Two-Week Electives for the Clinical Continuum - Department Of Internal Medicine

Students will work directly under Dr. Krane's supervision on the in-patient nephrology service at Tulane University Hospital. The focus of this elective will be a clinical approach to understanding, diagnosing, and managing fluid, electrolyte and acid/base disorders and basic approaches to acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease.

Under Dr. Krane's supervision, students will be an integral member of the health care team on the in-patient/consultation nephrology service at Tulane University Hospital. Students will be expected to participate in the evaluation and management of patients with specific fluid/electrolyte/acid-base disorders or acute renal failure/chronic kidney disease. Significant emphasis will be placed on clinical evaluation, and the importance of physical diagnosis, particularly volume assessment in the differential diagnosis of these disorders.

The goals of this experience are to enhance students' knowledge of:

1. The appropriate clinical assessment and diagnostic approach to patients with acid/base and fluid/electrolyte disorders.
2. The initial diagnostic approach to patients with acute renal failure
3. The important aspects of management of patients with chronic kidney disease
4. The use antihypertensive agents and drugs in patients with impaired renal function

Method of Assessment: Dr. Krane will:

1. Observe students clinical skills on a daily basis
2. Review student oral and written presentations
3. Provide an oral an written performance review for each student

Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (MDMD PRN TMC)

Small group discussion sessions with Program Director and other GCRC clinical investigators and staff. Review of selected published material pertaining to clinical research rch. Observation of inpatient and outpatient activities related to research protocol implementation. Rotation in GCRC Core Laboratory.

Objectives:

1. To educate our medical students on the significance of clinical research as it impacts understanding of mechanisms of disease and therapeutic approaches. earch for the undestanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic advances.
2. To teach the principles of ethical research in humans and the informed consent process.
3. To emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary clinical research teams. teams and the role le of physicians, nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, and study coordinators.
4. To educate our medical students on the role of the GCRC Core Laboratory in support of clinical research.

Introduction To Cardiovascular Medicine (MDMD INC TMC)

Through a two-week rotation, the student will become a member of the cardiology team at TUHC (CCV/Consults Service). will participate in the daily clinical activities (including ECG, imaging evaluations). A daily lecture is held (7 a.m. - 8 a.m.). The team also reviews topics such as arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, and risk assessment.

Objectives:

1. To have exposure to clinical problems in cardiovascular medicine.
2. To become familiar with cardiovascular risk stratification.
3. To integrate clinical information with non-invasive and invasive data.

Jose G. Diez, MD, Course Director
Method of Assessment: At the end of the rotation, the student will be evaluated on participation, interest, conpliance with daily activities using a standardized form.
Number of students: Min: 1; Max: 2
Prerequisite: Student in good standing at the accredited program.

Outpatient Pulmonary Clinics and Pulmonary Function Testing/Interpretation (MDMD CLN TMC)

The students will attend pulmonary specialty clinics for one half of each day. The student will work one to one with the pulmonary consultant. The attending physician will vary each day as will the focus of the clinic (Monday-general pulmonary, Tuesday-interventional, Wednesday-systic fibrosis, Thursday-interstitial lung disease, Friday-asthma.) The students will see several patients each clinic day and will be expected to submit three H&P write-ups per week. The student will review chest films and the PFTs on the patients they have seen in clinic. The student will be expected to read a short primer on pulmonary physiology. During the second week, the student will undergo PFT testing to help them understand the experience of their patients. There may also be the opportunity to see some invasive procedures, such as thoracentisis, bronchoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Students will be expected to attend the weekly chest-X-ray conferences and the weekly didactic pulmonary lecture.

Objectives:

1. Learn the directed H&P for patients presenting to the pulmonary clinic.
2. Gain experience in examining patients with pulmonary diseases.
3. Learn the basics of pulmonary function test interpretation.
4. Gain experience in viewing chest films.
5. Learn what it is like to undergo pulmonary function testing.

Joseph Lasky, MD, Course Director
Students will be assessed by:

1. Grading of the three best write-ups by the course director.
2. Their ability to interpret PFT's on the last day of the rotation.
3. Attendance at clinics an conferences.
4. Comments from the consultants.

AIDS Prevention in Haiti (MDMD AID HAI)

Student will travel to Haiti with Dr. Berggren for a 7-10 day trip. A full day of orientation prior to the trip will be required, as will a visit to travel clinic to consult with Dr. Susan McLellan. The student must be willing to comply wih vaccinations and malaria proplylaxis recommendations of the travel clinic.

Objectives:

1. To learn about HIV prevention in resource-poor settings.
2. To observe voluntary counselling and testing for HIV among rural pregnant women.
3. To become familiar with maternal to child HIV transmission prevention methods.
4. To understand the minimum package of services necessary in providing HIV-AIDS care in resource-poor settings.

Anesthesiology Dermatology Family & Community Medicine Interdisciplinary Electives

Internal Medicine Pathology Surgery