Technical Non-Academic Standards

Essential Abilities and Characteristics Required for Completion of the MD Degree

Introduction

The School of Medicine intends for its graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of pursing and completing residency, passing licensing exams and obtaining and maintaining medical licensure. Thus, all matriculants are expected to achieve competence in the full curriculum required by the faculty. Essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the MD degree consist of certain minimum physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional abilities to assure that candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation can participate fully in all aspects of medical training with or without reasonable accommodation. DGSOM is committed to attracting and educating students who will make the population of healthcare professionals’ representative of the national population. Therefore, we welcome the diverse experiences of learners with unique lived experience. 

Reasonable Accommodation

DGSOM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations that ensure students with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of the curriculum. We encourage students to engage in a private, collaborative, and individualized process with DGSOM Disability Services to discuss and determine appropriate accommodations. This process allows students to actively participate in decisions regarding their accommodation needs. DGSOM is committed to excellence in accessibility and encourages students with disabilities to disclose and seek accommodations as early as possible. The technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively to past assessments or experiences; however, we are committed to working with students who self-identify if they have a disability-related need for accommodations. We aim to implement approved accommodations as early as possible to support ongoing student academic and clinical success. Given the clinical nature of our programs, time may be needed to create and implement the accommodations.

Technical Standards

The essential abilities and characteristics described herein are also referred to as technical (or non-academic) standards.  They are described below in several broad categories including observation; communication; motor; intellectual, conceptual, integral, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and social and behavioral skills. 

Delineation of technical standards is required for the accreditation of U.S. medical schools by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.  The following abilities and characteristics are defined as technical standards, which in conjunction with academic standards established by the faculty, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation and may be met with or without reasonable accommodations. 

  1. Observation

    Candidates must be able to obtain information from demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences and participate in experiments of science, including but not limited to such things as dissection of cadavers; examination of specimens in anatomy, pathology, and neuroanatomy laboratories; and microscopic study of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. Candidates should be able to assess a patient and evaluate findings accurately.

  2. Communication  

    Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families, and members of the health care team. They must be able to obtain a medical history in a timely fashion, interpret all aspects of communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.  Candidates must be able to record information accurately and clearly; and communicate effectively with other health care professionals in a variety of patient settings.

  3. Motor Function

    Candidates must possess the capacity to learn to perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers. Students should be able to execute motor movements required to provide general care to patients and provide or direct the provision of emergency treatment of patients.

  4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integral, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities 

    Candidates must have the ability to synthesize the detailed and complex information presented in the medical school curriculum. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom instruction; small group, team, and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer and information technology.  Candidates must be able to memorize, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information by multiple methods.  They must recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events. They must be able to formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem-solving in diagnosis and treatment of patients in a variety of clinical settings.\

  5. Behavioral and Social Attributes

    Candidates should possess the emotional regulation required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of effective relationships with patients, family members, fellow students, faculty, and staff. They should be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Candidates must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes. They must adhere to universal precaution measures and meet safety standards applicable to inpatient and outpatient settings and other clinical activities. Candidates should possess the capacity to engage in help-seeking behaviors in light of elevated responsibility and uncertainty. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, professionalism, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are expected during the education processes.

  6. Ethical and Legal Standards

    Required Disclosures of Arrest, Charge, or Conviction 
    Candidates must meet the legal standards for licensure as specified by the Federation of State Medical Boards. As such, candidates for admission must acknowledge and provide written explanation of any felony or misdemeanor offense(s) action taken against them prior to matriculation at the School of Medicine.  In addition, after matriculation, students must immediately notify the Associate Dean of Students of any arrest, charge, or conviction occurring thereafter. Felony conviction or failure to disclose prior or new offenses can lead to disciplinary action by the school that may include dismissal. 

Responsibility and References

  1. RESPONSIBILITY 
    DGSOM Medical Students
  2. REFERENCES
    LCME Element 10.5 Technical Standards
  3. OWNER 
    Disability Services Office
  4. REVIEWED BY 
    Curricular Affairs Office
    Student Affairs Office 
    Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
    Assistant Dean for Curricular Affairs
    Vice Dean for Education
    Committee on Academic Standing Progress and Promotion (CASPP)
    Medical Education Committee (MEC)
    UCOP Legal Office
    UCOP Systemwide Disability Rights Office
    Office of Civil Rights Office
  5. APPROVED BY
    Faculty Executive Committee (FEC)
  6. REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE 
    August 2025, 3-Year review cycle