ACE: Adolescent Medicine

School of Medicine

Adolescent Medicine is a unique subspecialty in pediatrics in that it combines both primary care with consultative care for adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 22 years of age. During this ACE students will have the opportunity to learn comprehensive care of the adolescent using both a primary care and a multidisciplinary team approach. Students will have the ability to function within the Adolescent/Young Adult Clinic and will be exposed to a multidisciplinary team which includes a social worker, nutritionist and psychiatrist in conjunction with an adolescent medicine physician. At the end of the course, students will feel comfortable performing a complete psychosocial assessment of an adolescent using the HEADDSS assessment tool. They will have the opportunity to provide primary and basic gynecologic care for adolescents to include (1) how to perform a sports clearance exam; (2) how to take an appropriate menstrual history and screen for menstrual disorders; (3) how to take an appropriate sexual history; (4) how to counsel an adolescent on contraception. Students will also gain experience in the care of adolescents/young adults with eating disorders and major depression. Evaluations will be based on the student's ability to take a complete and appropriate history/physical and develop a cohesive and appropriate treatment plan. This course will fulfill the primary care requirement.