M.D. Program Selectives and Sub-Internships

This two-week course is designed to provide to students who will practice in the diverse areas of medicine, especially primary care, an expanded clinical experience and core of the clinical information, which will allow them to diagnose and manage common ophthalmic problems, emphasizing appropriate referral and the avoidance of delays or omissions of proper eye care; to teach the essentials of the routine ophthalmic history and physical examination; to expose the student to the spectrum of systemic disease with ocular manifestations and to the scope and breadth of primary ocular disease; to teach to the student the recognition and initial management of ocular injuries and emergencies; to introduce the students to the profession of ophthalmology as a branch of the practice of medicine; and to instill in the student an understanding of the scope of the practice of ophthalmology, both medical and surgical, so that he may discriminate the purpose and skills of medical care from the art of refraction performed by non-professionals.

Credits: 2.0

Selective Director: Lauren Blieden, M.D.

Selective Associate Director: Masih Ahmed, M.D.

The orthopedic selective is designed to give students exposure, knowledge, and clinical skills in the field of Orthopedic Surgery. The course duration is 2-weeks and is one of the options in the 4-week group A selective course. Students will work at one of the four clinical sites: Ben Taub, VAMC, TCH, BSLMC. This can include exposure into any subspecialty of orthopedics. Students will work with faculty, residents, fellows, and other members of the health care team during the rotation and are expected to act in a professional manner. The rotation will involve scrubbing into operative cases and seeing patients in the ambulatory and inpatient setting. The workday is from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. maximum with no required weekend duties and the rotation requires one overnight call at Ben Taub, after which the student will be post-call.  Students will have a 5:30 a.m. virtual orientation with Dr. Perkins on the first Monday of the rotation. There are four online lectures with a quiz to complete asynchronously.  Students will complete their clinical passport to be turned in at the end of the rotation. Grades will be based upon clinical performance with evaluations completed by faculty.

Credits: 2.0

Selective Director: Christopher Perkins, M.D.

Selective Associate Director: Omar Atassi, M.D.

The selective rotation in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is designed to provide exposure to the field of Otolaryngology as well as provide medical students with the knowledge and skills needed to assess and address common otolaryngologic issues that frequently present to the primary care physician. Students are integrated into the daily workflow of the Otolaryngology team, including outpatient clinics, inpatient and emergency room care, and the operating room experience. Formal lectures are provided in an online pre-recorded format, which supplements the daily didactic teaching by residents and faculty. The goal of the rotation is to teach students head and neck anatomy, how to perform a comprehensive head and neck physical exam, and the diagnostic modalities and treatments otolaryngologists use.

Credits: 2.0 

Selective Director: Meha Fox, M.D.

Selective Associate Director: Angela Peng, M.D.

The Urology selective course provides medical students with a broad exposure to general urology, along with opportunities to experience the major urologic subspecialties, including cancer, urolithiasis, trauma and reconstruction, reproductive and sexual dysfunction, and pediatrics (subspecialty exposure varies depending on the clinical assignment site). The selective combines activities in the outpatient clinic setting, and in the inpatient and outpatient operating room settings. Students have an active, hands-on experience in examining urologic patients under supervision, and scrubbing on a wide range of surgical procedures. Students participate in hospital rounds and consultations, and also pursue didactic activities which include a standard lecture series covering common urologic disorders relevant to the primary care physician.

Credits: 2.0 

Selective Director: Shyam Sukumar, M.D.

Selective Associate Director: Nicolette Janzen, M.D.

Selective Associate Director: Neel Srikishen, M.D.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the course between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. The goal of the Family Medicine sub-internship is to expose students to the underserved patients on the Family Medicine Service at Ben Taub Hospital. Students will assume the role of an intern and will learn the family medicine approach to the care of adult hospitalized patients with emphasis on caring for patients in the context of their family environment, addressing psychosocial, cultural and financial issues and providing longitudinal care for patients with chronic issues. To emulate the functions of a family medicine intern, there is an ambulatory component of one half-day a week (schedule permitting) at Northwest Health Center in the Harris Health System.  There is no night call, however weekend call is required.

Credits: 4.0 

Sub-I Course Director: Stephanie Nguyen, D.O.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the course between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. The student functions like an intern on the general medicine wards at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center or Ben Taub Hospital. Under the supervision of the medicine resident and attending physician, the student has primary patient care responsibility and participates in all of the clinical and educational activities of the medical service. Practical aspects of patient care are emphasized. Students hone their history and physical skills, write orders, and develop diagnostic and therapeutic plans. They also learn how to manage transitions of care and further develop their communication skills. The course is demanding, but it is conducted with strong support from the faculty and house staff and provides excellent transition to any residency training program. Night shifts are required.

Credits: 4.0 

Sub-I Course Co-Directors: Anita Kusnoor, M.D. and Maria Maldonado, M.D.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the course between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. The student functions as an intern on the neurology inpatient primary service at Ben Taub Hospital. Under the supervision of the chief neurology resident and attending physician, the student has primary patient care responsibility. Practical aspects of patient care are emphasized. Students will hone their history and physical exam skills, write orders, and develop diagnostic and therapeutic plans. They will also be expected to learn how to manage transitions of care and to further develop their communication skills. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role of a neurologist in patient care and preparing the student for residency. Night call is required.

Credits: 4.0

Sub-I Course Director: Steven Bellows, M.D.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the course between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. The sub-internship experience occurs as part of the labor and delivery (L&D) teams at Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women (PFW) and Ben Taub Hospital (BTH), and is modeled after the role of the OB/GYN intern on L&D. The student is assigned to either the L&D team at BTH or at the PFW. The student is responsible for performing all intern level activities including, but not exclusive to: admit patients, evaluate all medical problems, manage labor, and formulate a therapeutic plan under supervision. The sub-intern will demonstrate the ability to counsel and obtain proper patient consent for vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries, and postpartum tubal ligations. She/he will be responsible for interpreting fetal heart rate tracings and formulating a plan of care for an abnormal tracing. She/he will be responsible for cross-coverage of postpartum patients during labor and delivery shifts. Night call will be taken on Friday evenings.

Credits: 4.0

Sub-I Course Director: Kelli Barbour, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Sub-interns will demonstrate pediatric intern level knowledge, attitudes and skills. The student is assigned to one of the Texas Children's Hospital's Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) teams, consisting of an attending, one supervising resident, 2-3 interns, 1-2 clerkship students, and sometimes a PHM fellow. The sub-intern admits patients, evaluates all medical problems, and formulates a therapeutic plan under supervision. They are responsible for patient handoffs at the beginning and end of shifts. They will write and pends orders for co-signature prior to implementation. Admission orders stem from diagnosis specific EBM order sets. Sub-interns follow a night float system where they can expect approximately one week of nights during the month and are directly supervised by a resident. A faculty member is available at all times. During call, the sub-intern is responsible for cross-cover issues on all of their team's patients. Patient-family centered rounds (PFCR) are conducted daily at the bedside with the medical team. Attendance at educational conferences is required. The resident lecture series is held from 11:30 - 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m - 1 p.m. on Fridays.

Credits: 4.0 

Course Director: Meghan McClure, M.D.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the course between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. This course is a four-week advanced clinical rotation which is designed to develop skills, knowledge and attitudes required for internship including but not limited to performing psychiatric evaluations and developing diagnoses and treatment plans under supervision. Student(s) will practice placing orders and managing transitions of care as well as refining communication skills with all members of the care team, patients and their respective families.

Credits: 4.0

Sub-I Course Director: Jin Y. Han, M.D.

Satisfies requirement for 3rd/4th-year sub-internship.

Students are encouraged to take the elective between January of the third year and December of the fourth year. The student should increase his/her knowledge of the fundamentals of general surgical practice and acquire skills used in the evaluation and treatment of general surgical conditions. Sub-interns will, under supervision, admit patients, evaluate and formulate a plan, participate in operations and post-operative care, and write discharge summaries. Sub-interns are on call once a week during the four-week rotation. The goal of this rotation is to develop the student's ability to make and implement a plan of care in a surgical patient thereby improving the student's readiness for the transition into an internship.

Credits: 4.0 

Course Director: Stacey Carter, M.D.