Over 30 Students Graduate Brown Alpert Medical School Early to Begin Work During COVID-19 Crisis
GoLocalProv News Team
Over 30 Students Graduate Brown Alpert Medical School Early to Begin Work During COVID-19 Crisis
The Warren Alpert Medical School announced Thursday that it has given those students who have completed all degree requirements the option to graduate six weeks early and begin working in hospitals immediately, including in Rhode Island.
It’s an unprecedented and historic move for the 45-year-old medical school during the current global health emergency.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Rhode Island, our medical students have been contributing to the response in numerous ways that have had a significant impact,” said Dr. Jack A. Elias, medical school dean and Brown’s senior vice president for health affairs. “It doesn't surprise me that some who have completed their requirements are opting to graduate early to work in more hands-on roles here and in the places where they will complete their residencies. We could not be prouder of the many ways that our students have stepped up during these difficult times.”
Students Take College Up on Early Graduation
Dr. Allan Tunkel, senior associate dean for medical education at the Warren Alpert Medical School, said that to date, more than 30 of the 132 students in the school’s Class of 2020 have volunteered to graduate early.
Medical school leaders made soon-to-be graduates aware of the option on April 7, and on April 15 — following approval by Brown’s Faculty Executive Committee and the Corporation of Brown University’s Board of Fellows — their graduation was official. Degrees were conferred, and the new doctors were free to practice medicine.
“Medical students have expressed an eagerness to help in any way they can during this crisis,” Tunkel said. “More than 100 medical students have volunteered their time to the Rhode Island Department of Health and to local hospitals, manning call centers, managing medical records and more. Now, they have an additional opportunity to start clinical work — their presence may prove extremely valuable if we experience a surge in patients.”
Tunkel said those who make the entirely optional choice to graduate early have two potential paths: to start work in the hospitals to which they were matched for residencies earlier this spring, which span the nation; or to spend the next four to eight weeks in paid, non-accredited clinical positions in Rhode Island before beginning their medical residencies in June.
Those who choose to stay in the state will receive temporary licenses to practice in Rhode Island and will work for Lifespan or Care New England, the state’s two largest health care systems, which operate most of the hospitals affiliated with Brown’s medical school. Some of Brown’s early graduates may begin work as soon as the week of April 20.