Course Director

Lyuba Konopasek, M.D.
(212)746-3131
Lyk2003@med.cornell.edu

Course Associate Coordinator

Thanakorn Jirasevijinda, MD
(212)746-3131
thj2002@med.cornell.edu

Course Coordinator

Roselinda Herard, MPA
(212)746-3970
roh2018@med.cornell.edu

Course Administrative Assistant

Andre Henry
(212)746-3131
ajh2006@med.cornell.edu

General Information

The Pediatric clerkship is a 6-week course offered at six different sites: New York ­ Presbyterian Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, New York Methodist Hospital, New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, and St. Barnabas Hospital. Each student will rotate 6 weeks at one site. The clerkship has the following breakdown: 3 weeks In-Patient, 2 weeks Out-Patient/Well Baby nursery, and 1 week ER.

The aims of this rotation are to introduce students to the clinical practice of Pediatrics, to familiarize them with the biomedical bases for this area of clinical medicine, and to promote the development of critical thinking in clinical practice through the use of epidemiological data and differential diagnosis. Specific goals are listed below:

1. Learn and perform newborn and pediatric physical exams.
2. Recognize normal patterns of growth and development.
3. Be able to generate differential diagnosis for common pediatric complaints
4. Gain familiarity with the management of common pediatric diseases.

Objectives:

For specific objectives, see the Committee on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics curriculum (in packet and also available at (www.comsep.org).

Formal Teaching:

Didactic teaching will occur in Morning Report, Attending Rounds, Housestaff Conferences, Core Curriculum Days, and Tutor Groups.

All students will meet at New York ­ Presbyterian Hospital the first Monday and Tuesday and the next 3 Thursdays of the rotation for Core Curriculum of lectures and case discussions. We suggest you read on the topics prior to the lectures.

The Tutor will meet with the students 2-3 times per week (total 3-6 hours/week) to review cases and general topics in Pediatrics. Students are expected to hand in at least 3 write-ups during the clerkship. Students are expected to attend all Rounds and Conferences with their respective teams, including Grand Rounds.

In-Patient Experience:

Students will spend 3 weeks on the In-Patient service. With the exception of Core Curriculum Thursdays and Tutor Groups, students should function as an integral part of the In-Patient team without interruptions to their daily schedule on the floor. Each student should try to carry 3-4 patients at a time. The Senior Residents will help decide which patients are most suitable for the students to follow.

Newborn Nursery Experience:

Each student will spend 1 week in the Newborn Nursery/ NICU. Attending deliveries and mastering the newborn exam are the major goals of this week. Rotations through the NICU are encouraged.

Evening and Weekend On-Call Schedule:

Call is as follows:

1. 2-3 calls on the floor.
2. 3 calls in the ER.

There will be no overnight/24 hour calls taken on Wednesday nights prior to the Core Curriculum days.

Work-Up of Patients:

Students will be expected to write an admission note and complete daily notes on each of your patients. Try to be thorough but concise so that the person reading them can understand the patient’s problems and current status from your note. Daily notes should not be more than one page long. If you leave the service before that patient is discharged, you should write an off-service note. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all notes are co-signed.

Students are expected to submit 3 formal write-ups to their Tutors. The originals of the write-ups should remain in the patient’s record. The patients selected for such write-ups may come from the ER, Nursery, or In-Patient services. Write-ups should demonstrate the student’s understanding of the complete differential and work-up of the presenting problem. Also, they must address all other programs, e.g., lab or vital sign abnormalities, social problems. Do not cut and paste from the web!!

Reading

During the 6-week rotation, you are expected to read an abbreviated Pediatric text from cover to cover so that you gain a broad general fund of knowledge in Pediatrics. The recommended text is: Rudolph’s Fundamentals of Pediatrics, edited by Rudolph and Kamei (the smaller “baby” version). It is available at Barnes & Noble. Of course, when working up patients on the floor and preparing for Tutorial Group, we do expect you read the relevant sections in major textbooks and in current literature.

Weill Library: Electronic Resources for Pediatrics:

MD Consult:

1. Nelson’s
2. AAP Red Book
3. Harriet Lane

Stat! Ref:

1. Rudolph’s
2. UpToDate
3. Current Pediatrics

Journals:

1. Pediatrics
2. Pediatrics in Review
3. Journal of Pediatrics
4. Contemporary Pediatrics
5. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
6. Pediatric Clinics of North America

Dress Code:

Please wear scrubs to the ER and Newborn Nursery. In all other rotations, please dress in a professional manner.

Tutorial Mid-Clerkship Evaluation:

Students are required to fill out the Mid-Clerkship Self Assessment Form (enclosed in packet) and to meet with their Tutor in the 3rd week of the rotation.

Pediatric Clerkship Clinical Assessment Form:

This form must be filled out with the names of your clinical evaluators (enclosed in packet) listing their e-mail addresses. The form should be signed by your Site Director and submitted to Kristen Drakos in M-610.

Course Evaluation:

33% Tutor Evaluation
33% Clinical Grade
33% Final Exam (NBME Shelf Exam)

To pass this clerkship, you must pass the written examination