Clerkship and Course Descriptions 4th Year

Courses

MDC 7700 Anesthesiology and Critical Care (4 Credits)

During this clerkship students learn the basics of airway management, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, management of fluids, use of vasoactive medications, and care of the critically ill patient. In addition, students learn about preoperative evaluation, basic principles of anesthesia, and management of acute postoperative complications.

MDC 7203 Senior Medicine Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation offers an increased level of patient care responsibility compared to the third-year Medicine Clerkship. Students serve as the primary physician under resident and faculty supervision. Students are responsible for the performance of simple diagnostic procedures. Self-education is stressed, and students also attend major departmental conferences.

MDC 7401 Senior Pediatrics Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation focuses on the inpatient care of pediatric patients. Students will be given increased responsibility for patient care under supervision of pediatric residents and faculty. Patient-oriented seminars and conferences are presented on a daily basis, and the emphasis is on self-directed education.

MDC 7602 Senior Surgery Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation focuses on the inpatient care of surgical patients.  Students will be given increased responsibility for patient care under supervision of surgical residents and faculty.  Emphasis will be placed on the acquisition of technical skills and clinical/surgical judgment.

MDC 7123 Senior Family Medicine Acting Internship (4 Credits)

Students serve as the primary physician under resident and faculty supervision in both the inpatient and ambulatory setting. The level of patient care is increased compared to the third-year Family Medicine Clerkship.

MDC 7710 Emergency Medicine (4 Credits)

Students actively participate in caring for patients who present to the emergency department with a variety of acute and subacute problems. The emphasis is on learning to stabilize and then correctly triage critically ill patients.

MDC 7650 Senior Neurosurgery Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation offers an experience in the management of injury and illness of the neurologic system. Students will function as an integral part of the faculty led team caring for patients on the neurosurgery service, including initial patient evaluation in the emergency department, clinician and inpatient setting, continuity of care, and development of surgical techniques.

MDC 7602 Senior Otolaryngology Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation provides an immersion through direct experiences in the discipline of Otolaryngology. Students will be given increased responsibility as they round, present findings and assessments, provide plans for inpatients admitted after a surgical procedure.

MDC 7602 Senior OMFS Surgery Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation provides clinical and didactic exposure to the surgical and nonsurgical management of various oral conditions. Students will be given increased responsibility for patient care  under supervision of OMFS faculty.

MDC 7602 Senior Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Acting Internship (4 Credits)

This rotation emphasizes the management of patients , as well as understanding the requirements for consults, learning basic principles of plastic and reconstructive surgery, application of medical knowledge in patient care and clinical problem solving, and learning basic plastic surgery suturing and surgical techniques. Students will function as interns and ill work closely with the residents in the operating room, during rounds and patient care.

MDC 7800 Neurology Clerkship (4 Credits)

Students actively participate in the care of inpatient and ambulatory patients with neurologic disease.

MDC 7940 Transition to Residency (4 Credits)

Transition to Residency is the final course in the curriculum. The course focuses on the management of acute medical problems, patient safety, medical ethics, and topics relevant to the transition to becoming a physician. Part of the course is divided into boot camp experiences related to a student’s specialty choice.

Students are required to spend a month in an inpatient setting that allows advanced clinical practice. These advanced experiences are designed to allow the students, with supervision, increased autonomy and independent decision-making in the care of patients. Students have a choice of a selective in the following areas:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Community Health & Family Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Neurosurgery
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatrics
  • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Surgery
  • Urology

Senior Electives (16 weeks)

In addition to the optional Medical Student Research Program (MSRP), Discovery Pathway Program (DPP), and third year elective, students have numerous options for electives during the fourth year in clinical, nonclinical, and research areas. Students also have the opportunity to design their own elective experience through independent study which must be approved by the Phase 3 director. Students are required to complete 16 weeks of elective experiences with the option to complete more.

Students are directed to the Senior Elective Catalog for a detailed description of all fourth-year electives.