Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) graduates physicians poised to be leaders in the advancement of human health. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to being leaders in accessibility and inclusion.

Our competency-based educational program instills a robust foundational understanding of the basic, clinical, health systems, and behavioral/social sciences. Additionally, our curriculum develops exceptional clinical and leadership skills tailored to various medical career pathways while fostering the highest standards of professional behavior. Instruction occurs through a variety of modalities, including but not limited to the following:

• Classroom instruction
• Laboratory activities (including gross anatomy lab)
• Physical examination demonstration and practice
• Small group, team, and collaborative activities
• Individual study
• Preparation and presentation of reports and writing assignments
• Computer-based technology, including online modules and remote education
• Workplace instruction in the clinical setting
• Simulations, demonstrations, and standardized-patient experiences

To effectively engage in all aspects of the curriculum, individuals pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree at WashU Medicine are expected to meet our Technical Standards, either with or without reasonable accommodations. Technical Standards are the skills, abilities, attributes, and characteristics that WashU Medicine deems essential for achieving competency in the practice of medicine, as outlined in the school’s medical education program objectives.

The ability to meet WashU Medicine Technical Standards is a requirement for admission and, along with the attainment of the medical education program objectives, for promotion and graduation. Upon application, matriculation, and at the start of each phase of the curriculum, students must attest that they can meet WashU Medicine Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodations. This attestation also offers students a formal opportunity to proactively seek support in meeting the evolving demands of their education.

The Technical Standards are as follows:

1. Candidates and current students must exhibit the maturity and emotional regulation to be able to meet established professional expectations and, as they progress, provide patient-centered care.
   1. Professional Responsibility and Integrity: Exercise good judgment and display ethical and legal behavior commensurate with their role and aligned with the WashU Medicine Professional Behaviors for MD Students in the Gateway Curriculum; reliably fulfill all academic and clinical responsibilities, including adhering to attendance expectations and completing clinical and educational assignments within deadlines.
   2. Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Maintain mature, culturally sensitive, and effective interactions with others.
   3. Adaptability and Collaboration: Exhibit flexibility and adaptability to various learning and clinical environments, demonstrate the necessary skills to function effectively in the face of uncertainties, respond effectively to changing and/or demanding situations, and actively participate in and contribute to collaborative, constructive environments in clinical and academic settings.
   4. Personal Development and Well-Being: Take personal responsibility for learning; seek, receive, and incorporate feedback; and promptly make appropriate changes. Proactively monitor well-being and seek help in a timely manner.
2. Candidates and current students must be able to develop, refine, and demonstrate the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to gather, synthesize, and integrate information in support of clinical reasoning.
   1. Information Gathering and Observation: Navigate clinical spaces to collect comprehensive information about patients through observation, physical examination, appropriate diagnostic tests, and effective communication strategies.
   2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Synthesize, interpret, analyze, and apply information to support decision-making; utilize skills such as memorization, calculation, data retrieval, and formulation and testing of hypotheses.
   3. Communication and Documentation: Effectively convey findings, decisions, and reasoning by utilizing a variety of communication techniques (including verbal, non-verbal, and written, or the functional equivalents).
   4. Safety and Emergency Response: Identify and respond to emergent or urgent situations promptly by providing, directing, or assisting in care commensurate with their role; adhere to universal precautions and maintain safety standards.  

In alignment with our commitments to supporting student success and access, we appreciate that some students may require resources, support, and/or assistance to meet WashU Medicine Technical Standards and engage with the curriculum.

WashU Disability Resources provides students the opportunity to confidentially discuss disability-related needs and engage in an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations, designed to address access across didactic, clinical, and practical learning environments. As accommodations take time to implement and are not applied retroactively, we encourage students to contact WashU Disability Resources as soon as they suspect they may need accommodations, whether or not they have formal disability documentation. Decisions on admission, retention, and graduation will not be affected by a student’s request for accommodations or engagement with WashU Disability Resources. For questions about disability/accommodations, technical standards, or the interactive accommodation request process, students should reach out to disabilityresources@wustl.edu or visit the WashU Disability Resources website.

In addition to Disability Resources, WashU Medicine offers a variety of resources for students who may need support throughout their undergraduate medical education. Students who have questions or concerns about non-disability-related personal circumstances (e.g., pregnancy, family emergency, etc.) should contact the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (MDStudentLife@wustl.edu).

Last approved May 5, 2025

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