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Medicine

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

Hershey Clerkship Expand answer

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

University Park Clerkship Expand answer

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

MED 715 - Infectious Diseases Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 721 - Cardiology for Third Year Students Expand answer

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.

MED 723 - Clinical Elective in Gastroenterology Expand answer

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.

MED 724 - Hematology Elective Expand answer

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.

Read more about the Hematology program

MED 725 - Oncology Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 727 - Pulmonary Medicine Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 728 - Nephrology Elective Expand answer

Nephrology Elective (MED 728)

Credits: 5

Course director: Dr. Gurwant Kaur

Administrative coordinator: Aida Wilkinson, awilkinson2@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.

MED 734 - Endocrinology Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 738 - Cardiology Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 742A - Allergy and Immunology Elective for 3rd Year Students Expand answer

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.

Read more about the Allergy and Immunology program

MED 745 - Geriatric Elective Expand answer

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.

MED 747 - Allergy and Immunology Elective Expand answer

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.

Read more about the Allergy and Immunology program

Acting Internships

MED 722 - Medicine Acting Internship Expand answer

Medicine Acting Internship (MED 722)

Credits: 5

Course director: Dr. Nicholas Duca

Administrative coordinator: Frederick Porter, fporter@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, 717-531-0003 x280227

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

MED 733 - Cardiology Acting Internship Expand answer

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.

MED 749 - ICU/CCU Acting Internship Expand answer

ICU/CCU Acting Internship (MED 749)

Credits: 5

Course director: Dr. Margaret Wojnar

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: Students on this combined Critical Care – Coronary Care rotation receive intense training and “hands-on” experience in the critical care unit. Concepts covered during this rotation are: airway management, ventilators, hemodynamic monitoring, pharmacologic agents in the MICU, developing skill and comfort with the “acute” patient, developing comfort with end-of-life issues.

MED 757 - Hematology/Oncology Acting Internship Expand answer

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.