Medicine Clerkships may not be scheduled during the first month of the Academic Year (typically mid-June through mid-July).
This clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. Two students are accepted for four- or six-week rotations.
The student is assigned to a medical teaching unit where the student becomes a member of the resident team. Carefully chosen patients are assigned, with the students' responsibilities and duties similar to those of the intern.
The student will be responsible for the patient's initial evaluation and will suggest appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Emphasis will be placed on the student's involvement and active participation in daily patient care and management. Direct supervision and guidance will be provided by residents and attending physicians.
In addition to daily management rounds, formal teaching rounds are conducted three times weekly. The student will also attend noon conferences.
The cardiology clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
Students will be actively involved in the evaluation and management of patients with coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Daily teaching rounds with a resident and cardiologist provide ample opportunity for clinical experience and learning. Students will be expected to present patients on daily teaching rounds.
Cardiac hemodynamics will be emphasized. There will also be an opportunity for EKG interpretation with the cardiologist. The student will be expected to attend daily medical teaching conferences. Time can be allowed for the student to observe noninvasive diagnostic procedures such as exercise testing, nuclear studies, and echocardiography, as well as invasive coronary procedures.
This clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will learn the wide breadth of disorders in the field of endocrinology and acquire an understanding of the pathophysiology, workup, and management. The student will participate in outpatient clinics. Hospitalized patients with endocrine problems will also be seen in consultation by the endocrine team on a daily basis.
Students will be responsible for the initial evaluation and daily follow-up of selected patients. Students will work closely with the attending endocrinologist and a senior medical resident. Attendance at daily noon conference is expected.
The gastroenterology clerkship is offered to fourth-year students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
Students will be involved in the evaluation and management of patients with acute and chronic gastroenterology issues on the general medical and intensive care units. Daily teaching rounds will be made with a resident and gastroenterologist. The medical student will have the opportunity for case presentation during rounds and for bedside visits with the attending physician. Medical students will be expected to attend daily teaching conferences.
In addition, medical students will have an opportunity to observe common gastroenterology procedures.
The infectious diseases clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will learn appropriate interviewing and examination techniques and how to analyze available data to perform an infectious disease consultation. Didactic sessions with residents and faculty will cover the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases. The importance of appropriate use of diagnostic tests, culturing methodology, and antibiotic susceptibility testing will be reviewed. The student will also be exposed to the therapeutic approaches used in the management of a variety of common infections. The student will attend daily teaching conferences.
This clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
This intensive care elective provides a broad-based clinical experience in the care of critically ill and injured patients, encompassing acute problems demanding immediate intervention, as well as ongoing management problems in complex cases. Multidisciplinary care of these patients is provided under the guidance of critical care medicine residents, fellows, and staff. Students are expected to attend daily teaching conferences.
The nephrology clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. A maximum of two students are accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will see nephrology consultations and evaluate patients with renal disease admitted to the hospital. Daily teaching rounds will be made with the resident and attending nephrologist. Two outpatient nephrology clinic sessions will be conducted. The student will also attend daily teaching conferences.
This clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will participate in the diagnostic investigation and management of patients with neurologic conditions. The student will attend daily teaching conferences.
This clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One or two medical students are accepted for each month rotation.
The Operation Safety Net® clerkship involves visiting homeless persons in the inner-city streets and riverbanks with a primary care physician. Medical students will be exposed to the urban, underserved population; apply methods to incorporate medical care to this group; identify medical problems specifically experienced by the unsheltered homeless and barriers to care; and participate in the management of their complex sociomedical reality. In addition, students will participate in hospital consults for the street homeless, case-management meetings, and discuss selected readings with the medical director.
Operation Safety Net® is a registered service mark owned by Mercy Life Center Corporation.
The pulmonary medicine clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will work closely with the pulmonary attending physician and resident.
Emphasis will be given to interpretation of pulmonary function tests, sleep studies and pulmonary exercise studies, as well as instruction in the indications and contraindications for bronchoscopy, pleural biopsy, and thoracentesis. The students will attend daily teaching conferences.
The rheumatology clerkship is offered to fourth-year medical students. One student is accepted for each four-week rotation.
The student will perform the initial history and physical examination on new patients seen in the inpatient and outpatient setting daily with a faculty member in the Division of Rheumatology. Emphasis will be given to rheumatology-specific history and physical exam findings as well as understanding of rheumatology testing.
Department of Medicine
UPMC Mercy
1400 Locust St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-232-5533
or 1-800-637-2946
Fax: 412-232-5689
