Affiliation Agreements

PURPOSE
To outline the requirements and processes to be followed with respect to affiliation agreements with non-UC Davis teaching sites

AUDIENCE
All faculty, staff and students associated with the affiliation agreement process at both UC Davis and other educational institutions/clinics

LCME STANDARD
1.4: Affiliation Agreements

POLICY

Definitions

• Core-clerkships: the title used for the Family and Community Medicine (FAP), Internal Medicine (IM), Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), Pediatrics (PEDS), Psychiatry (PSY), and Surgery (SUR) clinical experiences typically taken during the third year of the traditional M.D. program at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
• Post-core-clerkships: the title used for courses, both required and electives, take after passing the core-clerkships.

1. Written agreements are necessary with clinical affiliates that are used regularly for required clinical experiences. 
2. Written agreements are needed with other clinical facilities that have a significant role in the clinical education program.
3. In the relationship between the School and its clinical affiliates, the educational program for all medical students remains under the control of the UC Davis faculty, as specified in written affiliation agreements that define the responsibilities of each party related to the medical education program.
4. At a minimum the agreements provide:
   1. The assurance of medical student and faculty access to appropriate resources for medical student education
   2. The primacy of the medical education program’s authority over academic affairs and the education/assessment of medical students
   3. The role of the medical school in the appointment and assignment of faculty members with responsibility for medical student teaching
   4. Specification of the responsibility for treatment and follow-up when a medical student is exposed to an infectious or environmental hazard or other occupational injury
   5. The shared responsibility of the clinical affiliate and the School for creating and maintaining an appropriate learning environment

PROCEDURE

UC Davis medical students rotating at other institutions:

1. Core-clerkships: An affiliation agreement must be established when a UC Davis medical student completes a required clerkship rotation at another institution.
2. Post-core-clerkships: When a UC Davis medical student participates in a post clerkship away elective rotation there are two agreement options.
   1. If the AAMC Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) application process is completed by the host institution, UC Davis does not require a formal affiliation agreement to be established.
   2.  If the host institution does require an agreement, a short-term agreement is the preferred method. 
      
      • If the short-term agreement will not suffice, the AAMC standard agreement will be followed.

Non-UC Davis medical students rotating at UC Davis: 

1. UC Davis does not accept medical students from other institutions for required core-clerkships.
2. Post-core-clerkships: There are two agreement options for post-clerkship electives at UC Davis.
   1. If the AAMC Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) application process is completed by the host institution, UC Davis does not require a formal affiliation agreement to be established.
   2.  If the host institution does require an agreement, a short-term agreement is the preferred method. 
      
      • If the short-term agreement will not suffice, the AAMC standard agreement will be followed.

RESPONSIBILITY
Office of Medical Education, Director of Student and Administrative Services

REFERENCES
AAMC Uniform Clinical Training Affiliation Agreement

RELATED POLICIES
Duty Hours Policy
Post-Clerkship Attendance, Participation, and Absence Policy

POLICY OWNER
Office of Medical Education, Director of Student and Administrative Services

REVIEWERS
Office of Medical Education, Director of Student and Administrative Services*

REVEIWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
April 2026; three-year cycle

* indicates the policy owner