University of Virginia Health System

Overview

Goals

The educational goals of the surgery clerkship are to provide the third year medical student with an exposure to common surgical problems, develop basic clinical decision-making skills in this patient population applicable to future practice, provide technical skills appropriate for third year students, and provide students an experience that allows them to evaluate surgery as a future career choice.

Learning Objectives

1. Upon completion of the surgery clerkship all students are expected to have seen patients undergoing:

a. Evaluation of abdominal pain

b. Gastrointestinal surgery

c. Cancer surgery

d. Hernia repair

e. Resuscitation from shock

2. Upon completion of the surgery clerkship all medical students should be able to:

a. Recognize common surgical problems and construct appropriate diagnostic management and referral algorithms for each condition

b. Assess suitability for surgery of patients referred with common surgical problems

c. Recognize the most common surgical emergencies that require urgent surgical consultation

d. Apply the principles of resuscitation to a patient in shock

e. Demonstrate professional attitudes and values towards colleagues and patients

f. Perform as an effective member of a surgical team at a third year student level

g. Elicit and present a history and physical in a format appropriate for surgical patients

h. Discuss the principles of anethesia and how they apply to surgical patients

Curriculum

The surgical curriculum will be taught by a combination of didactic and clinical teaching.  However the greatest opportunities for learning surgery will take place in the operating room, the clinic and at the bedside. We would strongly encourage you to consider these clinical activities a priority. Important learning opportunities include Morning Report (Camp Heart daily at 6.30am), Resident Teaching Conference, Mortality and Morbidity Conference and Surgery Grand Rounds (Camp Heart on Wednesdays beginning at 6.00 am). There are also many rotation specific conferences and you should obtain a schedule of these from the chief at the beginning of each rotation. The curriculum details are summarized by clinical rotation on the following pages. 

Assessment

Students will be evaluated by faculty and residents with whom they have had sufficient contact to allow a valid assessment. Final grades will be calculated as follows:

Student performance in the clerkship is directly related to the level of participation and enthusiasm shown for clinical responsibilities. Do not be afraid to ask questions, or request guidance in identifying useful resources. In addition, please ask the chief resident to provide you with feedback at least once during each rotation. The written and oral examination details are covered in the Orientation Manual.

Feedback

We wish to make the surgery clerkship a worthwhile experience for you and to improve our teaching; therefore we will ask you to complete an evaluation after each rotation. Please feel free to provide us with any feedback or suggestions for improvement at any time. More importantly, please contact us immediately if you experience problems with your rotation.

The Student Handbook along with other information (such as information regarding medical student duty hours) is available here.

Clerkship Directors

Gene McGahren (924-5643)

Clerkship Coordinator

Sylvie Moore (924-5771)