Technical Standards for Admission and Graduation

Guided by the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care of the whole person, Georgetown University School of Medicine will educate a diverse student body, in an integrated way, to become knowledgeable, ethical, skillful, and compassionate physicians and biomedical scientists who are dedicated to the care of others and health needs of our society. An applicant for the M.D. degree, and an enrolled student seeking the M.D. degree, must meet the technical standards or functional equivalent, with or without reasonable accommodations, deemed essential functions for the care of patients. These abilities and skills, as determined by Georgetown University School of Medicine, are:

1. Perception: Students enrolled in the M.D. degree program must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments required by the medical curriculum established by the medical faculty, and be able to participate in such with adequate vision and other sensory modalities, including the senses of hearing and smell. A student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
2. Communication: Students must be able to skillfully (in English) communicate verbally and in written form to affect an adequate exchange of information with patients, family members, and other health professionals in order to fulfill academic requirements, and to maintain accurate clinical records on patient care.
3. Motor: Students must have sufficient motor function and tactile ability to meet the competencies required for graduation, as outlined by the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and to: (1) Attend (and participate in) classes, groups, and activities which are part of the curriculum (2) Communicate in a written format (3) Examine patients (including observation, auscultation, palpation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers) (4) Perform diagnostic procedures in addition to basic laboratory procedures and tests (5) Provide general and emergency patient care in outpatient, inpatient, and surgical venues and perform in a reasonably independent and competent way in sometimes chaotic clinical environments.
4. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: Students must be able to demonstrate higher level cognitive abilities to meet the competencies required for graduation, as outlined by the Georgetown University School of Medicine, including: an aptitude for timely problem solving, the capability to access and independently interpret medical files, evaluate physical examinations, and formulate a logical diagnosis and effective medical treatment plan. Students must possess good judgment in patient assessment, and the abilities to incorporate new information, comprehend three-dimensional relationships, and retain and recall pertinent information in a timely fashion.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Guided by the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care of the whole person, students must display compassion, sensitivity, and concern for others, and maintain professional integrity at all times. In addition, students must develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships: not only with patients but also with all members of the medical school community and healthcare teams. Students must also be able to promptly complete all assignments and responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients (beginning with study in the first year). Students must tolerate physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding workloads and function effectively under stress. A student must be able to proactively make use of available resources to help maintain both physical and mental health. A student must display adaptability to changing environments, flexibility, and be able to learn in the face of uncertainty. All students enrolled in the M.D. degree program must take responsibility for themselves and their behaviors.

Students enrolled in pursuit of an M.D. degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine are required to attest to the above technical standards on an annual basis. The School of Medicine is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. An applicant for the M.D. degree or an enrolled student seeking the M.D. degree with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Georgetown University Academic Resource Center and Disability Cultural Center as early as possible to begin a confidential conversation separate from an application or enrollment status, about what reasonable accommodations they may need to meet these standards.

Last revised and approved on 26 May 2020 by the Committee on Medical Education
Previously revised and approved on 26 October 2010 by the Committee on Medical Education