Core Rotations

Core Clerkships

Internal Medicine (12 Weeks)
Students gain general knowledge of internal medicine. The internal medicine Core Clerkship is the study of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of men and women from adolescents through old age, in health through all stages of acute and chronic illness. Application of the scientific method of problem solving, decision making, and attitude of care, driven by the humanistic and professional values, is stressed in this rotation. Internal medicine requires the comprehensive knowledge of human biology, behavior, and an understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of disease and the mechanism of treatment. Students must master clinical skills in interviewing, physical examinations, differential diagnosis, diagnostic testing strategies, therapeutic techniques, counseling and disease prevention.

Surgery (8 Weeks)
Students develop the essential skills required of a general physician as well as a general surgeon. This Core Clerkship provides students with experience in pre-operative, operative and post-operative care for patients in all areas that constitute principle components of general surgery to include diseases of the head and the neck, breast, skin and soft tissues, alimentary tract, abdomen, vascular system, endocrine system; the comprehensive management of trauma and emergency operations and surgical critical care. The fundamentals of Basic Sciences, as applied to clinical surgeries, wound healing, hemostasis, hematologic disorders, oncology, shock, circulatory physiology, surgical microbiology, respiratory physiology, astrointestinal physiology, surgical endocrinology, surgical nutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance, metabolic response to injury, applied surgical anatomy and surgical pathology, are studied.

Pediatrics (6 Weeks)
Students gain an overview of general pediatric practice. The Core Clerkship provides students with an exposure to the health care of children with a substantial focus and experience in the management of diverse pathologic conditions as well as normal developmental stages. The Clerkship also provides experience in a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. The focus stresses preventive health, anticipatory guidance, nutrition, risk reduction and immunizations.

Obstetrics & Gynecology (6 Weeks) 
This Core Clerkship provides the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. This introduction to reproductive health care and ambulatory primary care for women includes health maintenance, disease prevention, preconception care counseling, diagnosis, treatment, consultation and referrals for complex disorders. Students participate in patient rounds, case conferences, and lectures covering the application of appropriate Basic Sciences to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

Psychiatry (6 Weeks)
The psychiatry Core Clerkship provides knowledge regarding the prevention, diagnosis and treatment intervention of psychiatric and common neurological disorders. The diagnosis and management of medical neurological disorders also includes developing the skills in the performance of a mental status examination and the evaluation and treatment of patients in various stages of neuropathology. The exposure to a patient base that represents a variety of ethnic, racial, social, gender preference and economic backgrounds is an integral part of this course.

Family Practice (6 Weeks)
The family practice Core Clerkship instructs students in the framework of delivering care throughout the continuum of the life cycle from infancy to old age. The clerkship provides a valuable experience in learning to relate to patients, patients' families, the healthcare system, and community in order to optimizing patients' care. Students learn about the responsibilities of a family practitioner for the total health care of individual families, taking into account social, behavioral, economic, cultural and biological dimensions. Patient care experiences are provided in various settings including outpatient, inpatient, home and long term-care facilities.