Support for Students

"There's no shortage of people of whom you can ask questions, spend time with, and get help from"

—N. Barry Berg, PhD,
Professor of cell and developmental biology and
assistant dean of curriculum

Medical school is one of the biggest challenges a student can face, and can strain every aspect of your life. We have numerous support programs in place to ensure that you not only survive medical school, but thrive in it. Our Early Identification Program identifies students in need of academic assistance and offers appropriate support.

Also, we provide advisors, counselors, contact people in each major course and clerkship, and professional clubs to help you learn about the different medical specialties.

Here are many of the ways
we support our medical students:

• Faculty advisors assigned to each student—one academic and one professional —help set goals, identify problems, motivate and direct students to any needed support services. (Students may select their own advisors.)
• Contact person available in each major course and clerkship.
• Faculty- and student-sponsored tutorials in each major basic science course.
• Educational reference and study center, which encourages participation in campus and national organizations.
• Dr. Holly Vanderhoff,vanderhh@upstate.edu clinical psychologist and director of student counseling, works closely with students needing emotional and/or academic help.
• Early Identification Program spots students in need of academic assistance and offers appropriate support.
• Student Affairs personnel—including campus activities, career center, financial aid, the registrar and residence life—provide a wide range of support services.
• Class meetings scheduled throughout the year to discuss questions and concerns such as grading and choosing residencies.
• Student clubs provide information on medical specialties.
• Summer Human Anatomy—Students may choose to take Human Anatomy for credit during the summer prior to the start of their first year. Human Anatomy is an intensive lab experience, covering a vast amount of information. Students enrolled in the summer program receive individualized instruction due to the small class size (40 students). Students who successfully complete the summer anatomy course are exempt from the class in the fall and may pursue other options—research, electives, Human Anatomy teaching assistant—during that time.