Some students are also assigned to a week of gynecologic oncology. Clinical experience is complemented by a daily lecture series, mentoring by an assigned faculty member and textbook reading. Students spend one week in neonatology and the rest of the time is divided between inpatient and outpatient pediatrics. In addition to a focus on general pediatrics in the ambulatory setting, students also receive exposure to clinics in pediatric cardiology, nephrology, hematology-oncology, rehabilitation, adolescent medicine, and child abuse. As full members of the health care team, students gain broad experience in the often difficult task of the physical exam of the child.
Students often build trusting relationships with children and their parents.
Clinical experience is supplemented with daily teaching rounds and lectures, an extensive syllabus, textbook reading and a brief paper on a pediatrics topic chosen by the student. Through exposure to inpatient, outpatient and ER settings, students learn to recognize common psychiatric illnesses in their patients including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and autism. A basic familiarity with psychiatric medications is acquired and students generally become more comfortable working with mentally ill individuals. Teaching rounds and textbook reading serve as the basis of formal learning and are complemented by a simulated patient experience focusing on alcoholism. Students spend the majority of time on the inpatient service, following patients preoperatively, assisting in the operation and then following patients postoperatively until their discharge.