Medical Student Electives - Gastroenterology
Rotation Director: Michael Piper, M.D.
Duration: One month
Candidates: Senior students of approved medical schools
Maximum number of student per four-week period: Two
Description:
One of the educational objectives is to acquaint the student with various sources of reading material and provide assigned teaching materials from our library. The student is required to read several articles of topical importance.
Daily quizzing of assigned material, general discussions of digestive diseases and the bibliography are evaluation factors. Each student is individually reviewed according to the quality of case material presentation and participation in daily rounds. Work rounds are conducted five days per week. Teaching Rounds are separate from Working Rounds. They are to be conducted a minimum of three times per week for one and one-half hours each. They are to include an in-depth discussion of one or two topics with emphasis on pathophysiology, etiology, therapy, socioeconomic and ethical issues.
The student shall have the experience of first encounter with patients and be able to make decisions under the supervision of a member of the teaching faculty. The student shall follow two to six patients daily while on the service, with their notes being reviewed and co-signed by either the subspecialty fellow on the service or the attending teaching faculty. The student is expected to work out a reasonable approach to the diagnosis of the patient’s problem. He/she will be trained to do a history and physical and will be checked by the senior gastroenterology fellow, the Chief of Gastroenterology and/or the attending staff physician.
During this one-month rotation, the student will observe a considerable number of cases such as endoscopies, ERCP and several esophageal motility tracings. Involvement will include taking x-rays and reviewing them with the teaching staff. After reading each case, the student will be expected to present the material logically and concisely.
Procedural experience is an important part of this rotation. The student should witness at least five (5) flexible sigmoidoscopies, colonoscopies and gastroscopies and other procedures.
Continuity of care is also very important. The student shall work one a.m. per week in the GI Continuity Clinic.
Additionally, the Section Chief will encourage student participation in clinical research projects. The resident may allow the student to continue his/her participation even after he/she leaves the rotation.
Attending staff physicians will complete an evaluation of the student’s rotation.
