Northwest Campus

General Surgery

Trinity Health-West (TH-W)

SURG 9404

Participating Faculty:
Lane Lee, D.O.
Jay J. Kiessling, M.D.
Frank E. Shipley, M.D.

(Student may select preceptor)

Offered: All periods
Positions: One per preceptor per period

Objectives of the Elective:

  1. To gain a perspective of the field of surgery, recognize surgically treated diseases and learn to care for the surgical patient.
  2. Correlate all the basic sciences, especially anatomy, pathology and physiology to the patient's clinical disease processes.
  3. To become more familiar with the fields of cancer, trauma, infection and congenital conditions as they relate to surgery.
  4. To examine and evaluate surgical patients.
  5. To care for the postoperative patient.
  6. To learn to use information resources related to surgery.
  7. To organize and present cases. The suggested surgical text would be Care of the Surgical Patient, American College of Surgeons, published by Scientific American (includes updates).

Instructional Activities:

  1. A preceptor-type instruction with attending surgeon.
  2. History and physical, progress notes, treatment plans, postoperative care of surgical patients.
  3. Assigned reading in journals, text and demonstrations.
  4. Scrubbing at surgery.
  5. Minor surgical procedures; for example, suturing.
  6. Daily patient rounds.
  7. Teaching conferences.
  8. Emergency room experiences.

Standards of Performance (Outcomes) Indicating Attainment of Objectives:

  1. The student should be capable of doing a complete history and physical.
  2. The student should be able to develop a differential diagnosis for the particular case.
  3. The student should be able to organize a case management plan and write progress notes.
  4. The student should exhibit technical skills; for example, suturing.
  5. The student should achieve patient and family rapport.

Criteria for Grading:

  1. Successful fulfillment of the above standards.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge from reading medical text and journals through discussions and case presentations.
  3. Completion of assignments.
  4. Attendance, interest and attitude.