Description

On the first day of the elective, students have their photo taken, receive their badge, complete their orientation, and are given a brief tour of the department. A schedule of clinical rotations is set up for each student.

The schedule generally includes assignments in each of several areas in the department, including chest radiology, gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), musculoskeletal radiology, pediatric radiology, computerized tomography (CT), ultrasonography, hospital radiology, interventional radiology, neuroradiology, and nuclear medicine. Students are usually paired with a specific staff member in each subspecialty area. Depending on the length of the clerkship, assignment in these areas varies from one or two days to as long as one week.

The success and value of this elective largely depend on the motivation of the student.

Specific goals

1. Observe the workings of a busy clinical department and the role of radiologists in the evaluation and treatment of patients
2. Understand the value and limitations of various imaging procedures
3. Appreciate the consultative role of the radiologist
4. Observe the fundamentals of radiologic diagnosis and therapy in clinical situations
5. Understand the role of Interventional Radiology in patient therapy

Activity outline

Students observe various areas in Mayo Clinic's Department of Radiology. Duties include tutorial teaching sessions with residents, attendance at departmental teaching conferences, and interaction with staff radiologists and residents in each area of the department. Students are expected to be active learners utilizing texts, journals, electronic materials, and teaching file cases.

End of rotation assignment

Prepare a short PowerPoint presentation (around 10 slides, five minutes long) highlighting a clinical case with imaging that correlates with what you observed during the rotation. The case presentation should include the following information:

• Patient demographics
• Brief and relevant clinical history
• Relevant imaging labeled with arrows and/or text highlighting the pathology (Include as many imaging modalities as relevant)
• Differential diagnosis
• Ultimate diagnosis
• Discussion of imaging findings in the context of the clinical scenario
• Brief literature review of the imaging findings
• Take home teaching points
• References 

Method of evaluation

Feedback from consultants, fellows, and residents via Medhub.

Per Mayo Clinic institutional policy, faculty and residents/fellows will not complete any outside evaluations. You will be provided with an electronic performance evaluation via Mayo Clinic’s MedHub portal. A final summative evaluation will be sent to you and your school official upon completion of your clerkship.