2024 Congratulations on Your Admission to UConn School of Medicine

Congratulations on Your Admission
to the UConn School of Medicine.

Contact Information

Office of Medical Student Affairs and Admissions
Phone: 860-679-4713
Fax: 860-679-6763
Email: admissions@uchc.edu


Marilyn Katz, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Thomas Regan, M.D.
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs

Carla Burns, M.Ed.
Director of Admissions and Student Affairs

Liz Golebieski, M.P.H.
Administrative Program Coordinator

Antonella Pagani
Administrative Program Coordinator

Emily Montano
Administrative Program Assistant

Admission to the School of Medicine is quite an accomplishment, and we are very pleased for you. Before the year gets started there is a good deal of information we would like to share with you, and some information that we will need to gather from you as well. This page is the source for that information, so please check it regularly. We will be adding important information over the course of the summer, and will notify you via email when we have made additions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admissions@uchc.edu.

ORIENTATION/LAUNCH

Launch, which includes orientation and curricular activities, (August 15-29) is a required event for all new students. Launch events may be in-person, or a combination of in-person and virtual activities. Please plan on being engaged, either in-person or online, from 8 am – 5 pm on those weekdays. Students will often rotate in small group experiences, and to accommodate the schedule there will also be some evening sessions that will require your participation. The Orientation/Launch period consists of a combination of activities to help familiarize you with the Health Center, meet your classmates, continue your “on-boarding” to the School of Medicine, and begin the foundational coursework that you will build upon in Block A courses. In other words, you will be attending classes during the Launch.

Preparatory materials for Orientation/Launch will be made available prior to August 15. Instructions on how to access these materials will be provided. You can expect that a significant amount of preparation will be required for a number of sessions during this period.

URBAN SERVICE TRACK/AHEC SCHOLARS APPLICATION

Please review the information on the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars program, an opportunity to work with urban under-served patient populations. The information includes a link to an on-line application for those who would like to be considered for this enrichment opportunity. The on-line application is available now and will remain open until June 30, 2024.
UST Information Letter

Academic Calendar

This calendar refers to important dates that pertain only to incoming students in 2024-2025, and is subject to change.
Stage 1 Academic Calendar

Weekly Schedules

Stage 1 students will be placed in one of three learning communities. Each learning community follows their own weekly schedule, consisting of 22 required contact hours per week. When classes begin in August we expect to be in-person, but the schedule and curriculum have the flexibility to respond to the environment as needed. Learning communities (and weekly schedules) will be announced during Orientation/Launch. Students can expect to spend 60 hours each week between the contact hours and preparation/study time for classes.
Example of Weekly Schedules

NetIDs

You used your NetID to make your enrollment deposit. You will need your NetID to access curricular information on HuskyCT (instructions on that later). If you have forgotten your NetID, or need to change the password, you can retrieve it or reset your password at https://netid.uconn.edu/. If you have questions, please contact UITS at 860-486-4357 or helpcenter@uconn.edu.

ID Badges

You must visibly wear your ID badge at all times in the Health Center. The ID Office will prepare your badges in advance, and they will be provided to you on the first day of orientation. In order to do this, you need to provide a “head shot” photo of yourself, and email it to admissions@uchc.edu by Monday, July 1st. In the subject line of your email, write your Last name, First name, student photo.

Your photo must be:

  • Against a solid background
  • A shoulders & up head shot (not a selfie)
  • In .jpg format
  • Facing forward

White Coat Ceremony

While the specifics of the Orientation and Launch schedule has not yet been finalized (August 15-29), the date for the White Coat Ceremony has been set! The School of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony will take place on Friday, August 23rd at 10:00 am. The current plan (subject to change) is to have a live in-person ceremony in the Academic Rotunda. The attire for the White Coat Ceremony is professional.

Each student is allowed to bring a maximum of two guests to the ceremony, tickets will be provided.  Please be aware that the Health Center reserves the right to change the guest policy if COVID-19 restrictions change.  A link to the live stream of the ceremony will be provided for you to share with family and friends who are not able to attend, and the ceremony will be recorded in case anyone wants to watch at a later time.

Laptops

The standardized laptop requirement for the School of Medicine for students entering in 2024 is the HP Elite x360 1040 G10. You will receive the required laptop when you arrive on campus, so you do not need to purchase one in advance. It will be pre-loaded with the required curricular software chosen by the faculty. The Elite 1040 is a top-of-the-line model equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor technology and 16 GB RAM and meets the strict specifications mandated by the e-testing program used throughout your courses here. The computer comes with a 4-year accidental damage protection warranty in the event that your laptop needs repairs. (*please note this does NOT cover the battery)* The laptop is itemized on your tuition and fee bill. If you receive financial aid, the cost of the laptop is included in the budget prepared by the financial aid office.

Order Your White Coat

All students will receive a white coat at the White Coat Ceremony. Place your white coat order and select your size and how you want your name to appear by filling out thissurvey. These coats use men’s sizing, please refer to the size chart below.Please be sure to submit your answers by June 17th.We want to make sure that we have enough time to order a white coat for everyone!

Men’s Chest Measurement
XS = 32″
S = 34 or 36″
M = 38 or 40″
L = 42 or 44″
XL = 46 or 48″
2XL = 50 or 52″

Health Forms

Incoming students must have a physical exam within 6 months of the first day of Launch. You can complete this requirement with your own primary care provider, or with UConn’s Occupational Health Services.

Please note: While it is requested that students stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, it is not currently required.  The current requirement is for reporting the status of your COVID-19 vaccinations.  Please report this on your immunization form.

If you choose to use your own provider, email all of your completed forms to SOMFormsReview@uchc.edu before the first day of Launch.  Your own health insurance will be billed for the exam, as well as any immunizations and tests.

If you choose to use UConn’s Occupational Health, call 860-679-2893 to schedule an appointment before the first day of Launch.  Your own health insurance will be billed for the exam, as well as any immunizations and tests.  Bring all of the completed forms with you, including any available immunization documentation.  Do not make an appointment that conflicts with new student orientation/launch, as your attendance is mandatory.

  • Pay special attention to the immunization requirements and get those you are missing with your own physician before you arrive.
  • A Hepatitis B surfice antibody is required. If it’s negative, this vaccine should be started immediately by your own physician.

Health Letter
Health Questionnaire
Immunization Form
Health Requirements FAQ

$2,973 Medical Insurance Charge

As a student, it is a university requirement that you are insured in a medical insurance plan. ALL UConn Health students are automatically be charged for the university sponsored Wellfleet/Cigna medical insurance plan. The cost of the coverage, for the full plan year (August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025) is $2,973.

All of your program/tuition/charges/fees will be billed via the UConn student administration system. You should have already received an email notification that your fall 2024 e-bill is available to view. You will not receive a printed/mailed fee bill. The $2,973 student insurance charge will be one of the charges posted on your fall 2024 term fee bill.

You do have the option to choose an alternative medical insurance plan – other than the university sponsored Wellfleet/Cigna plan. If you choose to be covered by another insurance plan (including a parent’s insurance plan) you MUST complete an online insurance waiver, to have the $2,973 insurance charge removed from your fall 2024 fee bill.

If you are considering enrollment in the Wellfleet/Cigna plan, and the additional dental coverage, you can find an explanation of the plan benefits/coverage in the attached 2024-2025 Medical Coverage Highlights and Dental Plan Flyer.

The online waiver to decline the Wellfleet/Cigna plan, is accessed via the student administration system using your NetID. You can find the instructions on how to complete the waiver on the Waive UConn Health Insurance page. The online waiver is available until the deadline of September 15, 2024. If you have other alternative medical coverage and do not want to be enrolled in the Wellfleet/Cigna plan – you MUST complete an online waiver, prior to the September 15, 2024 deadline. Failure to complete an online wavier will result in your enrollment in the plan and you will NOT be eligible for a refund of the $2,973 premium.

If you have questions related to the plan, benefits or waiver process, please contact the University of Connecticut Insurance Coordinators Tara Schlagenhauf tara.schlagenhauf@uconn.edu 860-486-9239 or Kathy Aldrich Kathy.aldrich@uconn.edu 860-486-4535.

Medical Coverage Highlights
Dental Plan Flyer

CLIC SURVEY

Welcome to the UConn School of Medicine Clinical Immersion in the Community (CLIC) Program!

Beginning in mid-September and spanning three years, you will spend half a day per week with one of our community physician faculty members in their practice. The UConn CLIC Program aims to expose you to patients in a continuity setting and enable you to gradually take on more responsibility in patient care as your skills and knowledge progress. This program is a cornerstone of our medical school curriculum, offering students the opportunity to express their preferences for site placements. While we strive to accommodate these preferences, we may not always be able to match students with their top choices due to scheduling and availability constraints. To assist us in the placement process, please complete a brief questionnaire available via the link below by Friday, July 19th.

In late July, our office will reach out to arrange mandatory in-person or virtual sessions to meet you and answer any questions you may have about the CLIC Program.

If you have any questions, please contact the CLIC Program directly at UConnSOMCLIC@uchc.edu

Take the Survey – CLASS OF 2028

LAUNCH BOOK DISCUSSION

One of the assignments that should be completed prior to Launch is the reading for the book discussion. The book selected for this year’s orientation is Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-first Century (2011) by Dorothy Roberts. You can find the book as described below.

Please be prepared to discuss the assigned chapters on August 16, 8:00am. The educational team at UConn chose this book because it both addresses commonly held misconceptions about “race” and because it will serve as an important foundation for later sessions in Stage 1 of the curriculum.

Our choice of the book and instructions for discussion are adapted from a summer curriculum originally developed at University of Washington School of Medicine.

Objectives:
By the end of the summer reading program and small group discussions, incoming medical and dental students will be able to:

  1. Describe why race is considered a social construct and is not a biological risk factor for disease.
  2. Describe classification error and the impact it can have on study results and clinical practice.
  3. Distinguish how race has been used and misused in medical and dental education, scientific research and clinical care.
  4. Describe how racism contributes to health inequities.
  5. Describe some interventions that can be utilized to address the effects of racism in medicine and inequities.We ask that you come ready for a respectful and thoughtful discussion of a topic that is central to understanding health care and health inequities in the twenty-first century.

Assigned readings:

  1. Chapters 1, 4, and 6.
    1. Chapter 1 is in Part I of the book: Believing in Race in the Genomic Age
    2. Chapters 4 & 6 are in Part II of the book: The New Racial Science
  2. There will be additional journal articles assigned for discussion at this session. You will be able to find those articles along with the full syllabus for the session on HuskyCT, our online curriculum system, using the login and NetID described below.

How to access Fatal Invention:

  1. E-Book in UConn Health library*: you will need both your UConn Health login in (to get into the library) and your NetID and password, if it is asked for. Library e-book

*Caution, only one person can access the e-book at a time. Good times to try include early in the morning.

  1. Any local library might have a physical or e-copy.
  2. Buy a paperback, available on Amazon from ~$12.00-$16.00 per copy.
  3. Probably the easiest way for many is buying Fatal Invention as a Kindle e-book.** The kindle version costs ~$13.00 on Amazon today. (Amazon) The kindle version allows you to highlight and take notes on the text, as you would on a physical copy.

**Note, users do NOT need to own a Kindle device. Kindle has an app that works on smart phones, tablets and both PCs and Macs (Free Kindle Apps). The app is free. You can add the “audible” version and listen to the assignment for an additional ~ $3-$8.

PARKING PERMITS

Please complete the parking form below and email it to parking.transportation@uchc.edu with “Student Parking – first name last name” in the subject line.

  • Form is due by 5 pm (EST) on Tuesday, July 16th
  • Under category, check SOM 1st year
  • Leave payment type and payroll deduction sections blank
  • Even if you are not parking on campus, you still need to complete the form and check off the decline box!

Parking Form

More information to come on…
New Student Orientation
Summer Assignments
White Coat Ordering
…and more!