AI: Hepatobiliary

School of Medicine

The hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgery rotation includes the full spectrum of benign and malignant disease of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts. This service allows exposure for rotating students to complex hepatobiliary anatomy and pathophysiology, including liver failure. Unique to this rotation is the opportunity to participate in organ procurements, a very popular operation amongst surgical students. Abdominal organ procurement offers unparalleled anatomic exposure to the abdomen and pelvis. Rotating students will participate directly in these operations and they have the right of first refusal on each procurement. As there is ample opportunity to see these operations, a waiting list is compiled for other students to travel for these operations, which are often off site. Students will have the opportunity to function as an integral member within the surgical resident clinical teams, as well as attend weekly clinics and teaching conferences, including Hepatobiliary Conference, Liver Transplant Selection Committee and Liver Team Walk Rounds. The course will focus on enhancing student clinical practice-based learning skills. Students will have the opportunity to (1) deepen their understanding of the complex anatomy and pathophysiology of the liver, (2) learn the basic principles of multidisciplinary management of liver failure, (3) review the differential diagnoses and therapeutic strategies for the liver mass and (4) understand the numerous complications seen after hepatobiliary and liver transplant procedures. Additionally, students will not be expected to stay for overnight call on a rotating schedule. However, given the emergency nature of procurements and transplants, after hour effort is common, as dictated by the on-call attending and resident staff. AIso additionally participate in the service much as PGY1 interns do with the exception that they are closely supervised for order writing and procedures. They are also given priority for elective cases and procurements over students in the ACE. However, since interns on this rotation do not often go to the OR for elective cases and this course as an acting internship is designed to empower the student to act as an intern on the service, operative experience is a secondary objective.