Congratulations to the recently accepted members in the M.D. Class of 2013. The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to welcome you to the University of South Florida College of Medicine and we look forward to meeting you. Our staff includes the individuals listed below. Please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or need assistance.

Steven Specter, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs
sspecter@health.usf.edu

Danielle Schutz, M.A., Director for Student Affairs
dschutz@health.usf.edu

Phyllis Ridgeway, Office Manager
pridgewa@health.usf.edu

Linda Krausman, Administrative Specialist
lkrausma@health.usf.edu

Willie Mitchell, Staff Assistant
wmitchel@health.usf.edu

Michelle Williamson, Director of Financial Aid
miwillia@health.usf.edu

Matt Smith, Financial Aid Specialist
mailto:msmith4@health.usf.edu

Marrissa Cook, College of Medicine Registrar
mcook@health.usf.edu

Jill Dryden, College of Medicine Assistant Registrar
jdryden@health.usf.edu

Please make note of the following important information, dates and requirements pertaining to your upcoming enrollment. Attendance at the outlined events is mandatory for all students in the Class of 2013. An abundance of information is contained herein. Please closely read this entire section and take immediate steps to comply with all requirements. Many requirements take significant time to complete

Communication

E-mail is our primary means of communication with students prior to matriculation, but we may also send mailings via the US Mail system. E-mail or snail mail address changes must be communicated to the Office of Student Affairs (Linda Krausman – lkrausma@health.usf.edu ) and they must also be updated on the AMCAS web site.

USF ID Number (Your U#)

In an effort to protect personal information all USF students are assigned a system generated unique identification number that is to be used for all official university business. To obtain your assigned USF ID# (called your "U" number), go to the USF OASIS system. Click on "OASIS Students/Register". Then select "OASIS Login" from the top left corner. Follow the instructions to obtain your U#. You must know your U# prior to completing many items outlined below.

Student Health Requirements

The College of Medicine has the following four health related requirements that must be met prior to matriculation

1. Students must have health insurance in effect at all times during enrollment at USF COM. During orientation you will be required to sign a statement certifying you have health insurance coverage. Annual re-certification is required throughout your enrollment. Information on basic health insurance policies will be available at orientation for students who do not have current health insurance.
2. Students must have disability insurance in effect at all times during enrollment at USF COM. The policy will be purchased at registration on August 10, 2009 for approximately $75 and is to be renewed annually. Students may opt out of this requirement by providing proof of disability coverage.
3. Students must undergo a physical examination prior to starting school. Complete the Physical Exam Verification Form(it is the last sheet in the packet) and take it to your health care provider for completion of their section. Return the form to the Linda Lennerth, RN, Associate Director, Medical Health Administration (address on form) as soon as possible, but no later than July 17, 2009.
4. 4. Students must complete and provide documented evidence of immunity to specified communicable diseases listed on the Communicable Disease Prevention Certification form. Please take note of the recent requirement for evidence of immunity to Meningitis or the option to decline receipt of the Meningitis vaccine. All immunity documentation must have the student's name clearly identified on every page/sheet; particularly when submitting documents in a "book" format. A list of acceptable documentation is provided on the Communicable Disease Prevention Certification form. Return the form and documentation to Linda Lennerth, RN, Associate Director, Medical Health Administration (address on form) as soon as possible, but no later than July 17, 2009.

All immunizations must be up to date at the time of matriculation on August 10, 2009. Students are not permitted to begin classes or to work in any of our hospitals or clinics without providing the required evidence of physical examination and documenting immunity to the diseases listed.

Registration

Registration and Orientation will take place on Monday, August 10, 2009 beginning with a Welcome Breakfast in the USF Health College of Nursing Rotunda at 7:30 a.m. We will then walk to the USF Health Auditorium at approximately 8:30 a.m. and continue until 5:00 p.m. It is essential that all new medical students report on this date and remain in attendance throughout the entire day. Please dress appropriately professional on this day (i.e., men should wear a shirt and tie; jacket is not necessary).

The Professions of Medicine: Foundations of Doctoring

Welcome to USF! Your first class, "The Professions of Medicine: Foundations of Doctoring" will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. You are embarking on an exciting journey. Our goal through this course is to provide you with an interdisciplinary introduction to the curriculum at the College of Medicine by integrating basic and clinical science as well as introducing you to important topics on ethics and professionalism. On Wednesday, August 12 from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM, you will participate in a ROPES course. Ropes Course experiences are intended to put groups of people into challenge settings that present obstacles that cannot be overcome individually. Your experience on this day will initiate personal and group growth by exposing your group to a collection of activities where you encounter challenges that can be solved only through teamwork. The goal is for your group to create a bond as you solve the challenges before you. Please access the documents (USF Ropes Course Experience and Riverfront Park Challenge Course Check List) and be ready for an engaging afternoon of team building at Riverfront Park.

The Professions of Medicine course runs for two weeks, concluding with the MD White Coat Ceremony, as explained below. You can expect to be occupied with school activities from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day during the first two weeks of school. It is imperative to complete all personal business activities required for moving and orienting oneself to the Tampa area prior to Orientation Day on August 10, 2009.

This is a pass/fail course and attendance is mandatory for all Professions of Medicine sessions.

Moreover, on August 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 (days of participation will depend on your group assignment) you will have several opportunities to complete some activities having to do with your first year at the College of Medicine. These activities include the required BLS training, the TB Mask fitting, and the Learning Connections Inventory; as well as several hands-on patient activities: Interviews with Standardized Patients, Introduction to Physical Exam with Standardized Patients, and Simulated Patient activities.

This year will represent an incredible learning curve for you. Have fun and strive to be the best health care provider you can be. See you soon.

Sincerely,
Lori Bowers, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Name Tag

The Office of Educational Affairs will make name tags for each new student which you will be required to wear daily during the first three to four weeks of school. The name tag will contain your official name as reflected in your BANNER registration. If you prefer to be known by an alternate name (i.e. middle name, nickname) and wish to have that name printed on the name tag in lieu of your first name please email this information to Stephen Charles (scharle1@health.usf.edu) no later than July 17, 2009. Changes to name tags will not be made once school begins on August 10, 2009.

Family Information Session

A Family Information Session will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the USF Health Auditorium on Friday, August 21, 2009. This session is designed to provide information about the USF medical curriculum and to answer questions about what students will experience over the next four years. This session is targeted toward parents of students and spouses or significant others of students.

The White Coat Ceremony

On Friday, August 21, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. students in the Class of 2013 will be participating in a White Coat Ceremony in the USF Health Auditorium. The ceremony is designed to introduce new medical students to the characteristics of the complete doctor and to provide a contract for professionalism and empathy in medicine. Each student will receive a white coat signifying their transition into the medical profession. Immediately following the ceremony everyone is invited to attend a light reception in the College of Nursing Rotunda. All students in the Class of 2013 are expected to participate in this ceremony.

Computer & Printer Requirements

USF medical students are required to own a notebook computer and color laser printer for instructional purposes. Students must have a high-speed internet connection at their residence in order to access course information from the USF Blackboard Portal. Hardware requirements for the notebook are on the Desktop Support Services web site.

Your notebook computer must be ready for use on Monday, August 10, 2009. Here is the timeline to assure that your notebook computer will be ready for use – purchased, received, and configured by USF Health Information Services (IS):

1. June 1, 2009 - begin placing orders with USF Computer Store
2. July 10, 2009 - last day to place computer orders with the USF Computer Store
3. July 31, 2009 - last day to bring your computer to USF Health IS located in the Faculty Office Building (FOB) at 13220 USF Laurel Dr., 2nd Floor, for setup to be assured that it will be ready by August 10, 2009. You may still bring your laptop to the USF Health IS location after this date but it may not be ready for the first day of class.

Financial Aid recipients, please note: if you need to have any component of a new computer and/or printer purchase added to your cost of attendance budget for financial aid you must provide the Financial Aid Office with copies of purchase receipts for the required computer components.

For the clinical years of training students may be required to own a hand-held computer. Specific requirements for the hand-held computer will be determined just prior to the start of the third year. Process for obtaining your notebook computer and printer:

• Starting June 1, 2009 contact the USF Computer Store located in the Marshall Center via the web site or phone 974-1779 to place your order. The order should be placed by July 10, 2009 to be sure it will be ready for classes.
• When your order arrives at the Computer Store, computer store staff will contact you to arrange payment and pick up of the equipment.
• Bring your laptop and Office 2007 CD to the USF Health IS office located in the FOB, 2nd Floor, anytime between when you receive it and July 31st. Please plan that the computer will be with the Health IS group from 1 to 3 days depending on the number of computers that are awaiting setup. This setup will include installing the copy of Office that was purchased in the bundle, a copy of McAfee Anti-Virus software, Adobe, Image Scope, and SecureRemote which is VPN software that will allow you to connect when off-campus. When the setup is complete the support staff will contact you so that you can pick up your equipment.

Latitude E6400 sold by Dell is the recommended computer. All USF Health IS technicians are Dell certified. Latitude E6400 minimum configuration requirements are found at this hyperlink. Item Code is E6400-Stock, Model is Lat#6400, and price is $1,265.85. Although levels of support for tablets will be available through USF Health IS, they are unable to recommend a specific tablet to students at this time. We will keep you posted as their testing of various models of tablets continues.

The recommended printer is HP Color LaserJet CP1215 Printer. The description is found at this printer hyperlink.

Expected Computer Competencies

Students must be able to demonstrate basic computer skills upon entry into medical school including the ability to:

1. Launch a computer application
2. Save work to a computer file
3. Print a file
4. Copy a file for use on another computer
5. Use a standard word processing program to create and edit a formatted document using tables and graphics
6. Use e-mail effectively, including proper etiquette
7. Access and use the Internet
8. Create a Power Point presentation

Students not proficient in these skills are invited to participate in any of the training workshops offered by USF Health Information Services.

USF Student ID Card and Computer Accounts

In order to access secure USF computer sites you must do the following:

1. Apply for a USF Student ID card at the USF Card Center located in the Marshall Student Center, Room 1505. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-6:00pm and Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. For more information please call 974-2357.
2. Apply for an HSCNet Computer Account (a.k.a. Health account)
3. Activate your USF NetID

The attached Computer Account Information instruction sheet explains how to obtain your student ID card and to set up your USF Health and HSCNet Computer accounts. These steps must be completed in sequence and should be started soon. Once you have obtained your USF Health computer account and password you can access the College of Medicine web site where significant information will be available to you.

Campus Parking

A valid USF Parking Permit is required on all vehicles parked on campus. Follow the instructions outlined below to purchase a Non-resident Student Permit prior to Orientation on August 10, 2009. If you are unable to secure your Non-resident Student Permit prior to Orientation make sure you purchase a Visitor Permit on the morning of August 10th as explained below.

1. Non-resident Student Permit – These are available online for purchase after August 3, 2009. Go to Parking & Transportation Services. At the time of purchase you will have the option to either have your permit mailed to you or held for pick up at the Parking & Transportation Services Building (PSB) on USF Plum Drive. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:30am-5:30pm, and Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm. For more information please call 974-3990. Over-the-counter sales will not begin until August 17, 2009 so you are strongly advised to purchase your permit online prior to the start of school. The cost for an annual Commuter Student Permit will be approximately $160 plus tax.
2. Visitor Permit – These are available from the Parking Vending Machines located in Lot 19 (by Moffitt Child Care Center). The cost is $4.00/day.

Note: Medical students should purchase annual permits, not semester permits. Annual permits are effective for a 12-month period from August 2009 to August 2010. The effective dates for the semester permits do not extend through the end of the MD curriculum in 2010. A semester permit would not allow you to park on campus during the final two to three weeks of school.

The Non-resident Student Permit allows you to park in any lot/garage designated "S". The closest lot to the medical school is Lot 32, which is located directly behind the USF Health Bookstore. There are approximately 205 spaces in that lot designated "Student Only" parking. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Overflow student parking is accommodated in Lot 19 (by the Moffitt Child Care Center) or in any "Y" designated lot. Lot 43 is the closest "Y" designated parking to USF Health.

Housing & Roommate List

On-campus dormitories at USF are not well-suited for medical students due to differences in the academic calendars. We recommend students obtain nearby housing off campus and room with another medical student. In order to facilitate the possibility of your rooming with another medical student we will compile a list of medical students seeking roommates and houses/condos that graduating students and/or residents would like to sell or rent. If you wish to be included on the list please e-mail the required information to Linda Krausman (lkrausma@health.usf.edu). Include your name and applicable contact information (address, home phone number, cell phone, e-mail address). This list will be e-mailed to you so make sure you provide us with a valid e-mail address. Also, the 12-PAC is putting together information about local housing opportunities and that information will be available on the 12-PAC web site.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid information and instructions were e-mailed to you under separate cover. Preliminary award notices will be sent to you as your application packets are completed. If you have questions or need further assistance please contact Ms. Michelle Williamson (miwillia@health.usf.edu) or Mr. Matt Smith (msmith4@health.usf.edu).

Tuition, Fees & Other Expenses

Various fees will be collected at Orientation so be sure to bring your checkbook. We cannot accept cash, credit or debit cards. Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year is ESTIMATED to be $25,500 for in-state students and $54,000 for out-of-state students. The yearly amount is split into two installments. The first installment, an estimated amount pending approval by the Florida Board of Governors is due Friday, August 14, 2009. The second installment will be due in January 2010. Approximately thirty (30) days prior to the start of classes your tuition assessment will be available online. An e-mail with your login information will be sent at that time by Marrissa Cook, College of Medicine Registrar. Other approximate expenses encountered during the first few weeks of school include: Books - $1000; Disability Insurance - $75; Miscellaneous supplies and lab coats - $400.

Technical Standards

During the interview process students were provided a copy of the Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression and Graduation from Medical School. Students must advise the Office of Student Affairs in writing of any accommodations that may be needed to assist in accomplishing the requirements specified in the technical standards. Letters must be addressed to Dr. Steven Specter, Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Peer Advisory Committee

The Peer Advisory Committee (12-PAC) is a group of twelve 2nd year medical students and two 2nd year DPT students dedicated to welcoming new medical and DPT students into the USF College of Medicine. You will receive communications from them throughout the summer about the events they have planned.

Reading

Students should arrange to have a personal copy of the text entitled On Doctoring (3rd edition only) for in-class assignments and use by August 24, 2009. Choose hardcopy version for kindle or electronic!! Text will be used by Drs. Nixon, Walker, Reddy, and Monroe. Not required, but if you want a great book and a great film, read Elephants and Whales by Milton Freeman and see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.