University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Medical Student Education Policy for Volunteer Clinical Professor Roles and Responsibilities

Purpose

To outline the roles and responsibilities of Volunteer Clinical Professors participating in the undergraduate medical education program.

Overview

The UCSF School of Medicine endeavors to expose students to the practice of medicine in many different settings and in many different types of care delivery systems. In addition, it is desirable to ensure that we have sufficient faculty preceptors so that students have a sufficient amount of individualized attention to achieve their learning goals in the clinical arena. To accomplish these goals, the School of Medicine endeavors to recruit, train and support community-based physicians to participate in the education of our medical students.

Definitions:

Volunteer Clinical Professor (VCP): Community-based physicians who are not paid by UCSF and participate in the education of medical students and residents and are appointed to a UCSF academic series.

APM 279:  The University of California section of the Academic Personnel Manual that refers to the policies and procedures for faculty appointments for Volunteer Clinical Professors.

Volunteer Clinical Professor Series: The UCSF academic appointment series appropriate for Volunteer Clinical Professors.

Related LCME Standards

9.2: Faculty Appointments

Principles

 

  1. Students working with and learning from Volunteer Clinical Professors (VCP) are expected to have an educational experience equivalent to those students who are working with regular series faculty in the same clerkship or educational experience. This is monitored through the program evaluation process.
  2. VCP perform a valuable service for the University and as such should be supported in and recognized for the work that they do to educate our students.
  3. All  VCP and faculty are required to teach and assess students in accordance with the School of Medicine graduation objectives, course or clerkship specific learning objectives and institutional assessment strategies.
  4. All VCP and faculty should periodically participate in formal faculty development to optimize their teaching.
  5. Satisfactory performance of VCP and faculty is measured by course/clerkship director assessment, informed by student evaluations of faculty and evidence of compliance with required faculty responsibilities.

Policy

 

  1. Volunteer Clinical Professors (VCP) are recruited and evaluated by the course and clerkship directors overseeing their work with students. They are recruited to participate in specific activities each year.1
  2. VCP must comply with APM 279 and submit information about licensure, malpractice coverage and other clinical information in order to request a faculty appointment. Failure to submit required information will result in a delay or denial of faculty appointment.
  3. In addition to meeting the requirements of APM 279, VCP must attest annually to adhering to the key medical student policies and procedures each year they are participating in teaching medical students. This attestation is required of all UCSF faculty teaching medical students. The attestation confirms they agree to:
    1. Follow the UCSF School of Medicine Medical Student Policies and that they are aware of the school's graduation competencies, course/clerkship objectives and School of Medicine assessment strategies to teach and assess student performance.
    2. Act in a manner compatible with the UCSF Principles of Community, UC Anti-discriminatory policy and that they understand the procedures for reporting medical student mistreatment.
    3. Review and understand the procedures for reporting medical student mistreatment
    4. Adhere to UCSF SOM policy on duality of interest.
    5. Complete assessment forms and other assignments in accordance with the ‘Foundations 1 and Foundations 2 Assessment and Grading Policy’.
    6. Notify the Associate Dean for Students or other university official with concerns about student wellbeing or performance.
  4. VCP will be proposed by the relevant course and clerkship director for faculty appointment as soon as is practical after recruitment. Faculty appointments will be processed by the Department aligned with the individual’s board certification.
  5. To maintain an appointment as a VCP, the clinician must remain in good standing, as indicated by the following criteria:
    1. expected to teach approximately 50 hours of teaching per year;2
    2. is rated as satisfactory or better by the relevant clerkship or course director; and
    3. must not have received complaints about medical student mistreatment.
  6. If personal or professional circumstances prevent a VCP in good standing from accepting assigned teaching responsibilities they may request a waiver of teaching assignments for no more than one year and still maintain their VCP appointment. This waiver may be granted once in each five-year period of appointment.3
  7. VCP are encouraged to participate in all UCSF Faculty development activities, certificate programs and recognition events.4
  8. In accordance with APM 279, VCP teaching in the clinical environment are required to notify UCSF SOM immediately if they voluntarily or involuntarily relinquish their license, DEA registration, clinical privileges or malpractice insurance.
  9. VCP are appointed for up to five years and may request promotion after five years.
  10. In accordance with APM 279, VCP appointments may be terminated before the end date of the appointment for cause or when the Dean or designee no longer has activities in which the VCP participation is required. In these circumstances, the VCP will be notified in writing 30 calendar days prior to the appointment end date.

[1] Some MSP Staff Physicians hold underlying VCP appointments to cover any assigned and/or incidental teaching.
[2] Not applicable to MSP Staff Physicians holding VCP appointments.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.

Associated Policies:

University of California APM 279

UCSF School of Medicine:

            Orientation to Teaching Policies

            Duality of Interest Policy

            Student Mistreatment Policy

            Foundations 1 and Foundations 2 Assessment and Grading Policy

Procedures:

  1. Volunteer Clinical Professors will be recruited by directors of the relevant curricular element, course or clerkship
  2. Appointment requests will be overseen by the Center for Faculty Educators and will then be processed by the relevant Department.
  3. Records of faculty attestation of assent and compliance with required responsibilities will be managed by the Center for Faculty Educators.

Accountable Dean or Director: Vice Dean for Medical Education

Approval Date and Governing Body: January 9, 2018, CCEP

Last Updated: May 12, 2026