Surgery Core Clerkship

School of Medicine

This is the second year clinical core rotation. For ten weeks each student in the second-year class is assigned to the surgical divisions of Vanderbilt University Hospital or Nashville Veterans Administration Medical Center. Under the direction and supervision of the staff, the student takes histories, does physical examinations and assists the staff in the diagnostic evaluation and clinical management of assigned patients. Half of each student's period of clinical work is in general surgery. The other five weeks of the clinical assignment provide two (2) rotations to the specialty services in Anesthesiology (VAH), Cardiothoracic (VUH,VAH), Interventional Radiology (VUH), Neurosurgery (VUH), Ophthalmology (VUH), Orthopaedic Surgery (VUH), Otolaryngology (VUH), Pediatric Surgery (VUH), Plastic Surgery (VUH), Renal Transplant (VUH), Urology (VUH), Vascular Surgery (VUH), and Trauma (VUH). These rotations provide exposure to a variety of patients with problems in general surgery and in the specialty fields of surgery. Members of the staff hold teaching sessions daily. Students go with their patients to the operating rooms where they are observers and assistants. An integral part of this clerkship is the core lecture series in surgery. Students will be assigned faculty preceptors for small group discussions. Second year.