Small Animal Internal Medicine-Foundation

Catalog description

The Small Animal Internal Medicine rotation involves clinical training in all core medicine disciplines including endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology, hematology, infectious disease, nephrology/urology, and respiratory medicine. Students will also be exposed to medicine-adjacent topics such as oncology, cardiology, neurology, dermatology, interventional radiology/endoscopy, nutrition and critical care. Case evaluation will require knowledge of diagnostic modalities including clinical pathology, radiology and histopathology. Under the supervision of faculty and house officers, clinical rotation students will perform history taking, physical examination and medical management of patients presented to the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving, understanding of pathophysiology and integration and utilization of principles of medicine. As experience is gained, students will assume more responsibility in patient management. Students and staff will participate in teaching rounds and case discussions. The primary objective of the rotation is for students to become adept at clinical decision making by evaluating all patient data (history, physical exam, diagnostics) to develop complete problem lists and differential diagnoses and to create their own diagnostic and treatment plans.