Surgery Clerkship 12 Credits/Maximum of 12

Catalog description

The surgery clerkship introduces students to the basic principles of surgery and the basic principles of caring for the surgical patient. It is NOT the purpose of the surgical clerkship to train medical students in the technical practice of surgery or to interest only those students who intend to pursue a career in surgery. Rather, the clerkship is designed to equip all students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes relevant to surgical patient management that ALL physicians should possess. Through this exposure, the student will begin to understand the general process of the application of surgical therapy to patients across the age spectrum and in different stages of disease. Furthermore, by participating as a member of the surgical team, the student will experience the professional role of the surgeon as a member of a multidisciplinary team that provides care for and communication about a patient within a complex healthcare system. At all points during the rotation, discussion and attention should be paid toward the quality, safety, and value of the care being rendered. It is the responsibility of all team members (staff, students, residents, fellows and faculty) to continually ensure a respectful learning environment that is welcoming to the diversity of individuals that make up and strengthen our academic health system. The clerkship is structured upon the principle that learning is an active process which can be accomplished only by the engaged student. This is facilitated by the identification of learning goals and prospective planning. The role of the faculty and house staff (where applicable) is to provide collaboration, guidance, stimulation, and role modelling. All of this is intended to make the student a partner in the community of learners that is academic surgery. During this core clerkship experience, students will learn pre- and post-operative management, participate in surgical procedures, and gain exposure to the initial management of traumatically injured patients. Great emphasis will be placed upon the skill of critical thinking and reasoning to arrive at an optimal, evidence-based therapy for the patient.