Clerkship FAQ
These frequently asked questions about clerkships and rotations address issues related to the third and fourth year MD Program curriculum at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
- Financial Aid
- Parking
- Scheduling
- Statewide Rotations
- Health Sciences Learning Center
- Transcription, Dictations and Orders
- Absences and Exam Policies
- YEPSA Exam
- Problems or Concerns on Clerkships
- Additional Resources
Financial Aid
When will I get my financial aid?
For students who have accepted their financial aid award, checks will be sent in late August to the mailing addresses found on My UW-Madison. Update your mailing address on My UW if necessary.
What do I do if I need money before the end of August?
Beginning July 5, you can apply for a short-term loan at the Financial Aid Office, 333 East Campus Mall #9701. Complete the application at the reception desk, turn it in, and unless you hear from Amy Whitford, go to the Bursar's Office, 333 East Campus Mall #10501, after 1pm the following day to pick up your check.
If you are out of town and cannot go to the office to complete the form, contact Amy Whitford at amy.whitford@finaid.wisc.edu for options.
Parking
Is there parking available for students in their clinical years?
Medical students doing anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery clerkships will be allowed to purchase parking permits for Lot 60 or 76 upon space availability for $65/month. The closest Transportation Services offices to the hospital are the Wisconsin Alumni Foundation Building (WARF) building or American Family Children's Hospital.
Please let the staff at Transportation Services know you are a third- or fourth-year medical student on a 5am rotation and should be on the medical student list. If you are not on the list, get in touch with Jane McGann at jmcgann@wisc.edu to clarify your rotation with parking staff.
Where do I go to purchase parking for rotations in Madison?
You can go to any of Transportation Services' three main offices in Madison:
- Welcome Center, 21 N. Park St.
- WARF, Room 124, 610 N. Walnut St.
- American Family Children's Hospital, Room E0004, 1675 Highland Ave.
Office hours are 7:15am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. Phone: (608) 263-6666.
What if I live far from campus and have a lot of rotations in Madison?
Students who live outside Madison are eligible to apply for annual student parking permits, effective Sept. 1. View the UW-Madison Transportation Services parking information for students. The lots you can choose from are Lot 46 ($745), Lot 59 ($745), Lot 60 ($495) and Lot 83 ($1,085/Fluno Center).
If I get a commuter or monthly pass, can I share or sell it?
No. Permits are for the exclusive use of the permit holder and may not be transferred, sold or loaned to anyone else for their use. Permits must be properly displayed and correct license plate numbers must be on file with Transportation Services. If you do not follow the policies set in place by Transportation Services, you will lose your ability to purchase additional permits for later rotations.
View Transportation Services Policies
Scheduling
What if I need to change my schedule?
If you have circumstances requiring you to drop a core clerkship (medicine, primary care, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology or psychiatry) you must get permission to drop from Patrick McBride, associate dean for students. For other schedule changes, log in to OASIS. Contact Terri Dolan at tldolan@wisc.edu if you need further assistance.
Statewide Rotations
Are there differences in the curricula for clerkships conducted at different Sites?
The medical school works hard to teach comparable curricula at each site and the clerkship directors in Madison are in close contact with, and meet regularly with, the clerkship directors at each clinical site to be certain that there is parity at each site.
How can I be sure I am getting information I need from Madison while at other training sites?
WiscMail is the official mode of communication for the medical school, and all medical school information will be sent to your WiscMail "wisc.edu" address. You are responsible for monitoring this account.
Health Sciences Learning Center
How do I get after-hours access to the Health Sciences Learning Center?
The only ID card that will give you Health Sciences Learning Center access is the UW-Madison WiscOne Card.
Note: This card does not replace your UW Health ID badge. While you are in the hospital, you are required to wear your UW Health ID badge. If you do not have a WiscOne Card, follow the directions posted in the "General Iinformation" folder in the M3 folder in OASIS Notices.
What are the hours for Ebling Library and the University Book Store?
The Ebling Library and University Book Store are accessible during the following times:
Ebling Library
Monday-Thursday, 7:30am-11:45pm
Friday, 7:30am-5:45pm
Saturday, 10am-5:45pm
Sunday, 10am-11:45pm
University Book Store at HSLC
Monday-Thursday, 7:45am-6pm
Friday, 7:45am-5:30pm
Saturday, 10am-3pm
Sunday, Closed
Where are the student mailboxes?
Mailboxes for students in their clinical years are located in the Clinical Science Center (UW Hospital and Clinics) on the first floor near the F elevators. If you enter from the north entrance of the hospital near the Health Sciences Learning Center, go past the cafeteria and around the G module (where there are red lockers) until you reach the F6 hallway.
Some clerkships put orientation packets in mailboxes before the start of clerkship rotations or students are instructed, via OASIS or e-mail, to pick up orientation materials at a specified location. The OASIS online course catalog is often the best source for clerkship-related information.
Transcription, Dictations and Orders
Policies on transcriptions, dictations and orders can be site- and computer-system specific. Students should check with their rotation coordinators for current information.
Absences and Exam Policies
The UW School of Medicine and Public Health excuses absences due to emergencies and certain professional activities. Examples of excused absences include a death in the family; religious holidays; serious personal illness or illness of a spouse, domestic partner or dependent child.
Students may be excused to attend professional meetings if they are presenting their research or participating as a leader in the organization. Refer to the Clerkship Policies for Absences and Examinations document, which is in your folder and in OASIS Notices.
When am I Considered "off duty" for public holidays?
The Clinical Years Calendar includes times when students are excused for public holidays (Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day). Please note that you are responsible for checking with your training site to confirm expectations for any occasion that is not included on the Clinical Years Calendar.
What about religious holidays that aren't public holidays?
It is the student's responsibility to notify the clerkship director as soon as possible, and at the latest at the beginning of the clerkship, of religious holidays that are not also public holidays for which they request to be off service.
What should I do if I am sick and suddenly can't attend clerkship activities?
You are responsible for completing the requirements of each clerkship in a timely manner. If you have to miss time on the wards for illness or other personal reasons, it is your responsibility to contact the clerkship administrator where you are doing your rotation.
If you miss a few days but complete the work required for the clerkship, you may not have to make up the time. If, however, you are unable to complete requirements of the clerkship before the end of the rotation or miss more than five days, you will be required to make up the time.
Remember that your team of housestaff and attending physicians are counting on you to be present. The duration of the make-up time will be determined by each clerkship director and the dean of students.
What should I do if I become sick on an exam day?
If you become ill on the day of the final examination, you must contact the clerkship administrator as soon as possible and complete the Year 3 and Year 4 Request to Reschedule an Exam form located in the Forms subfolder in the Med 3 folder in OASIS Notices.
If you become ill earlier and are unable to complete the clerkship and unable to take the final examination, you must make an appointment to speak with Patrick McBride, associate dean for students, about your medical problems. Students will be excused from an examination only if they have the form by dean McBride.
What are the policies regarding leaves of absence and exam delays?
If you have an emergency situation, a prolonged illness, and need to drop a required clerkship or request a leave of absence, you are required to inform Patrick McBride's office at (608) 263-4920. Office staff will assist you with the specific protocol for these situations.
Please keep in mind that it is still your responsibility to communicate your expected absence to your clerkship. The dean of students also needs to be contacted to obtain permission to take early/late exams.
What if I need an accommodation for an exam?
Students who are accorded exam accommodations by Student Academic Support Services need to inform the clerkship administrator of this as soon as possible after the clerkship begins. We suggest you send an e-mail to the clerkship administrator at the start of the clerkship so that alternative testing can be arranged.
YEPSA Exam
What is the YEPSA?
The Year-End Professional Skills Assessment (YEPSA) is a multi-station performance-based exam given at the end of the third year (first week in June) that is similar in format to an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
Core competencies identified by third-year required clerkships will be tested and assessed at each exam station. A final list of the YEPSA core competencies will be distributed at your first Core Day in the fall and will also be available in OASIS (YEPSA folder). The YEPSA core competency list is derived from the required experiences you will be tracking on each rotation. It is recommended that you refer to this competency list throughout your clerkship year.
Is it a mandatory exam?
Yes. Passing the Year-End Professional Skills Assessment (YEPSA) is a graduation requirement. All eligible third-year medical students must take the exam before continuing into their fourth year.
How do I know if I am eligible for YEPSA?
All third-year students should take YEPSA at the spring (June) administration. Students who have completed at least 40 weeks of the third-year required clerkships (medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, primary care, psychiatry and surgery) automatically qualify for the June exam. Students who have completed more than one week of a clerkship will be credited with having completed the whole clerkship for purposes of computing the 40 weeks.
Students who have failed a clerkship will have their eligibility for YEPSA reviewed by the YEPSA Advisory Committee. Students are eligible to take the YEPSA even if they have failed a clerkship exam. Students who have not completed 40 weeks of core experiences by the above criteria may apply to take YEPSA early. The YEPSA Advisory Committee reviews these requests.
If you have questions about this exam, please e-mail Bill Schwanke, exam coordinator, at wrschwan@wisc.edu.
Problems or Concerns on Clerkships
What should I do if I encounter a difficulty with my team, etc., during a clerkship?
If you have a problem on your clinical rotation, in many cases you should first try to solve it yourself with the clerkship director. If you are away at one of our clinical campuses, the local director may contact the clerkship director in Madison to get advice on what to do.
If you have tried this without success, you are encouraged to contact Patrick McBride, associate dean for students, at (608) 263-4920 or pem@medicine.wisc.edu, or ombudsperson Rosa Garner at (608) 265-9666 or rgarner@wisc.edu.