Independent Study Credit

COVID-19 Emergency Volunteer Independent Study Elective:

You can apply for independent study credit for any volunteering you’re doing! This is a template application form that uses RIDOH as an example. Note the following:

1. Only clinical students (current 3rd/4th years) can apply for credit at this point in time.

2. One (1) week of credit is equal to 40 hours of volunteer work. Those 40 hours do not have to be only one thing - it can be a mixture of different activities related to the COVID-19 response (e.g., 20 hours at RIDOH + 10 hours at Lifespan + 10 hours of childcare).

3. You can put Paul George, MD as the faculty mentor.

4. You can fill out the forms for independent study credit retroactively, i.e., do not stress about doing it right now!

COVID-19 Independent Study Scholarly Project:

This independent study will carry elective credit that counts towards graduation, and is open to all rising MS3 and MS4 students. MD22 will become eligible after completing CSC on May 22.

Details:

• Students will produce a final scholarly product of their choosing related to COVID-19.

• The inclusion criteria are broad. Just a few examples: educational materials for patients & providers, call scripts, narrative medicine essays, audio storytelling clips, original research abstracts/publications, literature reviews.

• If desired, students can draw on their experience with other COVID-19 initiatives (e.g., RIDOH, FCC, Lifespan, CovidLit).

• 1 week of credit will be given for every 40 hours of work on the project.

• Students may can put Paul George, MD as the faculty mentor, or students may identify their own.

If students wish to share their work beyond AMS, here are several organizations who have put out calls for COVID-19-related articles and narratives:

• • The Nocturnists podcast (AMS coordinator: Vishal Khetpal)

  • The Pharos (journal of AOA)

  • AAMC

This sample proposal can be modified as needed.