VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

The student who receives a medical withdrawal from an approved medical leave of absence and is in good standing at the time of the medical withdrawal will be allowed to join the next academic class year if the medical leave is less than 180 cumulative days within a 12-month period. The Promotion Board would determine the academic placement of the student. If the medical leave or if cumulative medical leaves exceeds a total of 180 days in any 12-month period, the student withdrawal is no longer considered temporary requiring the student to apply to be readmitted. If the student was in good standing at the time of withdrawal, and the withdrawal was medically approved, he or she is eligible for readmission for the next academic year. The student must be approved by the Admissions Committee and the Campus Dean for readmission. If accepted, the Campus Dean in consultation with the Promotion Board will determine the academic placement of the student. The return may require repeating or auditing of classes or rotations already taken. Students who are applying to return from a Medical Leave of Absence or Medical Withdrawal must provide documentation from the treating physician that he or she has released the student, without restriction, and they are eligible to fully participate in the medical school program and that the student meets the technical standards for enrollment. The Campus Dean and Associate Dean may require a second opinion. Students who do not comply with the requirements for the Medical Leave of Absence or Medical Withdrawal may be subject to dismissal by the Campus Dean. Mandatory Medical Leave of Absence VCOM is concerned for the general safety, health, and well-being of the campus community including students, faculty and staff and of the safety and well-being of patients and the clinical faculty and staff that are a part of the student clinical training. On occasion, a student may experience a medical situation that significantly limits their ability to function safely or successfully as a student, or the student may, as a result of the condition, no longer meet the minimum technical standards of the program. In some cases, the student may be so severely disruptive as to interfere with the academic pursuits and other activities of the academic and/or clinical community or to be considered to pose a threat to the care of patients. Although a voluntary medical leave of absence is preferable, a Campus Dean (or designee) may place such a student on a Mandatory Medical Leave of Absence (MMLOA). a. Except in emergency circumstances, VCOM, through its Individual Assessment Team (IAT), will conduct an individualized assessment of the student and will give careful consideration to the opinions and recommendations of the following persons: i. The student’s treating physician or mental health professional, including opinions as to the student’s ability to participate in the program and to any threat that may be posed to other individuals by that participation; ii. An independent mental health professional, if warranted, who may be consulted to conduct an independent forensic evaluation; iii. An independent academic evaluation, if warranted, to determine if the student is able to successfully participate in the program; iv. The opinions and recommendations of other relevant healthcare professionals who may warrant consultation by VCOM. b. VCOM will encourage and welcome any additional information the student believes to be relevant to making the determination. Prior to placing a student with a mental disability on MMLOA for reasons relating to that disability:

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