Am I allowed to practice medicine if I have been treated for a mental

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

Am I allowed to practice medicine if I have been treated for a

mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder?

Yes. In one study, 27% of medical students have had depressive symptoms and 10-

12% of physicians have a substance use disorder. With treatment, countless

physicians have had long, productive, and satisfying careers.

Am I required to report my mental and physical health diagnoses

when applying for my medical license?

Physicians with mental and physical health diagnoses can obtain a medical license

in every state, but the process for doing so varies between states. States differ in

how they ask about current versus historical diagnoses. How they handle this

information also differs from state to state, and is listed on the application.

Concerns about getting a medical license should never keep you from seeking

treatment for a mental or physical health diagnosis.

The New Mexico application asks: “Do you have or have you been diagnosed with

an illness or condition which impairs your judgment or affects your ongoing

ability to practice medicine in a competent ethical and professional manner?”

How should I explain a leave of absence on my residency program

application?

Talk with your medical school advisor about what should be said and what does

not need to be said. Always plan to be honest in your answers, but know that you

aren’t obligated to provide extensive details. For example, it may be enough to

provide information such as “I was on a medical leave of absence for __ months

and returned to work with no restrictions.” Work with your advisor about how to

prepare to answer questions about this on the application and in your interviews.

What should I report on my job applications if I took time off from

medical school?

There is not necessarily a requirement to disclose any time off, but it is common to

be asked about gaps in training and employment. Always plan to be honest in your

answers, but know that you aren’t obligated to provide extensive details including

specific diagnoses. For example, it may be enough to provide information such as

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

“I was on a medical leave of absence for __ months and returned to work with no

restrictions.” You may wish to speak with your residency program director or

another trusted faculty member about how best to answer this in person and on

your applications when it comes up.

What resources are available to me if I am feeling depressed or

anxious?

There are many confidential resources available to you at UNM to support your

mental health; using these resources will not be reported to the medical school or

your training program:

 Jeff Dunn, MD, (UNM Psychiatrist) is available to see students:

505-272-6130 or Je[email protected]

 Cheri Koinis, PhD, (UNM Psychologist) is available to students:

505-272-3898 or ckoini[email protected]

 Agora Crisis Center is a phone hotline with walk-in counseling:

http://www.agoracares.org/ or 505-277-3013 or 866-HELP-1-NM

 Student Health And Counseling Center is available to see students:

https://shac.unm.edu or 505-277-3136

 The 2018-2019 Psychotherapy and Counseling Guide has many additional

resources. It is available at:

https://som.unm.edu/education/md/omsa/wellness.html

I used to have a substance use disorder/drinking problem/drug

problem. Do I need to tell the medical school?

You’re not required to tell the medical school or your residency program about

previous diagnoses, but you may wish to speak with your advisor or program

director so that they can connect you with resources to help you find extra

support to manage the stresses of medical school and residency.

Do I need to report use of medical marijuana or other controlled

substances to my medical school?

There is not yet a consensus in the medical community about how to manage

students prescribed controlled substances, including medical marijuana, and some

employers (including training programs) require negative results on drug testing

at the time of hire and randomly throughout employment. Speak with your

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

advisor about how to manage this, and with your prescribing clinician about other

evidence-based treatments that may be available to you. More information on

UNM School of Medicine policies is available here:

https://som.unm.edu/education/md/omsa/index.html

What mental health questions are asked on residency program

applications?

There are no specific mental or physical health questions asked on ERAS residency

or fellowship applications. The questions that may apply to mental or physical

health diagnoses include:

 Was your medical education/training extended or interrupted? If yes,

please provide details [blank box]

 Are you able to carry out the responsibilities of a resident or a fellow in

the specialties and at the specific training programs to which you are

applying, including the functional requirements, cognitive requirements,

interpersonal and communication requirements with or without

reasonable accommodations? If no, please list your limiting aspect(s):

[blank box]

Do I need to tell the medical school or report on my residency

program applications if I have been arrested?

You should notify your advisor if you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanor or

felony. You should work with your advisor on how to best honestly these

questions on your residency application:

 Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor in the United States? If

yes, provide details [blank box]

 Have you ever been convicted of a felony in the United States? If yes,

please explain [blank box]

If I have to take sick leave during medical school, is the reason why

kept private from my colleagues and supervising physicians?

Yes. If you have to take a prolonged amount of sick leave that will affect your

ability to complete educational requirements on time, you should talk with your

medical school advisor early to plan on how to minimize the effect on your

education and clerkships.

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

What should I do if I am sick and cannot work on a day I am

supposed to see patients? Will it affect my grade?

If you cannot work due to being acutely sick and are scheduled to see patients,

notify your supervising attending and resident immediately so they know you are

okay and not to expect you that day. Students may have concerns this will affect

their grade, but it will not if you follow the School of Medicine policy. Attendance

policies are available in the Student Handbook.

How can I take time off to see my doctor for routine care?

If you need to see your doctor for routine care, try to schedule this when you are

not expected to be in didactics or taking care of patients. If the only times available

are when you are expected in clinic or in the hospital, notify your resident,

attending, and clerkship director so they can determine if make-up time is

necessary. More information about taking time off is available in the Student

Handbook.

Is it normal to have thoughts of killing myself sometimes?

No. About 1 in 9 medical students will have thoughts of killing themselves during

medical school. Even though thoughts of suicide may be common, they should

always be taken seriously as a sign that you might be depressed, burnt out, or

under too much stress. If you or a friend are having suicidal thoughts, please

contact:

 Agora Crisis Line – available 24 hours a day and 7 days per week

505-277-3013

 UNM Psychiatric Emergency Services - open 24 hours a day and 7 days per

week

505-272-2800

 National Suicide Prevention Hotline – available 24 hours a day and 7 days

per week

800-273-8255

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

My work is starting to negatively affect my home life and my

relationship with my family and friends are deteriorating. What

resources are available to me?

Often times other people notice problems before we do, so pay attention to these

signs and suggestions when this feedback is offered. There are many confidential

UNM resources to support you and your mental health; using these resources will

not be reported to the medical school:

 Jeff Dunn, MD, (UNM Psychiatrist) is available to see residents, fellows, and

students:

505-272-6130 or Je[email protected]

 Agora Crisis Center:

http://www.agoracares.org/ or 505-277-3013 or 866-HELP-1-NM

 Cheri Koinis, PhD, (UNM Psychologist) is available to students:

505-272-3898 or ckoini[email protected]

 Student Health And Counseling Center is available to see students:

https://shac.unm.edu or 505-277-3136

 Liz Lawrence, MD, (UNM Internist) is available to see residents, fellows, and

students:

[email protected]

 The attached 2018-2019 Psychotherapy and Counseling Guide has many

additional resources. It is also available at:

https://som.unm.edu/education/md/omsa/wellness.html

What should I do if I am abused or harassed during my schooling or

training?

Sometimes people do not behave professionally in a professional environment. If

you are abused or harassed during your schooling, please contact Dr. Jonathan

Bolton ([email protected]), Dr. Liz Lawrence ([email protected]),

or your Learning Communities mentor. You may also speak with Dr. Sheila Hickey

([email protected]), Dr. Teresa Vigil ([email protected]) or any trusted

faculty advisor. It is not your fault and you are not alone.

I am concerned about my drinking or drug use. What resources are

available to help me?

There are many confidential resources available to you at UNM to support you if

you’re concerned about substance use.

FAQs: Mental and Physical Health Care During Medical School

Office of Physician and Student Wellness and Office of Graduate Medical Education

August 2018

 Pamela Arenella, MD is a UNM Psychiatrist with additional board certification

in Addiction Medicine, and is available to meet with students, residents, and

fellows:

[email protected]

 Jeff Dunn, MD, (UNM Psychiatrist) is available to see residents, fellows, and

students:

505-272-6130 or [email protected]

 Cheri Koinis, PhD, (UNM Psychologist) is available to students:

505-272-3898 or ckoini[email protected]

 Agora Crisis Center is a phone hotline with walk-in counseling:

http://www.agoracares.org/ or 505-277-3013 or 866-HELP-1-NM

 Student Health And Counseling Center is available to see students:

https://shac.unm.edu or 505-277-3136

 The 2018-2019 Psychotherapy and Counseling Guide has many additional

resources. It is available at:

https://som.unm.edu/education/md/omsa/wellness.html