School of Medicine & Public Health - Industry in Education

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Policy Number:

SMPH-8045

Responsible Office:

SMPH Office of Academic Affairs

School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to minimize interactions in which the interests of the health care industry may conflict, either in appearance or in actuality, with health professions students’ goals of acquiring the knowledge necessary for optimal care of future patients. 

Definitions:

Health Professions Program

Any of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Genetic Counselor Students, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, or Master of Public Health Programs.

Industry

Pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, device and medical equipment manufacturers, wholesalers, and other suppliers of health care products and services. This includes individuals, non-governmental entities, universities, or groups that are contracting on behalf of or partnering with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, device and medical equipment manufacturers, wholesalers, and other suppliers of health care products or services in promotional, marketing, or sales activity.

Common Space

Any space commonly shared by the SMPH health professions programs.

Promotional Item

Any merchandise or products branded with an industry logo or name used for promoting a manufacturer, service, or vendor.

Policy:

1. Non-Interaction

   1. While in educational settings for required School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) activities, students will not interact with members of industry in any context that is not in compliance with SMPH institutional policies regulating such interactions.
   2. A faculty member and/or other academic instructional staff should must be present if students do interact with industry representatives in approved contexts.

2. Use or Display of Personal Items

   1. While in educational settings for required SMPH activities, students will not use or exhibit promotional items that display industry brand names.
   2. Student presentations and projects will not include industry-sponsored promotional materials.

3. Gifts

   1. Students will not accept any personal gifts or promotional items from industry.
   2. Industry organizations may donate grants and scholarships for students if approved by the dean or director of the relevant health professions program. Administration will be solely responsible for selection of recipients and distribution of such grants.
   3. Faculty and/or other academic instructional staff will not distribute industry-funded promotional items to students unless approved by the dean or director of the relevant health professions program.

4. Product Samples

   Students shall not accept or distribute prescription or non-prescription samples of medications, medical devices, digital health products or other health care products.

5. Donations

   1. For-profit entity support of student health professions education in SMPH shall be through donation to a general educational enhancement or scholarship fund, with written acknowledgement of the entities supporting the fund in materials distributed regarding the fund.
   2. No for-profit entity shall have the authority to deny participation by any other organization (either competitor for-profit entities or other organizations of any kind), nor stipulate the use of the funds. Funds shall be reserved for unrestricted support of student scholarships or for the unrestricted support of educational programs.

6. Events

   1. Students are strongly discouraged from attending industry-sponsored promotional events where the purpose of the event is to publicize, endorse, provide testimony for, or market the company’s products, regardless of the venue.
   2. Industry sponsorship for events hosted by registered student organizations is strongly discouraged. Student organizations must request approval from the dean or director of the relevant health professions program for any event involving industry. Students are strongly discouraged  from attending any industry-sponsored educational activities not scheduled as part of any specific course.
   3. In such cases where students attend an industry sponsored event, they shall not accept any remuneration or gifts in exchange for attendance.

7. Use of Common Space

   1. Displays, meetings, and events held in common space may not distribute promotional or educational materials provided by industry.
   2. Small signs acknowledging contributors are allowed but may not include industry logos or allow individual industry displays.
   3. Events held in common space may not include distribution of industry funded gifts to health professions students or faculty or staff engaged in teaching or interacting with health professions students.

8. Disclosure

   1. All course and clerkship materials shall disclose the nature of any industry relationships of the faculty member and/or other academic instructional staff relevant to course material. If a course faculty member and/or other academic instructional staff has no relevant relationships to report, that shall also be indicated. Relationships which could constitute a disclosure for teaching include, but are not limited to:
      1. personal or family ownership in companies that offer services or make medications, vaccines, devices, or digital health products discussed in the course;
      2. paid consultantships for companies that offer services or make medications, vaccines, devices, or digital health products discussed in the course;
      3. research funding by companies that offer services or make medications, vaccines, devices, or digital health products discussed in the course.
   2. Course materials shall not contain paid advertisements, use generic names, and avoid brand names. If it is important to identify a product by brand name for clarity, student awareness, or to discuss differences between products, the reason for brand identification shall be made clear in the course syllabus and/or orally during the presentation.

9. Opt-Out

   Students may opt out of activities involving industry representatives without adversely affecting their evaluation in any course or clerkship. This does not apply to professional conferences or other meetings supported by multiple industry sponsors

10. Violations

    Individuals who may be in violation of this policy should be referred to their respective health professions program

11. Exceptions

    1. Requests for exceptions should be submitted in writing to students’ respective health professions program.
    2. Requests should clearly state how the benefits of the proposed exception might outweigh the potential for conflict of interest.
    3. If granted, petitioners will receive written notification of the exception.

Related UW-Madison Policies:

SMPH-8035 School of Medicine & Public Health - Industry Grants for Unaccredited Educational Activities

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and Dean School of Medicine & Public Health

Policy Manager:

SMPH Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Contact:

Director of Education Accreditation and Compliance -- Megan Heneke, megan.heneke@wisc.edu, (608) 265-4811

Effective Date:

10-06-2025

Date Issued:

10-06-2025

Retrieved:

10-07-2025 20:05:31