The clerkship focuses on the impact of disease as it affects a developing human and the recognition of common health problems. Students have both inpatient and outpatient experiences which permits exposure to skilled pediatricians in their practice environments. There is regular opportunity for student and preceptor interaction as well as didactic learning sessions. The Psychiatry Clerkship has designed a curriculum to prepare the student to understand and manage the common mental health problems affecting our society. This clerkship is designed to place emphasis on those problems that a primary care physician would most likely encounter in a practice.
Emphasis is placed on mental health disorders that afflict a population that is steadily aging.
During the course of this clerkship, the students will understand the basic biology and psychological as well as social aspects of their patients' disorders and they will understand some of the medical management that can provide significant relief to patients with psychiatric disorders. During the Surgery Clerkship, the students will have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of surgical concepts and to acquire patient management skills. It is not anticipated that significant operative technical skills will be acquired but students are welcomed in the Operating Room where they will be active participants in the operative management of patients under the close supervision of attending physicians and senior surgical residents. Students will also have an opportunity to develop basic clinical judgment skills and analyze common clinical surgical problems. It is anticipated that the student will acquire basic diagnostic capabilities related to surgical problems and be able to develop and organize a plan of assessment and management for the more common surgical disorders.