Electives usually are for 4 weeks, but other lengths of duration are possible. Students actively participate in all clinical activities of the Division, focusing on infectious disease consultations in pediatric infectious diseases at Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital and University Hospital. Emphasis is placed on the clinical and laboratory evaluation of infection, and the management of infectious diseases and associated complications. The scope of infectious diseases typically encountered includes medical and postsurgical infections, infections in cancer and bone marrow transplant patients, and management of HIV-infected children. Students spend approximately 6-8 hours during the rotation in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital and the Virology Laboratory at University Hospital.
Students round each weekday with the attending physicians on all patients.
Students participate in pediatric case conferences in presenting current cases. Contact the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases to arrange the elective. An application is required. It is recommended that the rotation be scheduled a minimum of 2 months in advance of the desired starting date. Approval is finalized by the Office of Student Affairs of the School of Medicine.