2W: Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

School of Medicine

Students will have a broad exposure to pediatric hematology-oncology on this rotation. The rotation is two weeks in length and will be inpatient both weeks. During the inpatient rotation, students will join a team of residents, fellows, and attending physicians on the pediatric hematology-oncology service at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Students will attend rounds and will see a broad range of both pediatric oncology and hematology diagnoses. Common reasons for oncology admissions are workups for possible oncology diagnoses, new diagnoses initiating treatment, chemotherapy administration, complications from treatment, and palliative care/death and dying. Common reasons for hematology admissions are diagnosis and management of bleeding disorders, workup for anemia and/or thrombocytopenia, and management of the complications of sickle cell disease. Students will also be able to participate in inpatient consults that will give additional exposure to hematologic/oncologic problems. At the conclusion of the two week elective, students will be able to do a history and physical examination on an oncology patient in the inpatient setting. Students will also be able to formulate a differential diagnosis for a new patient referral, both in hematology and oncology. Students will have an overall appreciation for the varied patient populations seen in pediatric hematology-oncology from both the family and the physician/medical team perspectives. Students will also have a broad exposure to the field of academic pediatric hematology-oncology.