3-Year MD Program Transition to the 4-Year MD Program/Off-Ramp Policy

It is the policy of University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix that students enrolled in the 3-year MD program: Primary Care Accelerated Pathway (PCAP), at both the Phoenix campus and Yuma regional branch will transition into the 4-year MD program under the following circumstances:

1. Step exam delay or failure
2. Failure in any course*
3. Incomplete in any course* leading to a delay in academic progression
4. Cumulative block exam score less than 70% requiring a retake examination
5. Change of desired specialty to one outside of the PCAP approved specialties (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Med Peds). See FAQ document for more information.
   1. A change to another PCAP approved specialty may be allowable, depending on timing and capacity
6. Professionalism concerns warranting remediation 
7. Honor Code or code of conduct violations
8. Inadequate progression and/or residency readiness in the accelerated model as determined by the Primary Care Accelerated Progression Committee (PCAPC)

Any exceptions to the above must be approved by the dean, student affairs and vice dean, undergraduate medical education at the respective campus, or their respective designees.

The PCAPC is the body that evaluates the ongoing progression of students enrolled in the 3-year MD program. In addition to monitoring the students regarding the items listed above, criteria considered by the committee will include:

1. Successful attainment of academic milestones 
2. Satisfactory professional development 
3. Progress reports from the student’s paired residency program that support continued enrollment in the 3-year MD program.

 The PCAPC reviews student data on a quarterly basis, at a minimum. If a student is not successfully meeting academic milestones and professional expectations, the student will be notified by the PCAPC or 3-year MD program progression coach, and when possible, be provided an opportunity to remediate any deficiencies.  When the PCAPC determines that a student is not meeting the 3-year MD program requirements, a simple majority vote of half plus one of voting committee members will determine whether transition to the 4-year MD program will be required. Both the student and the Student Progress Committee (SPC) will be notified of the determination within five (5) business days of any such vote. Committee decisions are subject to final approval by the College of Medicine - Phoenix vice dean medical education at respective branch (Phoenix or Yuma) or their designee, and no mechanism of appeal will be allowed due to the accelerated nature of the 3-year MD program.   

The PCAPC will be composed of the following membership:

• Chair – associate dean of community engagement or designee
• Rural health faculty lead
• Three (3) program directors or associate program directors from PCAP paired programs in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine
• Deans of student affairs, foundational curriculum, clinical curriculum, and the Office of Assessment and Evaluation 
• Staff resource

Any committee member directly responsible for triggering one of the circumstances for transition listed above (e.g. course director involved in a student failure) should recuse themselves in the final committee vote.

Students transitioning from the 3-year MD program into the 4-year MD program will complete their remaining medical school requirements on the campus where they originally matriculated (i.e., Phoenix campus or Yuma branch), when possible. The SPC will determine the academic plan for all students transitioning from the 3-year MD program to the 4-year MD program.

Course* = Any component of the curriculum where a grade is earned.