The Department of Medicine offers clerkships for students in the University Park and Hershey tracks, as well as more than a dozen electives and acting internships.
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Clerkships
This medicine clerkship is an immersive experience into the world of internal medicine. Students will be key team members on an inpatient medicine hospital service and also have an opportunity to explore one of the many subspecialties within internal medicine including allergy and immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, gastroenterology, hematology, oncology, infectious diseases, nephrology, pulmonary and palliative care. The medicine clerkship will provide an opportunity for students to closely interact with a wide range of patients with both acute and chronic illness. Students will experience a wide range of educational activities, including bedside rounding and case-based discussions.
During the medicine rotation, students will:
- Gain the foundational clinical skills and knowledge, team skills, communication skills, and health systems knowledge necessary to provide excellent care to hospitalized patients with both acute and chronic illness.
- Experience the role of both primary provider as well as subspecialty consultant for medically complex patients, and
- Observe the broad and deep range of potential career paths in the field of Medicine.
Below are the links to several videos introducing students to some of the rotations offered on Medicine B during the Medicine Clerkship. They will inform students about expectations for the rotations including the number of patients, presentations and note templates. The videos will also give an idea of how a student’s first day should go on the rotation, an overview of the team and what didactics are available. The current videos available are for the following rotations (Penn State Access ID login required):
More videos may be uploaded at a later date.
Locations
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine
- Penn State Health Holy Spirit Hospital
- Lebanon VA
- UPMC Harrisburg
- WellSpan York Hospital
Contact Us
Dr. Nicholas Duca
Clerkship Director
nduca@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-8161
Dr. Jennifer Cooper
Clerkship Director
jcooper5@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-8161
Frederick Porter
Clerkship Coordinator
fporter@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-0003, ext. 280227
Contact Us
Dr. Ryan Ridenour
RRidenour@mountnittany.org
814-278-4818
Sondra Struble
Clinical Curriculum Operations Manager
sstruble@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
814-689-6711
Locations
Mount Nittany Medical Center
1800 East Park Avenue
State College, PA 16803
Electives
Infectious Diseases Elective (MED 715)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Tonya Crook
Administrative coordinator: Sherry Hoover, shoover6@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-8881
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This elective provides exposure to an inpatient consultation service in Infectious Diseases. Students are responsible for workup and following patients, presenting the case and all follow-up data to the attending physician and others on the service. In addition, a collection of articles on 24 of the most important Infectious Diseases topics is reviewed and students attend case conferences, ward rounds and laboratory visits.
Cardiology for Third Year Students (MED 721)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Ed Lankford
Administrative coordinator: Mandi Smith, asmith5@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-6746
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase I requirements
Maximum number of students: One to Two
When offered: February to October
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: During this elective, students are introduced to both invasive and non-invasive procedures performed in the cardiology clinics and laboratories. They also spend time in our SIM Center working with the “Harvey” simulator and complete EKG interpretation modules. Students also spend one week rotating on the cardiology acute and/or heart failure inpatient services.
Clinical Elective in Gastroenterology (MED 723)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Hadie Razjouyan
Administrative coordinator: Laurel Shissler, lshissler@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-3694
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: Two
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This service provides intensive clinical training with emphasis on the pathophysiological approach to the management of a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases.
Hematology Elective (MED 724)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Myles Nickolich
Administrative coordinator: Beth Kohute, ekohute@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-1374
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This elective provides supervised clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of hematologic diseases. The fourth-year student assists in the evaluation of patients seen in the outpatient clinics, as well as those seen on the inpatient hematology consultation service. After performing a complete history and physical examination, the student presents the clinical findings to the attending physician, confirmation at the bedside, and together with the attending physician, examines relevant peripheral smears, bone marrow preparations and x-ray studies.
Oncology Elective (MED 725)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Myles Nickolich
Administrative coordinator: Beth Kohute, ekohute@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-1374
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: In this elective, students rotate on the oncology consult service, where they participate in daily patient rounds with an oncology attending and fellow; share consults with the fellow, attend outpatient clinics, new patient evaluations and follow-ups; and participate in didactic sessions and conferences.
Pulmonary Medicine Elective (MED 727)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Richard Bernstein
Administrative coordinator: Brent Milchak, bmilchak@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-6734
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: The objectives of this elective is for students to: become familiar with the diagnosis, management and treatment of common respiratory system disorders in an acute patient care environment; to understand basic pulmonary physiology to assist and guide patient care; and to be able to interpret normal and abnormal chest radiological studies.
Nephrology Elective (MED 728)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Gurwant Kaur
Administrative coordinator: Michelle Hegarty, mhegarty1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-8156
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: Two
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This elective introduces students to the diagnosis and management of patients with fluid and electrolyte disorders, acute renal failure and chronic renal failure. The elective is delivered through the inpatient Nephrology consult service at the Hershey Medical Center. Students round with the consult service, evaluate new patients, formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans, and discuss each patient with the attending staff. Practical experience is supplemented with weekly conferences.
Endocrinology Elective (MED 734)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Shyam Narayana
Administrative coordinator: Lisa Doster, ldoster@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-8395
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: Two
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This elective provides experience in the diagnosis and management of all endocrine and metabolic disorders both in the outpatient and inpatient setting. Clinical experience is complemented by didactic lectures, e.g., weekly endocrine grand rounds, one-on-one teaching sessions with fellows.
Cardiology Elective (MED 738)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Ed Lankford
Administrative coordinator: Mandi Smith, asmith5@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-6746
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One to Two
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: Students on this rotation gain experience with interpretation of common cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and work with a Cardiology Fellow on the cardiology inpatient consultation service. Students are responsible for evaluating, presenting and following patients on all services seen in consultation by cardiology. In addition, they have the opportunity to spend half days in the following areas: echocardiography, exercise stress testing and cardiac catheterization laboratories to observe how procedures are performed and interpreted.
Allergy and Immunology Elective for 3rd Year Students (MED 742A)
Credits: 2
Course director: Dr. Timothy Craig
Administrative coordinator: Joann Tucker, jtucker2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-0003 x283926
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase I core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: February to November
Length of course: 2 weeks
Description: On this rotation, students experience an active allergy/immunology clinical service. Main topics/concepts covered on this rotation include understanding the diseases treated on the allergy/immunology services, becoming proficient in the care of the most common allergic diseases, developing history and physical exam skills, learning to access the current literature and applying it to the development of a logical assessment and plan of care.
Geriatric Elective (MED 745)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Noel Ballentine
Administrative coordinator: Michelle Hegarty, mhegarty1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-8161
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: This elective is designed for the student to learn key geriatric principles and experience the wide array of actives available and necessary for the care of complex elders and their caregivers. In this “hands on” elective students will appreciate the gratification of caring for seniors in multiple settings while learning what is so special about geriatric medicine.
Allergy and Immunology Elective (MED 747)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Timothy Craig
Administrative coordinator: Joann Tucker, jtucker2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-0003 x283926
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: Students on this rotation experience an active and up-to-date Allergy and Immunology clinical service. Students see patients during clinic hours and during non-clinic hours are expected read, study and are encouraged to develop a research project. Course objectives include the understanding of the diseases encountered on the allergy/immunology services and to become proficient in the care of the most common allergic diseases.
Acting Internships
Medicine Acting Internship (MED 722)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Nabeel Akhtar
Administrative coordinator: Frederick Porter, fporter@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-0003, ext. 280227
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: Six in total (Locations: Hershey, Lebanon VA and UPMC Harrisburg)
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
The Acting Internship in Internal Medicine is a four-week inpatient rotation that builds upon the Internal Medicine clerkship and provides a broad exposure to the discipline at an advanced practice level. During the rotation, a student will have the opportunity to function as an intern and admit and care for patients admitted to the inpatient service in Internal Medicine.
Cardiology Acting Internship (MED 733)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Ed Lankford
Administrative coordinator: Mandi Smith, asmith5@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-6746
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One to Two
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: Students on this rotation obtain advanced training in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiac disease by functioning as an acting intern on one of two cardiology teams – the heart failure and electrophysiology team and/or the ischemic heart disease them. Both teams admit to the MICU, intermediate care, and general patient floors and both admit patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Medical Intensive Care Unit Acting Internship (MED 749)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. John Madara and Dr. Dan Guck
Administrative coordinator: Brent Milchak, bmilchak@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-6734
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: Two (one at Hershey, one at UPMC Harrisburg)
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Acting Intern (AI) offers the opportunity for 4th year medical students to serve as an intern provider on a team caring for critically ill adults and the management of the effects of critical illness on them and their families. The AI will be exposed to all the facets of critically illnesses and also participate in bedside procedures, resuscitation, organ support and management. The AI will work with all members of the MICU team during their rotation. The AI will be introduced to the members of the team during the first day of the rotation.
Hematology/Oncology Acting Internship (MED 757)
Credits: 5
Course director: Dr. Myles Nickolich
Administrative coordinator: Beth Kohute, ekohute@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-1374
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all phase II core clerkships and requirements
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of course: 4 weeks
Description: Students on this rotation function as acting interns in the inpatient hematology/oncology unit under the direction of senior residents, fellows and faculty. In addition to caring for patients with hematologic and oncologic malignancies, students are introduced to bone marrow transplantation as a treatment modality.