Description

Students function similar to an intern on the pediatric surgical service. They are involved as part of the team, working up patients, making rounds, and participating regularly in the operating room. Call schedule for interesting cases is at the students' discretion.

Specific goals

1. Develop skills unique to the management of surgical problems in infants and children, including taking histories and performing physical examinations.
2. Develop skills in procedures such as intravenous cutdowns, insertion of chest tubes, and the development of operative techniques in children, including suturing, retraction and handling tissues.
3. Develop skills in the management of fluids and electrolytes in seriously and critically ill infants and children.
4. Become familiar with routine techniques in total parenteral nutrition.

Activity outline

Students attend and participate in surgery. They attend clinical rounds with some patient responsibility (e.g., workups and assessing diagnostic problems). They also participate, under supervision, in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. In addition, students attend consultations on patients at the clinic, as well as conferences in which pediatric surgery is involved.

Method of evaluation

Students are evaluated on the basis of their daily performance, participation in rounds, and response to specific assignments given by the consultants and the residents.

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.