Medicine

Allergy Elective (MED 616)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608), Limited Availability

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with allergic and immunologic disorders
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to allergic and immunologic diseases

Students are assigned to an allergist's private office and work on a one-to-one basis with the attending physician. Allergy history-taking, skin testing techniques, pulmonary function tests and evaluation of therapy are stressed.

Ambulatory Care Elective (MED 628A)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objectives

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients presenting in the ambulatory setting
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to ambulatory care

This elective offers students the opportunity to enhance skills in patient management, including initial evaluation, subsequent problem identification and implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic plans in the ambulatory setting. Problem-oriented record keeping is stressed. Reading assignments cover clinical problems observed in the outpatient setting.

Cardiology Elective (MED 611)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with cardiac disorders
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to cardiac diseases

Students are assigned to a Consultation Cardiology Service and are involved in the management of acute and chronic cardiology problems. The rotation includes time spent on both the invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular units and exposure to transvenous pacemaker insertion. Daily rounds are made in conjunction with both the resident and cardiologist. Students also attend a weekly cardiology conference.

Critical Care Elective (MED 628B)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for a critically ill hospitalized patient
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to critically ill patients

Students function as an intern-equivalent on a critical care team in conjunction with a resident and attending physicians. Students round daily with the critical care team and have the opportunity to perform procedures common to the critical care unit. Call is strongly suggested.

Dermatology Elective (MED 613)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608) , Limited Availability

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should have:

  • Developed skills in the examination and description of dermatologic disorders
  • Gained experience in the application of appropriate diagnostic techniques

Students will have the opportunity to work with the Dermatology faculty in the outpatient setting.

Endocrinology Elective (MED 622)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608), Limited Availability

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be familiar with principal issues in diabetes management, including use and rational dosing of modern insulins, indications for use of insulin pumps, use of newer oral hypoglycemic and insulin sensitizing agents, foot care, and management of complications.
  • Be familiar with common entities in endocrinology, including specific thyroid diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypercalcemic disorders, and others; and with laboratory interpretation relevant to these.

Students will see patients in the KCMS endocrinology clinic with selected endocrinology attendings in the community.

Gastroenterology Elective (MED 615)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with gastrointestinal disorder.
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to gastrointestinal diseases

Students are assigned to a Gastroenterology and Hepatology service and round daily with the gastroenterologist and resident. Exposure to both primary and consultative gastroenterology cases is included. Students also attend the endoscopy suite and may be given the opportunity to participate in endoscopies. Teaching rounds and a weekly gastroenterology conference are included.

Hematology - Oncology Elective (MED 610)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student 

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with hematologic or oncologic disorders
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to hematologic or oncologic diseases

Students are assogned to a clinical hematology-oncology service and round daily with staff oncologist and resident. An approach to the comprehensive management of the cancer patient with multiple medical problems is stressed. Students work up and manage hematologic and malignant disorders, perform procedures and have the opportunity for blood smear and bone marrow review.

Infectious Disease Elective (MED 618)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student 

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with infectious diseases
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to infectious diseases

Students are assigned to an infectious disease specialist, work up consultations and round daily with a resident and an attending physician. Students will become comfortable with managing common infections seen in the inpatient setting. They will also hone their differential diagnosis skills to identify uncommon and rare infections seen in the inpatient setting. 

Nephrology Elective (MED 617)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with renal disorders
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to renal diseases

This rotation offers students the opportunity to evaluate and manage patients with common renal problems, including acute and chronic renal failure, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, hypertension, hemodialysis and transplantation. Students are assigned to an inpatient nephrology unit and round daily with the resident and nephrologist. A weekly nephrology conference is required.

Neurology Elective (NOP 617)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608), Limited Availability

Objective

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with neurological disorders
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to neurological diseases

This elective is offered primarily in the outpatient setting, although in-hospital consultations may be included. Review of the neurologic examination and discussion of common neurological problems are covered. The student also has the opportunity to become familiar with electromyography, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging and CT scanning through affiliated hospital services. Special projects may be arranged based on individual student interests.

Pulmonary Medicine Elective (MED 614)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Basic Surgery Clerkship (SUR 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objectives

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with pulmonary disorders
  • Be familiar with laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to pulmonary diseases

Students are assigned to a pulmonary service and participate in daily rounds with the resident and pulmonologists. Treatment of acute pulmonary infection and care of the critical care patient with multiple medical problems are covered. Students also assist in procedures such as chest tube insertion, central line insertion and endotracheal intubation.

Rheumatology Elective (MED 627)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608), Limited Availability

Objectives

Upon completion of the elective the student should:

  • Be proficient in the comprehensive evaluation/physical exam skills for new patients with rheumatologic disorders
  • Be familiar with the laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to rheumatologic problems

The student is assigned to a rheumatology service and evaluates new consults and manages chronic patients in both the hospital and ambulatory settings. Areas covered include the approach to the patient with monarthritis and polyarthritis; recognition, evaluation and initial management of rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, PSS, MCTD, spondyloarthropathies, vasculitides and crystal induced disease; the physical exam related to rheumatologic problems; and radiologic and laboratory interpretation of common rheumatologic problems.

Subinternship in Medicine (MED 628C)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Fourth Year Medical Student

Objectives

  • Function as an intern equivalent on a hospital ward team

Students function as an intern equivalent on a general internal medicine service, and senior residents and attending physicians supervise the students as they manage patients throughout their hospitalization. Students attend morning report, teaching rounds and conferences in accordance with the internal medicine curriculum.

Women’s Health Elective (MED 628D)

Prerequisite

Basic Medicine Clerkship (MED 608)

Objectives

  • Be proficient in performing comprehensive history and physical examinations on adolescent and adult women
  • Be familiar with how common general medical problems and subspecialty problems may present differently in women versus men
  • Be familiar with health issues unique to female patients
  • Be familiar with behavioral and psychosocial aspects of women’s health
  • Be familiar with the interpretation of laboratory, procedural and diagnostic data as it relates to women’s health in the ambulatory setting

This elective builds upon the skills gained from the primary care and Ob/Gyn clerkships and further explores issues in women’s health. Students will work with faculty and residents with special interest in women’s health. The elective is flexible, to meet each individual student’s needs. In general, time will be divided between the teen clinic, internal medicine gynecology clinic, and the ambulatory clinic. Patient care will address both acute and chronic problems, with a focus on comprehensive health maintenance for women. Students are encouraged to participate in women’s health didactics and journal club.