MD Program Policy: Narrative Assessment

Definitions

Narrative assessment: A required component of the ForWard Curriculum at UWSMPH, narrative assessment consists of written comments from faculty that assess student performance and achievement in meeting specific objectives of a course or clerkship, such as professionalism, clinical reasoning, etc.

Policy Details

When Narrative Assessment is Provided:

Narrative assessment of a medical student's performance will be provided in circumstances when any of the following curricular conditions are met:

• Students work in small groups of eight members or fewer and are observed longitudinally by the same faculty facilitator for at least four sessions.
• Students are observed and assessed performing duties in a clinical setting by the same faculty supervisor or team for at least three half days.
• Students are reviewed and coached individually by their LTC at least once per semester as part of the Competency Review Process.

Procedures for Providing Narrative Assessment:

• The Medical Education Office (MEO) oversees the centralized assessments designed to ensure that narrative feedback is collected, documented, and delivered for all students at pre-specified time points across all four years of the curriculum.
• All standardized formative and summative assessment rubrics include a section for narrative feedback.
• All students will receive comprehensive narrative feedback on their competency development at least once per semester throughout each student’s entire four-year education via the Competency Review Process.
• Narrative feedback is shared with the student as soon as the assessment is submitted and processed by MEO.

External References

LCME Element 9.5

Policy Administration

Approval Authority

Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC)

Policy Manager

Associate Dean for Medical Education

Policy Contact(s)

Policy History

Date last reviewed and approved: June 11, 2025

Next review: June 2026