Student Responsibilities & Evaluation Form

Exams

• Weekly Exams - the Blackboard software program via the Internet is used to administer these exams.
  • Six weekly exams will be given. Exams are password protected.
  • Exams are graded but are NOT part of your final grade.
  • Exams are strongly recommended to be taken and should be used as a formative learning tool.
• NBME Surgical Shelf Exam - usually given last day of rotation (traditional clerkship). ROME Students, determined at site.

Palm Pilots

• Record your patient encounters completely as much of your oral exam is drawn from these cases (so, do your reading).
• Differential diagnosis - at least three for each case.

Oral Exams

• This is important for Honors and is drawn from your patient encounters. Accounts for 10% of final grade.
• The purpose is to have you think through cases in a logical stepwise manner.

Personal Exit Interviews - Held at the end of rotation.

Evaluations

• Evaluations are based on all facets of the rotation: "Every day is a final test".
• Complete your preceptor evaluations and rotation evaluation on-line.
  
• (Clerkship Evaluation form)
• http://smhs.med.und.nodak.edu/evaluations/index.cfm?eval=clerkshipeval
• (Preceptor Evaluation form)

• http://smhs.med.und.nodak.edu/evaluations/index.cfm?eval=preceptoreval

Medical Student Call Schedule

• Call at the VAMC (Fargo students only) not to exceed every fourth night including weekend days in rotation. Student is responsible for notifying on-call surgery resident of evening contact method (phone/beeper).
• Call at Dakota and MeritCare arranged individually - not to exceed a monthly average of every fourth night.
• Clinical work will not go past approximately 6 p.m. unless elected by the student and there should be no bad reflection upon the student with this policy.

Honors

• Top 20% of class is possible (not mandatory) at the discretion of the Department Chairman.
• To be an outstanding student you must go beyond the standard textbook to the specialty books and current literature.

Surgical Career (General, Subspecialties)

• Typically the successful candidates come from the top one-third of the class. Try to distinguish yourself.
• Staff will be very willing to counsel and help.

At the VAMC:

• One day will be with Mike Moore, a registered vascular technologist who manages the Vascular Lab. This day will aid the student's understanding of vascular disease screening and diagnosis.
• One day will be in the Endoscopy suite, typically a Tuesday. This will aid the student's understanding of indications and gastrointestinal disease recognition.
• Any scheduling conflicts will be resolved by the Chief Medical Student at the VAMC. Remember, clinic is a priority unless the student is in the OR.

Chief Administrative Student responsibilities @ VAMC (Fargo Students)

• Assign students to OR cases.
• Assign students admissions and consults.
• Responsible for student call schedule.
• Encourage student participation in clinics and OR.

Protective Measures - Double gloving and eye protection - universal precautions

Books/Manuals Required

• TEAM (Trauma Evaluation and Management) Student Booklet from the American College of Surgeons - www.facs.org
• Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen by William Silen
• ASE Manual of Surgical Objectives: A Symptom and Problem-Based Approach, 4th Edition, 2001
• Additional recommended texts are listed in the introduction.
• Be sure to study concepts not simply unrelated details.
  • Rule of Thumb: Read at least ten pages/day.

VA Encounter Form

This department wants you to be successful. The staff will guide, you must work!
7/2006