Medical Student Education
A top priority of the Department of Surgery is medical student education. The goals of our program are to 1) insure that all students obtain a fundamental knowledge base in the surgical sciences, 2) to provide exposure to surgical specialties, and 3) to provide mentoring for students interested in a career in surgery. In all, we aspire to share our love and enthusiasm for surgery with all medical students. The Department of Surgery's faculty members participate in medical student education throughout all four years of medical school, including teaching, administration, counseling, and research mentorship. Our faculty has the most extensive contact with students throughout the third (8 required weeks) and fourth years (4 required weeks). The clerkships designed to provide each student with the knowledge base and clinical skills in general surgery and the surgical specialties necessary for any physician, regardless of ultimate career choice. Students may rotate on the following services: GI surgery, surgical oncology, trauma/burn surgery, minimally invasive surgery, endocrine surgery, transplant surgery, pediatric surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, urology, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, surgical critical care, or otolaryngology. Students rotate within the University of Michigan medical Center or at the Ann Arbor Veteran's Administration Medical Center. 
Specific objectives include developing the ability to perform a thorough, focused history and physical examination on patients with acute and chronic surgical problems; understanding the indications for and limitations of surgical treatment; mastering routine pre- and post-operative care and the resuscitation and evaluation of the hypovolemic or traumatized patient; and developing an awareness for the potential post-operative complications of surgical therapy. Students will participate in the pre-, intra-, and post-operative care of multiple patients - including on-call responsibilities. Each student will be expected to read extensively in textbooks, attend all lectures and conferences, and apply their knowledge to the evaluation and care of surgical patients. The student will be expected to demonstrate a professional approach to patient care including compassion, integrity, responsibility, reliability, and respect for other health care professionals. The student must be able to communicate knowledge in both written and spoken form using standard medical terminology. Students are expected to demonstrate experience with some basic surgical techniques. Students are evaluated based on their clinical performance (3rd and 4th year students) as well as performance on a written and oral examination (3rd year students only). 
Students also receive seminars informed consent and breaking bad news. Forth year students have the opportunity to rotate on the surgery bootcamp course. This unique course simulates intern duties for senior students planning a career in surgery. It involves both didactic and hands on training, including surgical anatomy on cadavers, a mock paging program, as well as opportunities to improve procedural skills in the Clinical Simulation Center. Additional information can be received by contacting the Surgical Education Office or by directly contacting the student clerkship directors, Michael Englesbe, MD and Rishi Reddy, MD. Links to Useful Resources |
Patient Care
