MSPR Interview Process for Class 2011

PROCEDURES FOR THE PREPARATION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF THEOFFICIAL
LETTER OF REFERENCE (MSPR)

 

Step 1: Read the following instructions. 

The Associate Dean’s Office, Undergraduate Medical Education (UME), will be responsible for the preparation of an official letter of reference (MSPR) for each student expected to graduate at the end of the current academic year. The letter will be used in support of applications to postgraduate training positions, scholarships, fellowships, hospital privileges, and other similar external purposes.

1. The MSPR will be prepared by a member of the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education Office approved by the Associate Dean (UME) following an interview with the student. This will begin with the interviewer providing the student with a description of the process used in generating a MSPR and the type of information contained therein. During this interview the student’s undergraduate medical education files (evaluation record) will be open and the student will be afforded the opportunity to comment on any material within the file. The primary purpose of the Interview is to offer CaRMS and career advice. An Interview Form will be provided to and completed by each student to ensure that all students are given a standardized interview covering all aspects of student academic performance and other activities in this school. Interviews will be scheduled at the convenience of the interviewer and the student, and should be completed by mid-October.
   
2. In preparing the MSPR, the following information will be used:

• Admissions File (pre-medical academic record, relevant work and service experience only);
• Medical Education Files (evaluation record);
• A list of unique contributions made to the Faculty

3. The MSPR will cover the following broad categories:

• Performance within the M.D. curriculum to date;
• Extracurricular activities and contributions to the Faculty.

Numerical scores on evaluations or class standings will not be released, but unsatisfactory performances indicative of a serious or persistent academic or personality problem will be mentioned. Preceptor narrative reports may be quoted in part, or whole, or paraphrased to convey the same meaning as the original.

4.  All MSPRs will be sent out under the signature of the Associate Dean (UME). The letters are reviewed prior to release for uniformity of content and style. Any draft may be referred back to the author for revision or revised by the Associate Dean.

5. The MSPR  is a confidential assessment of the student’s performance in the MD programme. It is not a letter of introduction. It is provided only to interested parties external to the undergraduate programme of the Faculty of Medicine at the request of the student or the Associate Dean (UME), and upon the express understanding that the contents thereof will not be divulged to the student concerned, his agent or representative for any reason, which understanding shall be clearly set forth in the letter.

6. The contents of the MSPR are not to be divulged to any party who does not agree to honour the strict confidentiality of its contents. Under no circumstances are contents of the MSPR  to be divulged to the student, his agent, or representative by any member of this Faculty, the University, or any party receiving a copy of the MSPR.

7. Updates to the MSPR will be produced:

• At the request of the student or graduate. Such updates will include pertinent information from clerkship preceptor reports and certifying evaluation results received subsequent to the original date of composition. Since the request for the update comes from the student or graduate, it is understood that the new information is not contested, unless the student or graduate contacts the Associate Dean (UME) to discuss the new information.

• At the request of the Associate Dean (UME), if in his/her opinion, the existing letter no longer provides a current assessment of the student’s ability, character, and potential (for example, a student whose initial clerkship assessments are poor but whose later reports indicate correction of the problem or a student found guilty of intellectual dishonesty during clerkship), an update may be sent to all or to selected parties who received the original letter, at the Associate Dean’s discretion.

8. MSPRs will only be released to outside parties with the graduate’s or student’s written permission. An official release form is to be used for this purpose. In signing the release form, the student or graduate allows the UME Office to send updates of the original letter to the parties named in the release form without further approval from the student or graduate.  Notwithstanding the execution of an official release form, the Faculty is under no obligation to release the contents of the MSPR to any party for any reason.
                                            

Step 2: Book your interview online

• Go to the calendar on the main page of this website
• It is your responsiblity to de-register, then re-register if you cannot make your original session
• Note: Availability of each faculty member is limited, so if you cancel, there is no guarantee you will get the same faculty member

 Step 3: Complete your pre-interview forms online

• Click here to access the form online

Note: Once you click submit you cannot change your data. Your answers will be emailed to you so you have a copy to review & bring to the interview (look for email from umeadmin@ucalgary.ca) . If you do not receive an email, please email umeadmin@ucalgary.ca

 

Before your interview: 

• Read the instructions
• Book your interview
• Complete the forms