Medical School – Second Year

The Department participates in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course. Basic history-taking and physical examination skills are taught in the context of surgical problems.

Medical School – Third Year

Students participate in a 12-week clinical clerkship, and may rotate at several facilities including, but not limited to, Reading Hospital, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Allegheny General Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente. Students spend eight weeks in general surgery and four weeks on the surgical subspecialties. A program of interactive tutorials covers the core curriculum. Intensive educational strategies are used during the clerkship. The curriculum followed on all campuses is comparable across campuses. During this clinical clerkship, students follow their patients closely during the hospital stay and in outpatient clinics and assist in operations. Work-up of surgical patients and management of both simple and complex problems are emphasized. Students are an integral part of the management team and work closely with the house staff.

Medical School – Fourth Year

A fourth-year rotation in surgery, based on principles of lifelong learning and individualized student-centered instruction, is offered to all students. Students rotate for four weeks on a general surgery service or on the subspecialties to achieve the educational objectives they design individually with their preceptors. In addition, electives are offered in the surgical subspecialties and in the Surgical Intensive Care Units.

During these rotations, students function as subinterns. They are assigned more clinical responsibility and actively participate in the total care of surgical patients. Basic surgical techniques, including problem-solving, are taught, both at the bedside and in the operating room. Students are expected to participate in weekly surgical conferences where a vast array of surgical topics is presented by University and guest faculty, as well as residents and the students themselves.

Opportunities also are available for students to participate in research programs.

 
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