Technical Standards for the MD Degree

The curriculum, as established by the faculty, represents a core curriculum essential to all physicians.  Therefore, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine expects that each student admitted will be capable of completing the full curriculum of required courses and electives with or without reasonable accommodations.

In the admission of students, all individuals are considered on the basis of total non-academic and academic qualifications.  This includes assessment of prior academic achievements, scores on standardized national examinations, and such personal qualifications as motivation and interest in medicine, resourcefulness, leadership, problem-solving ability, personality and character. 

The various abilities and skills necessary to be a competent physician include observation, communication, motor, intellectual (conceptual, integrative and quantitative), and behavioral and social skills.

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine technical standards require students to demonstrate competency to:

• Recognize, understand and interpret instructional materials required during medical school;
• Obtain and record a patient’s current medical history;
• Detect, understand and interpret physical examination findings, including alterations in anatomy or other abnormalities encountered as part of the general physical examination;
• Manipulate and utilize equipment and instruments as required by the curriculum;
• Recognize, interpret and evaluate diagnostic studies and perform calculations necessary to deliver appropriate care to the patient;
• Communicate clinical findings, develop and record diagnoses as well as treatment plans;
• Communicate effectively with other healthcare providers, patients and their families
• Perform all of the above tasks within a timeframe that is appropriate for a clinical setting.

The technical standards delineated above must be met with or without accommodation. Students who, after review of the technical standards, determine that they require reasonable accommodation to fully engage in the program should contact The Office of Disability Resources and Services ("DRS") to confidentially discuss their accommodation needs.

Given the clinical nature of our program, time may be needed to create and implement the accommodations. Accommodations are never retroactive; therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged.

To learn more about accommodations at Temple University please contact DRS:
Temple University
Disability Resources and Services
100 Ritter Annex (004-03)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
disabilityresources.temple.edu

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine is committed to diversity and to attracting and educating students who will make the population of health care professionals representative of the national population.  We actively collaborate with students to develop innovative ways to ensure accessibility and create a respectful accountable culture through our confidential and specialized disability support. The Lewis Katz School of Medicine is committed to excellence in accessibility; we encourage students with disabilities to disclose and seek accommodations.  These technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum.  Our collaborative accommodation process is informed by the knowledge that students with varied types of disability have the ability to become successful medical professionals.