Leaves of absence in health science programs: Not a catch‐all solution

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Health science students with disabilities may experience a worsening of symptoms that can fluctuate and impact their functioning. A myopic response to these flares is to suggest a leave of absence. In these cases, the message to the student is “Take some time off and get this fixed. Then return when you are well.” The flaw in this approach is the idea that students must be 100% well to engage in the program. Functioning occurs on a spectrum from low functioning (where a student may legitimately require a leave) to high functioning (where no limitations exist). Many students experiencing a flare fall in the middle, able to continue in the program with the aid of accommodations (see “Mental health and functioning” box at bottom of page).