Core (7)

PACN 672 Emergency Medicine (5 Credits)

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.  

PACN 670 Family Medicine (5 Credits)

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.

PACN 674 Internal Medicine (5 Credits)

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.

PACN 673 Surgery (5 Credits)

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.

PACN 671 Pediatrics (5 Credits)

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.

PACN 676 Obstetrics/Gynecology (5 Credits)

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.

PACN 678 Behavioral Medicine (5 Credits)

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.

In addition, there are other elective rotations in medicine and surgery subspecialties.