Description

The elective in general surgery is designed to expose students to a focused area within the broad field of general surgery. Students join clinical teams, which consist of a junior and senior resident and a staff consultant. In general, each consultant has a specialized interest within general surgery (e.g., endocrine, gastrointestinal or oncologic), and that area serves as a focus for the clinical experience.

Students take an in-hospital history and perform physical examinations of selected patients, discuss differential diagnoses and management plans with the consultant, and participate in the operating room with the surgical team. Students also are expected to help in the postoperative care of patients with the resident team and participate in outpatient clinical evaluation. There is daily contact with the staff consultant and frequent discussion about clinical pathology and management controversies related to patients on the clinical service.

Specific goals

1. Develop an appreciation of general surgery and its integral relationship to surgical subspecialties.
2. Broaden understanding of the focused clinical practice in general surgery.
3. Develop patient management skills in focused areas of general surgery.

Activity Outline

Students function essentially as interns. Daily activities are centered in the hospital and focus on the day-to-day preoperative and postoperative management of patients. Students are expected to make rounds twice daily with the residents and present each patient they evaluate individually to the staff consultant on formal rounds. Students also serve as second assistants in the operating room and are expected to attend all general surgery or related conferences.

Method of evaluation

Students are evaluated by the staff and residents. Their rating is based on their clinical participation, performance and response to specific assignments or projects.

If you are interested in meeting with the General Surgery Residency leadership, an informational session can be arranged. Please note this meeting is to discuss any questions you may have about the General Surgery Residency program. This meeting will not be considered an interview for the General Surgery Residency program, and completing a visiting medical student clerkship at Mayo Clinic does not guarantee you an interview spot.

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.