The cardiovascular elective is a four-week clerkship on the cardiovascular diseases consult service at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus.

Specific goals

The primary goal of this elective is to develop proficiency in the diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with cardiovascular disorders.

Students have the opportunity to:

1. Improve basic skills in physical diagnosis using real patients
2. Gain familiarity with ancillary diagnostic procedures, such as electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiography, and nuclear medicine
3. Determine appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests
4. Manage acute and chronic cardiovascular problems

Activity outline

Students work as an integral part of a team consisting of one consultant and three or four medical residents. Students attend rounds each morning and are expected to work up at least one new patient each day. These patients are presented to the supervising resident and the consultant.

Students, with assistance from the team, are expected to supervise the evaluation and treatment of these patients. They are encouraged to take in-house call with their supervising resident, though this is not mandatory.

There are formal teaching conferences every day, in addition to bedside teaching conducted by the supervising consultant. Students do not perform specific procedures, but they are encouraged to accompany their patients to the laboratories when special studies are being performed.

Method of evaluation

Verbal feedback from residents and consultants should be pursued during the time the student is with them. While some faculty are proactive in this regard, students seeking feedback can certainly take this initiative.