Graduation, Honors and Awards
University of Washington School of Medicine and Departmental Awards
Students may receive formal recognition from the School or a department for achieving excellence in their academic work, making significant contributions to medical education, and/or demonstrating commitment to community service.
Donations from graduates, families of alumni and faculty, and friends of the School of Medicine may be designated for awards under the guidance of UW Medicine Advancement.
Offers of awards from outside groups not affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine must be vetted through the Faculty Council on Academic Affairs before they are considered for acceptance as an additional award managed by the University of Washington School of Medicine. Awards that present a conflict of interest are not deemed appropriate.
Physician’s Oath & Hooding Ceremony
Students are eligible to participate in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Physician’s Oath & Hooding Ceremony (POHC) if they have successfully completed all graduation requirements for the MD degree prior to the ceremony. If the MD degree has been received in any one of the previous three quarters (summer, autumn, or winter), the student may request to participate in the ceremony that occurs the following spring. The Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs may grant exceptions to this policy. Under very special circumstances, a student who is graduating in the quarter immediately subsequent to the ceremony (summer quarter) may be permitted to participate in the POHC if the student has completed all requirements for the MD degree in a timely fashion, is in good academic standing (i.e. coursework, professional conduct, and financial obligations) and is cleared to officially receive the degree no later than one quarter immediately following the spring ceremony.
Contact: UW School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office, hooding@uw.edu
Graduation with Honors
A degree of Doctor of Medicine with honors or high honors will be conferred on medical students based on the following criteria:
To be eligible for graduation with honors, students must:
- Receive honors in at least X% of the 8 required clerkships (based on the number of credits)
- Pass all preclinical coursework on the first attempt
- Pass all clinical clerkships on the first attempt
- Pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2CK exams on the first attempt
- Not have any professionalism or misconduct concerns
To be eligible for graduation with high honors, students must:
- Receive honors in all 8 of the required clerkships
- Pass all preclinical coursework on the first attempt
- Pass all clinical clerkships on the first attempt
- Pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2CK exams on the first attempt
- Not have any professionalism or misconduct concerns
Graduating student recipients are reviewed by the Student Progress Committee and approved by the Medical School Executive Committee prior to their degrees being conferred by the University of Washington.
Contact: UW School of Medicine, Student Progress Committee, abaer@uw.edu.