Rotation Programs

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants and in conjunction with the healthcare team in the emergency room setting. In this core rotation, students rotate through the various areas of the Emergency Department, including medical, surgical, pediatric, orthopedic, and fast track. Students learn to systematically evaluate and manage patients with acute medical and surgical emergencies, perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and participate in cardiac and trauma resuscitations. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are expected to attend grand rounds and scheduled lectures. Students are assigned to work directly with attending physicians and / or resident – PA staff in the emergency room setting. Students will rotate through the various areas of the Emergency Department, main medical ER and Fast Track. Students may be exposed to medical, surgical, pediatric and psychiatric emergencies. Students are expected to participate in daily rounds and to attend scheduled lectures and conferences. Students will be given the opportunity to learn and perform diagnostic & therapeutic procedures, and may participate in cardiac and trauma resuscitations. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to an out-patient department, family medical clinic or office practice, and work under supervision of licensed family medicine physicians and/or physician assistants and in conjunction with the health care team. This core rotation provides students with the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to serve a diverse cross-section of the patient population, and to treat patients of all ages in an ambulatory care setting. Students learn psychosocial aspects of health care as well as how to provide family-oriented primary care services, such as acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, maintenance, patient education and disease prevention. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. In addition, students are familiarized with the differences in the coordination, management and follow-up of the outpatient as compared to the hospitalized patient, and with recognizing when to refer the patient for hospital admission. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to the Department of Medicine and work directly under the supervision of the medical house staff or work in an outpatient internal medicine setting. Emphasis is placed on the hospitalized, acute, non-surgical adult patient In this core rotation, students medically evaluate hospitalized patients and follow their daily progress. By doing so, students learn how to correlate history and physical findings with the patient’s physiological and laboratory data and emotional state, in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan and appreciate how to provide continuity of care. Students develop skills and demonstrate competency in performing and interpreting a variety of medical procedures and tasks. Attendance at daily rounds, grand rounds, medical conferences and orientation to the medical intensive care unit is required. In certain settings, there are opportunities to work with the house-staff who are assigned to the medical clinic area, to monitor and follow up patient management problems, and to participate in the formulation of their management plans. If the student is an out-patient setting, they will participate in in-patient rounds with the MD/ DO/PA/NP. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed surgeons and/or physician assistants and in conjunction with the healthcare team in the Department of Surgery. In this core rotation, students become involved in all phases of diagnosis and treatment of the surgical patient, including pre-operative, operative, and post-anesthesia care. They learn the practical management of fluid, electrolyte and nutritional disturbances, post-operative infections, as well as wound healing and wound care. They scrub into the operating room and observe and assist in a variety of surgical procedures as assigned by the preceptor(s), and also become involved in the management of the critically ill surgical patient. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are expected to attend daily rounds, grand rounds, morbidity & mortality conferences and scheduled lectures while on the surgery service. Students are assigned to work directly with attending physicians and / or resident - PA staff in the Department of Surgery. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants and in conjunction with the healthcare team, either in an inpatient or an outpatient pediatric department, clinic, or office. This core rotation emphasizes the care of the child from birth to adolescence. Students learn to recognize and manage common childhood illnesses, assess variations in normal growth and development, and provide preventive health care services including immunizations, routine screening, parental and interventional counseling. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are assigned to work directly with attending physicians and / or resident - PA staff in an in-patient, out-patient pediatric office or clinic. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that are aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of the pediatric patient’s growth and development from birth through adolescence. These include following a child’s height & weight charts, immunization schedule, diet, psychosocial development and neurological development. Students will become familiar with routine screening techniques and the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of childhood illnesses. Students are required to attend daily rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the pediatrics in-patient service. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team, either in an inpatient or an outpatient OB/GYN department, clinic, or office. In this core rotation, students gain practical experience in evaluating obstetrical and gynecological patients. Students become familiar with the care and management of ante-partum and post-partum patients, and occasionally assist in deliveries. Students perform pre-natal care, including routine examinations of expectant mothers as they progress through their pregnancies. Students also become familiar with the care and management of a wide variety of gynecological problems, as well as health promotion and disease prevention of the female reproductive tract. Students develop competency in the performance of annual exams and Pap smears, counseling for birth control, infertility, menstruation, and sexuality. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are expected to attend inpatient rounds, conferences and scheduled lectures while on an inpatient service. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team to gain practical clinical experience in working with the elderly and those patients who are suffering from chronic diseases. In this core rotation, students are exposed to a wide variety of common geriatric and long-term care problems. This rotation stresses characteristics of the normal aging process, so that students may better identify and address deviations from the norm. Students gain exposure to end-of-life issues and psychosocial dynamics. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are assigned to work directly with attending physicians and / or resident - PA staff while they gain practical clinical experience in working with patients across the life-span. There is a strong focus on long term care. Students should be able to differentiate the care of elderly and those patients who are suffering from chronic diseases. Emphasis is placed on the geriatric patient for both acute and on-going care. Students are exposed to a wide variety of common geriatric and long term care problems. Students are required to attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the Geriatric / Long Term Care service. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team in an inpatient and or outpatient behavioral health setting where they will learn a biopsychosocial approach to psychiatric, cognitive and behavioral problems. In this core rotation, students will evaluate and manage patients with a variety of behavioral health problems. The student will perform basic psychiatric evaluations, develop skills in performing mental status examinations and psychiatric interviews while incorporating behavioral dynamics in this patient population. The student will review and monitor medications and support the clinical management plan for patients receiving psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Students will incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of team-based medical problem-solving and patient-centered care decisions. Students are expected to attend interdisciplinary meetings, patient rounds and scheduled lectures.

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team in an inpatient psychiatric setting, where they will learn a biopsychosocial approach to mental illness. In this elective rotation, students will evaluate and manage patients with a variety of psychiatric problems, do follow-up evaluations of those patients seen in the Psychiatric Emergency Room, and develop skills in the performance of mental status exams and psychiatric interviews. Students study the diagnoses and treatment plans of child and adolescent patients, and the daily, intensive long-term treatment of severely disturbed out-patients, to gain an understanding of psychopathology, therapeutic community and team functioning. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are expected to attend scheduled lectures.

This elective clinical learning experience takes place in both the clinic and hospital settings. Students are assigned to work directly with attending physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Students develop proficiency in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of orthopedic problems in the adult and pediatric populations. They have the opportunity to observe and "scrub in" to assist in orthopedic surgical cases, to reinforce knowledge of sterile technique and the proper use of surgical instruments, and to participate in preoperative and postoperative management of the orthopedic patient. Students attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the Orthopedic Surgery service. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are required take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

This elective rotation provides students with a clinical experience in which there is an interface between medicine and the law, especially regarding patient deaths, some of which will fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner. This rotation provides students with the opportunity to observe and perform the tasks associated with PA's who work as Forensic (medico-legal) Investigators. Working with Forensic Pathologists, students are exposed to and participate in the forensic autopsy, and also spend time in the forensic serology and toxicology labs. They are introduced to forensic anthropology, forensic odontology and forensic photography. Through this rotation, students become familiar with the modern medical examiner system, the role of the Medical Examiner, and his/her relation to the criminal justice system. Students also learn the interpersonal skills necessary in dealing with families who are coping with sudden and unexpected death, public health and safety issues, and medicolegal issues. Students attend daily case review, scheduled lectures, and conferences while on the Forensic Medicine rotation. Students are required take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

This elective rotation is available to students who have completed the required Internal Medicine rotation. The rotation provides students the opportunity to concentrate on learning the work-up, diagnosis and medical management of patients with cardiac diseases. Students work directly with attending physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the health care team. Students attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the service. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students are assigned to a Cardiology Department / clinic or private cardiology office practice, and work directly with attending physicians and / or resident – P.A. staff. This rotation will provide students with the opportunity to concentrate on learning the work-up, diagnosis and medical management of patients with cardiac disease. In addition, time may be spent in a cardiac catheterization laboratory. Students are required take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.

This elective rotation is available to students who have completed the General Surgery rotation. The surgical subspecialty rotations provide students the opportunity to concentrate on learning the work-up, diagnosis and medical management of patients in a variety of surgical subspecialties, such as cardiothoracic surgery, plastic and reconstructive and neurosurgery and surgical intensive care unit. Students are assigned to work directly with surgeons and/or physicians assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team. They have the opportunity to "scrub in" to assist in surgical cases, and develop proficiency in the surgical work-up, intra-operative intervention and post-operative management of patients. They also follow patients in the critical care setting and on the floors. Students are required to attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the service. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. In CT surgery students will have the opportunity to observe and scrub in to assist in cardio-thoracic surgical cases. Students will develop proficiency in the surgical workup, intra-operative intervention and post-operative management of cardio-thoracic patients. Students will follow patients in the critical care setting and on the floors. While in the critical care setting, students will become familiar with the placement, maintenance, monitoring and removal of central venous lines, Swan-Ganz Catheters, chest tubes and arterial lines. Students will understand fluid & electrolyte management, become familiar with the management of ventilator patients and the interpretation of arterial blood gas measurements. Students will also become familiar with the pharmacological agents utilized in the care of the critically ill. Students are required to attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures and conferences while on the Cardio-thoracic Surgery service as well as any subspecialty service that the course requires. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam in the respective surgical subspecialty.