COVID-19 Updates
Student Guidance (7/1/2021)
Get the latest updates, information, and Frequently Asked Questions from Medical Education and Graduate Medical Education.
Highlights
Updated 8/4/2021
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Curriculum update: Details about adaptations of the Bridges Curriculum in response to the COVID Delta variant (8/4/2021). More information
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White Coat Ceremony Update: August 8, 2021 ceremony canceled (8/3/2021). More information.
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Update to Launch Week and Differences Matter Orientation Activities (7/30/2021). The Class of 2025 Launch week and Difference Matter Orientation will be largely virtual in response to new CDC guidelines. More information.
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White Coat Ceremony Update: Vaccination and Mask Requirements (7/28/2021). More information.
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Medical Education Begins Reopening July 1, 2021. In-person learning planned for the fall (6/23/2021): More Information
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Effective July 15, 2021 faculty, staff, students and trainees already working on campus must be vaccinated. Anyone not vaccinated must be vaccinated at least two weeks before coming to a UCSF campus or location for any work-related activities. Students must submit their proof of vaccination to Student Health & Counseling Services. Visit the Vaccine Hub for more Information.
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UC Office of the President Proposal for Revised Vaccination Policy for Fall 2021: The University of California is proposing a revised COVID-19 vaccination policy to begin in Fall 2021. The proposed policy will replace the interim policy and require all faculty, staff, trainees and students who access campus facilities at any UC location to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and would allow for individual exemptions (details will be forthcoming).
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Effective April 15, 2021, F2 and Career Launch students who are vaccinated are permitted to participate in the care of patients who are known or suspected to be positive for COVID (i.e., patients whose COVID status requires an enhanced level of precaution [e.g., “Novel Respiratory Virus precautions”]: More information
- Asymptomatic COVID Testing for UCSF Students, Faculty and Staff Now Available: More Information.
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Required Form for External COVID-19 Volunteer and Work Activities: All students involved in COVID-19 external volunteer efforts, elective or paid activities that increase your risk of contracting COVID-19, must sign this form and return to John Davis.
- UCSF Residents and Fellows - COVID-19 Care: Residents and fellows are expected to be part of the planning and care of COVID-19 patients/suspected patients in the context of their specialty programs.
ACGME guidance
- Universal Surgical Mask Policy: All Students, Trainees, Faculty and Staff Required to Wear Surgical Masks When Entering Any UCSF Health Clinical Care Building
UCSF HEALTH universal Surgical Mask Policy
- Daily Health Screening: All UCSF Personnel, Including Students, Must Complete In-Person or Online Screener Before Entering UCSF Hospitals. Text "Screen" to: 83973
UCSF Health Mandatory Daily screening policy
Where can students send additional questions? MedEdDeans@ucsf.edu
Updates by School of Medicine Phase
Please note that all information is accurate as of the dates noted below. For the latest, up-to-date information, please visit the UCSF COVID-19 website.
Graduate Medical Education
OcCUpational Health/PPE & Infection Control Update (10/2/2020)
UCSF Residents and Fellows - COVID-19 Care
Residents and fellows are expected to be part of the planning and care of COVID-19 patients/suspected patients in the context of their specialty programs.
ACGME GUIDANCE
Life Continuity Resources for Individuals and Families
UCSF GME Resources on Xenophobia, Hate Speech and Bias During the COVID-19 Pandemic ACGME COVID-19 FAQs
UCSF GME Responds to Zoom Bombing
COVID-19 Medical Education Principles, Code of Conduct and Guidance
COVID-19 Medical Education Principles
- Our top priority is the safety of all, including patients, students, faculty, staff
- We are committed to ensuring that all students have the clinical experiences needed to continue to make progress toward curricular milestones and graduation
- We are reintroducing students to our limited clinical sites in a staged, prioritized way, starting with more advanced learners first
- In many instances, clinical experiences occur at affiliate or partner and community sites; we are committed to working safely with them around our educational collaborations
COVID-19 Citizenship Code of Conduct for Students
All students are asked to attest to this code to protect themselves, each other, and their communities; and to serve as public health role models. Students affirm that responsible behavior extends to off-campus and personal lives, including at minimum:
- Always wearing a mask in public and when gathering with individuals outside our households
- Maintaining physical distance of at least six feet in public and when gathering with individuals outside our households
- Limiting the size of outdoor gatherings
- Minimizing the size of indoor gatherings with people outside our households
Students commit to adhering fully to current and future directives about social encounters from state and local public health officials.
Guidance for All Students (updated 7/1/2021)
If You Have Symptoms
- Follow Student Health Guidelines
- Remember that attendance policies enable students to miss course/clerkship rotations due to illness
- Contact your Student Experience Advisor if you anticipate a long absence
If You Have Traveled
- Please visit the UCSF COVID 19 Travel Guidance
Extracurricular Activities
- UCSF-sponsored institutional COVID response volunteer work may be approved after consultation with the Medical Education Deans.
- Extra-Curricular Clinical-Based Activities:
As soon as density restrictions in the clinical environment are relaxed, all extra-curricular clinical-based activities (e.g., shadowing, free clinics) will no longer be restricted. Students should follow the guidance of the hosting institution for clinical activities (see above under “Clinical-Based Education”). Please be aware that some health care settings are still operating under density and/or other restrictions and might not be able to participate in these activities at this time.
- Extra-Curricular Classroom-Based Activities:
All activities are permitted in person. These include didactic, social, and skill-based activities. Please note that if patient simulation is involved, guidance may be different (e.g., requiring masks) as above in “Clinical Simulation-Based Education.” In addition, food may be served without restriction.
FAQs: COVID-19 Testing and Precautions
F1 Students
Shadowing: As soon as density restrictions in the clinical environment are relaxed, all extra-curricular clinical-based activities (e.g., shadowing, free clinics) will no longer be restricted. Students should follow the guidance of the hosting institution for clinical activities. Please be aware that some health care settings are still operating under density and/or other restrictions and might not be able to participate in these activities at this time.
F1 Students
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Preceptorships/CMC: All educational activities based in clinical environments will adhere to the guidance of the institution at which they are based. This will typically require surgical masks for all who are fully vaccinated and N-95 masks for those who are not fully vaccinated, and daily symptom screening for all regardless of vaccination status. Physical distancing and/or room density restrictions may vary according to certain sites.
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Classroom Based Instruction: All activities (e.g., lectures, small groups) may now be held in person, pending instructor and room availability. Additional masking guidance for indoor activities will be provided soon.
- Clinical Simulation-Based Education: To the extent possible, simulation-based activities will require the same precautions used in clinical care at the host institution. This is to prepare students to care for patients under conditions like those encountered in clinical environments in which they will be working.
Students in Clinical Environment
Patient-Care Guidelines
- All educational activities based in clinical environments will adhere to the guidance of the institution at which they are based. This will typically require surgical masks for all who are fully vaccinated and N-95 masks for those who are not fully vaccinated, and daily symptom screening for all regardless of vaccination status. Physical distancing and/or room density restrictions may vary according to certain sites.
- F2 and Career Launch students who are vaccinated are permitted to participate in the care of patients who are known or suspected to be positive for COVID (i.e., patients whose COVID status requires an enhanced level of precaution [e.g., “Novel Respiratory Virus precautions”])
- Students on advanced rotations (e.g., subinternships or acting internships) may be expected to participate in the care of all patients assigned to the team
- Course/clerkship directors will decide about the general approach to learners seeing patients who are diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID and should communicate the plans to all learners in advance of any rotation to allow individual students to address concerns and questions with course/clerkship faculty.
- Students ARE allowed to participate in the care of other patients, including patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and patients who have PPE requirements for concerns other than COVID-19
Before Entering the Clinical Environment
- If you have been traveling, you should review the Student Health COVID-19 guidelines to see if there is additional screening needed before you start
- Confirm procedures at your clinical site. Your clerkship coordinator will give you that information 1 week before you enter the clinical environment
- For all UCSF Health Sites please visit this page for up-to-date information about PPE. Sign up for the screening questionnaire in order to gain access to UCSF Health sites (you can text “SCREEN” to 83973 to get a link to the website).
- UCSF Health, ZSFG and the SFVAHCS all require eye protection for all patient encounters while in the patient room.Students will have eye protection available in all UCSF inpatient and outpatient facilities.
- Make sure you are up-to-date with your fit testing mask requirements, per the UCSF Office of Environment, Health and Safety
Students Involved in Research*
Space on campus is prioritized for essential classroom activities. Lab research is at 50% capacity. Students interested in doing lab research must receive approval from their faculty mentor before coming on campus. Please see guidelines below. Updated October 21, 2020.
Please contact MedEdDeans@ucsf.edu with additional questions.
Guidelines for Student Researchers
Campus activities are restricted to essential classroom activities unless you are a student whose faculty mentor has approved program.
- Students may participate in research in nonclinical settings, including face-to-face interactions with others (e.g., lab workers, research participants, etc.), with the approval of their faculty mentor with following caveats:
- Surgical mask at all times for all in the research environment
- Maintaining safer physical distancing (at least 6 feet away from others)
- For instances that require interaction that violates safer physical distancing, appropriate enhanced PPE is available as needed, and such interactions are limited in time (15 minutes or less)
- Disposable gloves available, particularly for handling materials touched by others
- Hand sanitizer always available for frequent hand hygiene
- Campus guidance is followed for safer on-campus operations, including:
- Appropriate screening prior to coming on campus (symptom screen app, etc.)
- Management of symptoms and testing as per SHCS/EHS for those who declare symptoms or have exposure(s).
- If a student feels uncomfortable about in-person interactions, mentors must be able to re-assign to alternative projects.
- In case of any future research activity curtailment, a reminder that students are considered non-essential and should follow the directions of their research units in conjunction with research guidance from campus.