Southwest Campus

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

St. Alexius Medical Center

SURG 9106

Participating Faculty:
A. Michael Booth, M.D.
Michael R. Brown, M.D.
Edward H. Williams, M.D.

Offered:
Positions: 1

Objectives of the Elective:

  1. To give the student a clear perspective of the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery so that he/she may develop appropriate judgment in the evaluation of patients for cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery.
  2. To teach the student fundamental principles which can be applied in the treatment of all cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders.
  3. To familiarize the student with the uses, techniques and complications of hemodynamic monitoring.
  4. To teach and review the pharmacology of cardiac and pulmonary drugs.
  5. To familiarize the student with fundamental surgical techniques.

Instructional Activities:

  1. The student will perform history and physical examinations and assist with consultations on the service.
  2. All assigned cases will be reviewed with the student by the preceptor. Therapeutic alternatives will be discussed and evaluated.
  3. The student will scrub and assist on selected cases.
  4. The student will participate actively in the postoperative care of the patients in the intensive care units and on the floor.
  5. The student will be assigned a reading list the contents of which will be discussed at regular intervals with the preceptor.

Standards of Performance (Outcomes) Indicating Attainment of Objectives:

  1. The student shall be evaluated daily in one to one sessions to evaluate his/her understanding of physiological principles as they apply to the patients on the service.
  2. An oral examination will be administered at the end of the rotation. This examination will feature simulated problem cases. The student will be asked to outline the appropriate treatment in a variety of clinical situations and then will be asked to defend that treatment on physiological grounds.
  3. A written evaluation of the student's performance will be presented to the campus dean and discussed with the student.

Criteria for Grading:

  1. Performance on daily one-on-one sessions.
  2. Performance on oral examination.
  3. Quality of history and physical examinations as well as daily progress notes.
  4. Interaction with faculty and performance of duties assigned to the student including, but not limited to, promptness of performance of these duties and personal appearance as well as interaction with the nursing staff. Consideration will also be given to the student's technical ability in performing procedures assigned to them such as suturing leg wounds, etc.