Pre-Matriculation Policies and Information

• Scope: 
  • Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients, have access to controlled substances and confidential information, and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgement and ethical behavior. Thus, an assessment of a medical student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in health care services, the safety interests of patients, to maintain a professional workplace, and the medical student’s ability to obtain licensure. 
  • Additionally, clinical healthcare facilities are required by accreditation agencies to conduct background checks for security purposes on individuals who provide services within the facility, and especially those individuals who supervise care and render treatment. The Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine and School of Engineering Medicine is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in affiliation agreements between the university and its clinical healthcare partners. Thus, the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine required background checks for all accepted applicants and medical students, as described below. 
  • Applicants for admission who would not be able to participate in clinical rotations due to a criminal record or other activities revealed in a background check are unable to fulfill the requirements of the program and will not be admitted to the Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine. Enrolled students who cannot participate in clinical rotations due to a criminal record or other activities that are revealed in a background check are unable to fulfill the requirements of the program and may not be guaranteed continued enrollment in the educational program or be eligible for graduation with the MD degree. 
• Policy:
  • All people accepted for admission to the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine must complete a background check with a result deemed favorable prior to matriculation. A background check will be honored for the duration of enrollment if the student is continuously enrolled and there is no change in the favorable results of the student’s background check. Any student who temporarily leaves the academic process for greater than six months will be required to attest that there has been no change in his or her criminal background check prior to re-entry into the program and may be required to complete a new background check at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. Any student who temporarily leaves the academic process for greater than one year will be required to complete a new background check prior to re-entry. Any visiting student applying to complete an elective at the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine shall supply evidence from their home institution of the visiting student’s successful and current completion of a background check of a comparable nature.
  • An offer of admission will not be final until the completion of the applicant’s background check with a result deemed favorable. Admission may be denied or rescinded based on a review of the background check. Any activity identified on the background check that was not reported on the TMDSAS/AMCAS application will be viewed as potential misconduct and grounds for rescinding an offer of admission. All students are required to immediately notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions of being charged with any criminal act. Failure to do so will be viewed as an act of misconduct. Any falsification or omission of pertinent information may result in the denial of admission or dismissal from the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine. 
  • The expenses related to background checks are borne by the applicant or student. Background check results will remain separate from the academic record.

• Scope:
  • Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients, have access to controlled substances and confidential information, and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgement and ethical behavior. The Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine have a responsibility to ensure that patients are not under the care of impaired persons. Thus, an assessment of a medical student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in health care services, the safety interests of patients, a professional workplace, and the medical student’s ability to obtain licensure. 
  • Additionally, the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in affiliation agreements between the university and its clinical healthcare partner(s). To facilitate these requirements, the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine will require drug screens for all accepted applicants and enrolled students. 
  • Applicants and enrolled students must maintain a negative drug screen to fulfill the requirements of the program. Applicants or students with a positive test may not be guaranteed admission, continued enrollment in the educational program, allowed on clinical rotations, or remain eligible for graduation with the MD degree.
• Policy:
  •  All accepted applicants and people accepted for admission to the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine must complete a drug screen test. All people accepted for admission to the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine must have a negative result prior to matriculation. Students may be required to complete additional re-screening at any point, if there is reason to believe a student may be using or misusing drugs or other substances or if there is an extended absence from the education program. 
  • All test results are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer to confirm a negative result or determine whether a positive result is due to a legally prescribed medication. A positive test result is due to a legally prescribed medication. A positive test result will result in a report to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions for intervention and/or possible disciplinary action as authorized by policies, rules, and regulations imposed by the university or the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS). A positive test result in the withdrawal of an offer of acceptance, or, if after matriculation, dismissal from the program. 
  • The expenses related to drug testing are borne by the accepted application or enrolled student. Drug test results will remain separate from the academic record.

• Scope:
  • Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgment and ethical behavior. A student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the safety interests of the patients and the workplace. The Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine have a responsibility for the health and safety of its students and the community to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. 
  • Additionally, the Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in the affiliation between the university and its clinical healthcare partner(s). To facilitate these requirements, the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine requires certain immunizations for its students.
  • Applicants and enrolled students must receive certain immunizations and maintain up-to-date documentation of such immunizations for the duration of the program and in order to be in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and Texas State law. 
  • Applicants or students who are not current on their immunizations or who do not maintain current documentation regarding the same may not be guaranteed admission, continued enrollment in the educational program or eligibility for graduation with the MD degree. 
• Policy:
  • All people accepted for admission to the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine must provide documentation of current immunization and screening. Unless otherwise specified below, the following vaccinations and screenings must be documented at the time of matriculation and maintained in current status while enrolled:
    • Hepatitis B: A complete hepatitis B vaccine series (three doses of Engeriz-B or Recombivax HB, or two doses of Heplisav-B) AND a positive antibody titer (quantitative hepatitis B surface antibody-lab report required). If the titer is negative or equivocal, receive one dose of the vaccine (as a booster) and repeat the titer one to two months later. If the second titer is negative or equivocal, finish the series and repeat the titer one to two months after the final dose. If the titer is still negative after a second vaccine series, test for HBsAg and total anti-HBc to determine HBV infection status.;
    • Influenza: An influenza vaccine is required annually (Compliance is not required at the point of matriculation, but is required annually thereafter);
    • Measles (Rubeola): Documentation of two doses of measles or MMR vaccine, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report); first dose must be on or after the first birthday and doses must be at least 28 days apart;
    • Meningococcal: All students under the age of 22 who are entering public, private, or independent institution of higher education in Texas must provide documentation that they have had a meningococcal (bacterial meningitis) vaccine or “booster” dose during the five year period prior to, but no later than 10 days before the first day of the first semester they will enter that institution; 
    • Mumps: Documentation of two doses of mumps or MMR vaccine, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report); first dose must be on or after the first birthday and doses must be at least 28 days apart;
    • Rubella: Documentation of one dose of rubella or MMR vaccine administered on or after the first birthday, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report);
    • Tetanus/Diptheria/Acellular Pertussis: Documentation of one dose of Tdap vaccine. Td vaccing every 10 years thereafter;
    • Tuberculosis: Documentation of two negative TB skin tests (PPD) within two months of matriculation or, negative IGRA blood test (must include laboratory report), or if history of a positive TB test (IGRA or PPD), documentation of a negative chest X-ray within two months of enrollment (must send radiology report of chest X-ray).; and
    • Varicella: Documentation of two doses of the varicella vaccine given at least 28 days apart, laboratory evidence of immunity, laboratory confirmation of disease (must include a copy of the laboratory report), or diagnosis or verification of a history of varicella or herpes zoster (shingles) by a healthcare provider;
    • Students may be exempted by means permitted within Texas and Federal Law. However, even if exempted, a student may be denied the opportunity to participate in training or patient care in certain health care facilities in accordance with the policies of those facilities. 
    • All immunization records are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer to determine compliance. The officer will notify the student when not in compliance and block registration from the next semester until the student is compliant. The Student Affairs office will be informed of immunization or any other health information, but will be notified that an applicant or student is compliant or non-compliant. Applicants or students who fail to comply with this policy may be subject to withdrawal of an offer of acceptance or disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. 
    • The expenses related to immunizations are borne by the student. Immunization records will remain separate from the academic record.

• Scope:
  • All students enrolled at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine are required to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of their enrollment. 
• Policy:
  • The State of Texas has contracted with Academic Health Plans to provide an affordable insurance option for Texas students. However, students may choose any private insurance company to meet the university requirement. Students should be knowledgeable of the terms and conditions of their individual health insurance plans. 
  • Confirmation of active, current health insurance coverage is required at the time of registration each term. 

All people accepted for admission to the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine must obtain a certification in Basic Life Support. The two accepted certifications are:

• American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Professionals
• American Red Cross (ARC) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Professionals

You can find a class in your area by visiting the American Heart Association or American Red Cross website. You MUST select a course that requires at least a portion of the class to be done in person with an actual licensed instructor. 

Your certification must be kept current throughout your 4 years in medical school (certifications are to be renewed every 2 years). 

• Below is the list of required equipment needed for your Practice of Medicine (PoM) Course, which will need to be acquired by the first day of your PoM bootcamp.

• You can purchase the items through steels.com, or you may order through another company of your choosing. 
• Required Equipment:
  • Stethoscope: We have included a basic stethoscope in the link. You may prefer to invest in a more expensive one if you would like. Littman is the preferred brand. 
  • Reflex Hammer: We prefer the one listed in the link
• Optional Additional Equipment:
  • Penlight: Any brand will do
  • Tuning Fork
  • Blood Pressure Cuff: Purchasing a manual blood pressure cuff will be the most useful to you, as you will not be using electronic versions in your physical exam assessments.

The Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine and the School of Engineering Medicine require that each student have the following:

• Laptop
  • Minimum Laptop Requirements:
    • Intel: i7 or i9 processor
    • Ryzen: 7, 9 or Threadripper Processor
    • 16 GB of RAM
    • 512 GB storage system
    • Discrete graphics card
    • Wireless: 802.11ac
    • Ethernet cable, Cat-5E or greater
    • Ethernet-to-USB adaptor, if necessary
    • Webcam
    • NOTE: Chromebooks, iPads and similar devices do not meet the operating system and hardware requirements to run engineering applications. 
• Your education requires a computer to complement the course instruction. Students entering the School of Engineering Medicine are strongly encouraged to purchase devices that meet the minimum requirements above. No student will be denied admission to Texas A&M University based on an inability to purchase a computer. 
• If you need financial assistance in purchasing a computer, please contact hscfinancialaid@tamu.edu for funding options.