title: Academic Support Services in U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Academic support services play a critical but largely undocumented role in helping medical students meet the challenges of the curriculum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of academic support programs in medical schools, and to find out how these are conceptualized and implemented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were sent to medical schools in the US and Canada. Questions addressed specific services, providers, and funding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was returned by 86 of the 135 (67.7%) schools. Almost all (95.3%) provide academic support in the first two years, and a large majority in third (82.6%) and fourth (79%) year. Great variability exists in the infrastructure and funding of the programs, and in the training of the providers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Academic support is common, but has broad interpretation; services are varied. Programs are conceptualized differently, some to provide specific assistance to pass courses, and others for skill development, to enhance self-directed, life-long learning.
authors.affiliation: a Assistant Dean for Educational Programs UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
authors.forename: Norma S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Saks
authors.affiliation: b Director, Office of Academic Development UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karl
keywords: academic support; medical education; medical students; student counseling