Primary Care Leadership Track (PCLT) - Surgery

Catalog description

The required course in surgery is given in the second year and consists of an eight week clinical clerkship. The primary goal is to provide a rich experience in the discipline of surgery while introducing students to the practice and principles of surgery. The objectives of this course are satisfied in a variety of ways. Students are actively incorporated into the surgical services. Students are divided into two groups, one at Duke University and the other at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and each works with Duke Surgical residents and members of the surgical faculty in the traditional surgical disciplines and surgical specialties. Students are assigned patients on the surgical wards where they serve a crucial role in the care, diagnosis, management, and follow-up of their patients. Clinical rounds are made daily and provide real-time patient care experience and instruction. The fundamental topics which form the foundation of surgical practice are presented at bi-weekly seminars with presentations by senior staff of the Duke University Department of Surgery. The subjects discussed include a broad range of topics in general, thoracic, transplant and vascular surgery in addition to the surgical specialties encompassing neurosurgery, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and urology/ Students are also given an opportunity to re-inforce their knowledge of anatomy and physiology. These fundamental principles are discussed during dissections of fresh tissue performed in the Duke University of Surgery Fresh Tissue Laboratory. Students are also given an opportunity to test their hand eye coordination in the Surgical Education and Activities Lab. The entire experience is consolidated during various sessions in experimental surgery, during which each student serves as the anesthesiologist, first assistant, and operating surgeon in performance of surgical…