Courses

This module in surgical specialties includes experience in both hospital and clinic-based surgery. The course is 4 weeks in length and includes two different 2-week rotations in the choices of Anesthesiology, ENT, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, or Urology. (Note: Ophthalmology is offered on a limited basis in Block/Module 1a/A & Block/Module 1b/B as they take reduced students those timeframes.  As well, Ortho is no longer offered in Block/Module 1a/A as they no longer take SUR800 students in that time frame.)

The goal of this experience is to prepare the learner for the practice of medicine by offering an experience in the scientific basis of surgical practice and exposure to a range of surgical specialties. In this course, the learner will increase their working knowledge of the clinical practice of surgery and surgical subspecialties. The learner will be able to apply this knowledge to the patient’s complaints and design therapeutic plan.

Direct patient contact is through participation in hospital rounds, clinical practice, office practice and participation in seminars. At the onset of the course, each student is provided with a course syllabus describing the objectives and expectations (Goals Statements). Small numbers of students are assigned to the surgical specialty services. The students are expected to attend the surgical conferences at the hospital to which they are assigned. They are expected to reach and master any assigned texts and handouts.

The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Grades for the clerkship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

Prerequisite: MS3 or MS4

Modules: A-K 
Blocks: 1-4 

No. of students: up to 12; less in 1a/A & 1b/B

Course Director: Brittany Montross, MD

Course Coordinator: Gayle Thomson

The purpose of this rotation is to give medical students who are interested in entering the field of Neurosurgery an opportunity to become a part of the Neurosurgical team, functioning as a “subintern” on the Neurosurgical service. 

The goal of this subinternship is to familiarize the students with clinical entities of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves that are amenable to surgical treatment. 

The program includes participation in the clinical activities of the neurosurgical services: evaluation of patients, neurodiagnostics, and surgical operations. 

During this rotation, students become an integral part of the neurosurgical service managing patients as a “subintern” under the direct supervision of the attendings and senior neurosurgical residents.

Upon completion of the subinternship, the students should be able to recognize standard neurosurgical disease entities; to differentiate between those diseases of the central nervous system that can be treated surgically and those that should be treated by conservative measures; and to recognize signs of increased intracranial pressure, their causes, and potential complications.  In addition, the students should be able to develop a sequence of appropriate diagnostic studies leading to a correct diagnosis and be familiar with the basic setup of a neurosurgical operating room and with the basic aspects of a craniotomy, laminectomy, and peripheral nerve exploration.

The students will be expected to present patient histories and physicals, examine patients, and interpret radiographic imaging.  They will attend to patients in the clinic setting, Emergency room, operative suites, the NICU, and the wards.  The students will be invited to all clinical conferences, journal clubs, and seminars. Outside reading throughout the subinternship is required.  Subinterns are required to prepare a presentation and present it during the Neurosurgical Grand Rounds.

Basic skills in neurological examination are recommended.

MS3 students must contact the course coordinator for permission prior to registration.

Prerequisite: MS4 or MS3 with permission of instructor

Modules: A-K  Blocks: 3 & 4

Number of students: 4 total (including NSR 801 registered at the same time)

Course Director: Jeffrey Mullin, MD, MBA

Course Coordinator: Laci White

This course is devised for students interested in learning more about the central and peripheral nervous system including the conservative and surgical management of various neurological conditions.  The goal of this rotation is to introduce medical students to Neurological Surgery providing experience in both hospital and clinic based arenas.  The students will have the opportunity to observe neurological procedures at various hospitals treating different types of neurosurgical patients as well as participating in various clinics.  A broad overview of Neurological Surgery will be provided and students will be exposed to many subspecialties of Neurosurgery including pediatrics, brain tumors, functional neurosurgery, spine surgery, endoscopic brain surgery, and vascular neurosurgery.  The clerkship is 4 weeks in length.   The learner will be taught basic skills in neurological examinations as well as imaging interpretation.  This knowledge will be applied to evaluation of neurological patients.  Indications of neurological surgical intervention and basic understanding of neurological procedures as well as the pre- and post- operative management of patients will be taught.   Direct patient contact is through participation in hospital rounds, clinical practice, office practice and participation in seminars.  At the onset of the course, each student is provided with the neurosurgical medical student curriculum as well as a schedule for their rotation. The students are expected to attend the neurosurgical grand rounds conferences and any resident lectures.

Prerequisite: MS3 or MS4

Blocks: 1-4, Modules: A-K

Number of students: 4 total (including NSR 800 registration)

Course Director: Jeffrey Mullin, MD, MBA

Course Coordinator: Laci White

Students may wish to perform a neurosurgical subinternship at an outside facility. This rotation is arranged through the Department of Neurosurgery with the outside neurosurgical department.

Prerequisite: MS4

Modules: A-K

Number of students: unlimited

Course Director: Jeffrey Mullin, MD, MBA

Course Coordinator: Laci White

Students may have an opportunity to work with a faculty member on a research project either clinical or laboratory based.

Students must contact the course coordinator prior to registering.

Prerequisite: MS3 or MS4

Modules: A-K Blocks: 1-4

Course Director: Jeffrey Mullin, MD, MBA

Course Coordinator: Laci White