 Medical Student Health Requirements
Health Requirements and Immunizations
All entering medical students must meet the following health requirements before matriculation:
- A comprehensive physical exam within 12 months prior to matriculation.
- Documentation of immunization for original COVID series, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, rubeola, diphtheria, varicella, and Hepatitis B. (Students who choose not to complete the Hepatitis B series must contact the Office of Student Affairs to sign a declination and to be informed of their rights waived in case of infection.)
- Lab reports showing quantitative values of titers for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and Hepatitis B prior.
- Results of TB testing within 12 months prior to matriculation. Students with positive TB readings must submit a copy of a chest x-ray report dated within the last two years.
- A record of meningococcal meningitis immunization within the past five years OR a signed acknowledgement of meningococcal disease risks and refusal of meningococcal meningitis immunization.
Additionally:
- Annual immunization with influenza vaccine is strongly recommended.
- Students must have updated physical exams and TB testing every 12 months.
- Clinical sites may have additional health requirements, and students must comply with these requirements in addition to SBU and RSOM requirements.
- When applying for away electives, please be aware that, typically, a site's health requirements must be met as part of the application process.ÌýHowever, if your health status is up to date at the time of the application, the site may accept your current status (with documentation) for the application.
Pertinent health information (date of annual physical, TB testing, titers) is included in the CBase record for each student and students will receive email reminders beginning 30 days prior to their expiration. Health updates should be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs, or they can be uploaded directly into CBase. Payment for these immunizations is the student's responsibility.
Micro-Particulate Respirators
Because of the increasing prevalence of tuberculosis and the appearance of multiple drug resistant strains and the emergence of novel airborne pathogens, some of the hospitals and sites where students train require that students be fitted for a micro-particulate respirator (HEPA).ÌýAll students must be receive respirator certification through Stony Brook Environmental Health and Safety.Ìý
Health Insurance Policy
All Stony Brook University students are required to have health insurance coverage.ÌýStony Brook University offers all full-time domestic students a health insurance plan that fulfills this requirement. The plan pays for most medically necessary bills, such as doctor visits, mental health counseling, prescriptions, emergency room visits, lab testing, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, etc. All full-time RSOM students are automatically billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the beginning of each semester. Detailed information about student health insurance can be found on the Student Health Services Website.Ìý. Waivers for this plan and fee are given only if the student has health insurance through a job, a parent, a spouse, another related individual, MedicaidÌýor "Healthy New York."ÌýTo file a waiver, students must go to the SOLAR system and follow the instructions under "Student Requirements" on the menu. For the waiver process to be complete, documentation of other insurance coverage must be provided to the Office of Student Affairs.
Health Services Center
The Student Health Center at Stony Brook University is the on-campus source for meeting all students’ primary health care needs. The staff of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, health educators, laboratory technologists,Ìýand technical and administrative staff are dedicated to the mission of providing students with quality medical care, and the services necessary to optimize preventive health and wellness.ÌýFor fee services, insurance is billed first, and students are responsible to cover the cost of any co-pay or uninsured services. Complete information on the Student Health Center can be found on the Student Health Services Website.Ìý.
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Hazardous Exposure Procedures
Contact with patients is an integral part of the medical education at the 51±¬ÁÏÍø of Medicine. Contact with patients may entail exposure to hazards, including exposure to patients with contagious diseases that can be transmitted to students and other healthcare providers by way of airborne droplets or needle-puncture wounds involving infected body fluids. Examples of these diseases include tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.ÌýAlthough the risk of contracting serious illness from these hazards is very small, the medical school seeks to reduce incidents of students' exposure to infectious diseases and environmental hazards. Students are mandated to complete educational trainings on universal precautions for bloodborne pathogens and protection strategies against airborne and droplet pathogens during student orientation sessions for the Transition to Medical School course, which students take prior to beginning their Introduction to Clinical Medicine and the Body courses and the Transition to Clinical Care course, which students take prior to beginning their clinical clerkship rotations. Additionally, an Infection Control PowerPoint presentation is available online and may be accessed by any student at any time. All clinical students receive and are expected to carry in their ID Badge holder the most recent Exposure to Blood-borne Pathogens Card which includes Universal Precautions and what to do in case of exposure to a potential blood-borne pathogen for each of our clinical sites. Additionally, students receive training in proper blood-drawing techniques and patient-isolation policies prior to the intense clinical exposure in Phases II and III. Finally, the school reserves the right to restrict student contact with a patient believed to pose a risk to the health of the student.
Bloodborne Pathogens ExposureÌý
The following are instructions in the policy for what students should do should they experience a needlestick or blood-borne pathogen exposure from a splash or sharps during clinical or educational activities.
If a student is exposed to the blood of a patient, the following is recommended:
- Immediately following an exposure to blood: "Wash needle stick or sharps induced injuries and cuts with soap and water. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water. Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline or sterile irrigation solution.
- Immediately inform the supervising resident or attending physician and complete an incident report. Prompt reporting is essential because, in some cases, postexposure treatment may be recommended, and it should be started as soon as possible. The student who sustains occupational exposure should access postexposure services within hours as opposed to days, after the exposure.
- Go to the appropriate Post-Exposure Services depending on where the exposure occurred:Ìý
a. Stony Brook University Hospital (Monday-Friday 8 am–4 pm):ÌýGo immediately to Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Services at Stony Brook University Hospital, located on Level 8, Room 140. Phone number is (631) 444-8187 (4-8187 in-house). All other times, go immediately to the Emergency Department at Stony Brook University Hospital.
b. Southampton Hospital and South Nassau Communities Hospital:ÌýGo to the Emergency Department (ED).ÌýThe clinician in the EDÌýevaluates the type and severity of exposure and counsels the student on the risk of transmission of HIV, HBVÌýand HCV. Post-exposure management and prophylaxis (PEP) will be recommended in accordance with CDC guidelines. See CDC website. Since the student may only be given a one or two-day supply of post-exposure medication, it is important to schedule a follow-up appointment as soon as possible.
c. VA Medical Center and Nassau University Medical Center:ÌýGo to Employee Health during regular business hours and the Emergency Department at all other times.
- The clinician in EHW or the ED will contact the source patient's physician, nurse practitioner, midwife, or physician's assistant to determine whether the source's HIV, HBV or HCV status are known. If the HIV status of the source patient is known, the information may be accessed from the medical record to assist in the decision-making process for initiation of PEP. If the HIV status of the patient is not known, consent for voluntary HIV testing of the source patient will be sought as soon as possible after the exposure. In NYS, when the source patient has the capacity to consent to HIV testing, the individual should be informed that HIV testing will be performed unless they object to being tested. Key points about HIV should be provided. If the patient objects to the test, HIV testing cannot be performed. If the patient lacks capacity to consent, consent can be provided by the healthcare agent, guardian or other person lawfully authorized to make healthcare decisions for the patient.
- If the student is treated in the Emergency Department, they may only be given a one- or two-day supply of post-exposure medication. All students should go to Stony Brook University Student Health Services on West Campus for follow-up treatment and counseling. Call (631) 632-6740 for an IMMEDIATE appointment. Students should clearly indicate that they are a medical student and that they are requesting a post-exposure follow-up appointment.
- After a student has reported the blood-borne exposure and received initial management from the Emergency Department, they should inform the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education of the incident.
For reimbursement of medical costs associated with blood-borne pathogen exposure, the Ìýstudent should first submit payment claims through their health insurance carrier, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan or have private health insurance coverage. The Dean’s Office will reimburse students for out-of-pocket expenses up to the policy deductible. Students requesting reimbursement must follow protocols for exposure incidents and the claims procedure as directed by their insurance carrier before requesting payment/reimbursement. The Office of Student Affairs can provide details on applying for reimbursement/payment.
Visiting students are expected to provide proof of OSHA training and/or completion of an Infection Control and Barrier Precautions training. Evidence of such training may be provided in a certificate or via a letter drafted by their home institution stating that the student has completed the training and the date the training occurred. Additionally, visiting students are provided with a document as part of their onboarding materials which provides instructions in case of a blood-borne pathogen exposure. This includes where to go for evaluation should it occur in the hospital or at an outpatient site. Additionally, they are also provided the Exposure to Blood-borne Pathogens Card to place in their ID badge holder.
Exposure to Emerging Pathogens
In case of notification by reporting agencies of unusual and high-risk pathogens (e.g., bioterrorism or other emerging high-risk infections), medical students must refrain from providing care to infected individuals to minimize risks to themselves.
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Well-Being
The 51±¬ÁÏÍø of Medicine is committed to training physicians to not only care for their patients, but to also care for themselves.Ìý
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
The University Office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is located on the second floor of Student Health Services.ÌýCAPS offers free and confidential services to all enrolled students at the university, including medical students.ÌýCAPS has a satellite office on Level 3 of the HSCÌýand sees students by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling (631) 632-6720.
Services include crisis intervention, counseling for individuals, couples, and groups; consultation to student, faculty, staff friends and parents; medication management; and assistance with referrals to community resources.
TimelyCare
Stony Brook University also offers TimelyCare, a telehealth platform that provides 24/7 virtual access to medical and mental health services, right from your mobile device or computer for all 51±¬ÁÏÍø of Medicine students.
Whether you're under the weather, anxious or overwhelmed, or just need to talk to someone about how to be healthier, you will be able to talk to a licensed provider, either by a voice or video call. Furthermore, if you are in need of a private place to utilize the telehealth services of TimelyCare, we are pleased to offerÌýZoom Pods. These pods will provide you privacy on demand. They are located on Level 3Ìýof the Health Science Center (HSC).Ìý
Ìýor download theÌýTimelyCare appÌý(iOS or Android) to register with your name and Stony Brook email address. You can then have visits from any web-enabled device — smartphone, laptopÌýor desktop.
You can download the app using this QR code:
Your well-being is our top priority, and we are here to support you every step of the way. TimelyCare is available from anywhere in the United States.ÌýIf you’re abroad, you can use the TalkNow service for 24/7 mental health support by using a US-based phone number or VPN connection.Ìý
MeSH (Medical Student Happiness, HealthÌýand Humanism)
MeSH is an organization founded at the 51±¬ÁÏÍø of Medicine by students and faculty who came together in order to better the lives of students. MeSH finds ways to alleviate the stress and burdens that often come with medical education and service. Its aim is to promote activities that serve to increase student health and happiness by creating a community within our medical school and providing students with an outlet during stressful times.
Club highlights include:
- Coffeehouses with open mic nights, board gamesÌýand food
- Movie nights with catered dinners
- Ice cream socials (with toppings!)
- Resource cards for students
"Group Reflections" — Medical Student Support Group
Group Reflections is a student-facilitated, weekly support group open to all medical students across all four class years. It offers an informal space to discuss challenges, share experiences and gain advice from peers at different stages of training.
Meetings are held every Thursday from 6 until 7 pm, either on Zoom or in-person. (Meeting details are shared via a weekly email.) Students are welcome to drop in at any point during the hour and leave whenever they need. Participation is confidential, including the identity of attendees.
For additional information and to be connected to the Medical Student Support Group student chair, email RSOM.StudentAffairs@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Additional Wellness Resources
Wellness Apps
- Yoga :Ìý
- Mindfulness and Meditation:Ìý,Ìý
- Sleep:Ìý
- Exercise:Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý
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