all persons must have given written permission to be acknowledged.

Approved by the Executive Committee 12/11/02

 

 

 

STUDENT AFFAIRS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

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