Congratulations on Your Admission
to the UConn School of Medicine.

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 9-25) 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 9. 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

You should have already received this via email, but 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 23, 2023.
UST Information Letter

COVID-19 VACCINE

The UConn Board of Trustees, following a recommendation of the University administration, voted to implement a policy requiring that all students who will be in-person on UConn’s campuses beginning with the fall 2021 semester be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The goal is to safeguard our overall health including patients who may not have been vaccinated. This policy extends to all students at UConn Health. We ask ALL medical students including incoming M1s to be vaccinated before arriving on campus in August.

Please note that the policy allows students to apply for exemptions, including those for medical and other reasons. Information on how to apply for an exemption will be shared shortly by the Office of Student Affairs as well as how to upload your vaccination information.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and would like to schedule a vaccination at UConn Health, please go to: https://health.uconn.edu/coronavirus/covid-vaccine/

Academic Calendar

This calendar refers to important dates that pertain only to incoming students in 2023-2024, 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.

Health Forms

Incoming students must have a physical exam with Student Health Services. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 860-679-2893. You will need to bring the completed Health Questionnaire for Incoming Students, any available immunization documentation, and the signed Immunization Documentation Form to your appointment.

• 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.

Download Health Letter.pdf

Download Health Questionnaire.pdf

Download Immunization Form.pdf

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 10th. 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 9-25), the date for the White Coat Ceremony has been set! The School of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony will take place on Friday, August 18th at 10:00 am. The current plan (subject to change if COVID-19 restrictions 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.

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 this survey. These coats use men’s sizing, please refer to the size chart below. Please be sure to submit your answers by July 3rd. 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″

Final Transcripts

We require final transcripts from anyone who received a bachelor’s degree in Fall of 2022 or Spring of 2023.  If this applies to you, you should have already received an email from Emily Montano with the request to send us your final official transcript showing the degree granted.  If you finished your undergraduate degree in Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 and did not receive an email from Emily regarding your final transcripts, please email her immediately at admissions@uchc.edu.

Laptops

The standardized laptop requirement for the School of Medicine for students entering in 2023 is the HP Elite x360 1040 G9. 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. 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.

Email Accounts

New student network accounts have been created! Please use the UConn Health information in the list below to log in to http://itowa.uchc.edu. You will be prompted to change your temporary password.

The initial password is set to First Initial First Name Uppercased + First Initial Last Name Lowercase + DOB (formatted YYYYMMDD). For example, John Doe with DOB 12/31/1999 would have an initial password of Jd19991231. You must enter leading zeros. For example, if John Doe were born on May 6, 1989 it would be: Jd19890506

After you change your temporary password you can access your UConn Health email by visiting http://itowa.uchc.edu with your new password. As a student, it is your responsibility to check this account on a daily basis.

You will also see your uconn.edu “Storrs” email account on the list. You will need this information during Launch for when you use Office 360. All email sent to your uconn.edu email will be automatically forwarded to your uchc.edu account.
List of email accounts

PARKING PERMITS

Please complete the parking form and email it to parking.transportation@uchc.edu with “Student Parking – first name last name” in the subject line. This form is due by 5 pm (EST) on Monday, July 10th. Under category, check SOM 1st year. The payment type and payroll deduction sections should be left blank.  Even if you are not parking on campus, you still need to complete the form and check off the decline box.
Parking Form.pdf

WELLNESS CENTER

As a student, you will have a free membership to the Wellness Center, as well as access to free wellness classes. Located in LM-034 (around the corner from the Financial Aid Office), you will have 24/7 badge access. For questions, email the Wellness Center wellnesscenter@uchc.edu. In order to gain access, register for the Wellness Center and click submit. After you submit your registration, your student ID badge will be activated and you will be able to swipe it for access to the Center.

$3,190 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, 2023 to July 31, 2024) is $3,190.00.

All of your program/tuition/charges/fees will be billed via the UConn student administration system. If you haven’t already, you will receive an email notification when your fall 2023 e-bill is available to view. You will not receive a printed/mailed fee bill. The $3,190.00 student insurance charge will be one of the charges posted on your fall 2023 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 $3,190.00 insurance charge removed from your fall 2023 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 2022-2023 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, 2023. 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, 2023 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 $3,190.00 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

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. Originally published in 2011, you can find the book as described below.

Please be prepared to discuss the assigned chapters on August 16th. 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 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. Identify that race was created as a social construct and is not a biological risk factor for disease;
2. Distinguish how race has been used and misused in medical and dental education, scientific research and clinical care;
Describe how racism contributes to health 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 reading:
1. Chapters 1, 4, and 6.
a. Chapter 1 is in Part I of the book: Believing in Race in the Genomic Age
b. Chapters 4 & 6 are in Part II of the book: The New Racial Science
2. There will be one additional journal article assigned for discussion at this session.  You will be able
to find that article along with the full syllabus for the session on HuskyCT, our online curriculum
system, using your NetID as described below in the “Prepare for Launch” section.

How to access Fatal Invention:
Faculty and students can access Fatal Invention in several ways. See below.
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.
2. Any local library might have a physical or e-copy.
3. Buy a paperback, available on Amazon from ~$12.00-$16.00 per copy.
4. 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.

PREPARE FOR LAUNCH

Preparatory materials for Orientation/Launch have been posted on HuskyCT. Instructions on how to access these materials are below. You can expect that a significant amount of preparation will be required for a number of sessions during this period.

While formal grades will not be issued during the Launch period, there will be a practice examination in the final week of Launch.  Those passing this examination will be exempted from completing one or more major graded homework assignments in VITAL 1.1 Block A (in September-October) as well as released from two mandatory review sessions also held in September.  This material will also be included in the LEAP A examination in November.

Please note: You will need to check back prior to the start of Launch as some syllabi and preparatory materials will be added in an ongoing basis until the Launch begins.

HuskyCT: is our curricular management system, and where you will find information on your courses and assignments. The navigation toolbar on the left is identical for all courses. You will need your NetID in order to log into HuskyCT at lms.uconn.edu.

Schedule & Required Preparation: The schedule for Orientation/Launch has not been finalized yet. However, attached is a list of all of the sessions that have required preparatory assignments IN ADVANCE of the session. You can find the preparation for the 8/9 and 8/11 sessions by following the instructions below after logging into HuskyCT. Click on Courses in the left menu, click on EXPL-8000-SEC001-BSCI-9000-SEC001-003-1238 (Launch):

1. Launch > Curricular Materials (on left) > AITS Introduction > Syllabus. Required ReALM Materials lists the required preparation assignments.
2. Launch > Curricular Materials (on left) > TBL and How to Succeed > Syllabus. Required ReALM Materials lists the required preparation assignments.
3. Launch > Curricular Materials (on left) > Delivery of Clinical Care (DoCC) Pre-Sessions/Clinical Skills & Simulation Activities > DoCC 1 (or 2, 3, 4) > Syllabus. The Recommended ReALMS in these syllabi are the required preparation for the sessions.
4. Launch > Curricular Materials (on left) > Money Matters. The presentations in this folder are the required preparation for the sessions.

2023 Launch Sessions with required prep assignments

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