Surgery (SURG)

SURG 3005. Surgery Clerkship. 8 Credit Hours.

The eight-week core surgery clerkship is divided into a four-week general surgery rotation and a four-week surgery specialty rotation. The goals of the third-year surgical curriculum are divided into 5 broad categories: 1. Preparation of the medical student for patient care/clinical skills, including a. performance of a focused history and physical examination on a surgical patient, b. interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures for the surgical patient, c. performance of basic technical skills, d. demonstration of clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills for the surgical patient, e. formulation of a diagnostic and therapeutic plan for a surgical patient; 2. Increase fund of medical knowledge for a surgical patient, 3. Self-directed learning, 4. Application of best evidence-based practices to improve patient care and to prepare for daily activities, and 5. Development of interpersonal and communication skills, including: a. oral presentations to the surgical team, b. written notes in the medical record, c. relationship with patients and their families, d. relationship with the healthcare team, e. practice of professionalism in all settings. In order to achieve these goals, the student should have a sound knowledge of surgical anatomy and the pathophysiology of surgical illness. The student should have strong understanding of the patient's surgical disease process. The student should master simple basic technical skills by the end of the clerkship. The student should master a focused history and physical examination on a surgical patient. The student should propose and interpret diagnostic tests and procedures that are appropriate for the surgical disease. The student should develop a differential diagnosis and demonstrate clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills that integrate clinical data. The student should develop a logical diagnostic and therapeutic plan for surgical problems. The student should develop strong interpersonal relationships and communication skills with patients, their families and the healthcare team. The student should be well read and well prepared for operations and rounds, and begin to develop good habits for self-directed, lifelong learning. The student should demonstrate an understanding of best practices that improve the health of surgical patients. The student should provide competent, compassionate care for patients in all surgical settings.

SURG 4000. Special Topic. 4 Credit Hours.

This is a self-designed course created by both the student and the department to cover a specific topic. A Course Approval Form must be completed along with documentation of the designed course description.

SURG 4002. Surgical Oncology. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students must function as "interns" on the surgical oncology service. They admit and discharge surgical oncology patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on surgical oncology patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre-and post-operative care of surgical oncology patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the surgical oncology service. They mentor third-year medical students on the surgical oncology service. They may participate in basic science research projects in the surgical oncology laboratory and in ongoing clinical trials of cancer diagnosis and management.

SURG 4012. Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" on the oral maxillofacial surgery service. They admit and discharge oral maxillofacial patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on oral maxillofacial patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of oral maxillofacial issues including outpatient sedation and anesthesia, dentoalveolar surgery, facial fractures, facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, management of facial and dental pain, and management of facial infections.

SURG 4026. Plastic Surgery Selective. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" on the plastic surgery service. They admit and discharge plastic surgery patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on plastic surgery patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of plastic surgery patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the plastic surgery service. They mentor third-year medical students on the plastic surgery service. They have exposure to a wide range of plastic surgery issues including complex wound management, aesthetic plastic surgery, facial fractures, reconstructive surgery of the head and neck, and breast, hand, and extremity.

SURG 4031. Transplant Surgery Selective. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" on the transplant surgery service. They admit and discharge transplant patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on transplant patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate actively in live renal and liver donor evaluation. They participate in operations for their patients, including liver resection and renal, pancreas, and liver transplants. They participate in the evaluation and procurement of the multiorgan cadaveric donor. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of transplant patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the transplant service. They present patients at formal multidisciplinary transplant rounds daily. They mentor third-year medical students on the transplant service. They have much contact with gastroenterologists and nephrologists who care for patients on the transplant service. The students rotate at University Hospital and Santa Rosa Northwest Medical Center.

SURG 4037. Pediatric Surgery Selective. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" under private practice pediatric surgeons who are clinical faculty at the Health Science Center. They admit and discharge pediatric surgery patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on pediatric surgery patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of pediatric surgery patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the pediatric surgery service. They mentor third-year medical students on the pediatric surgery service. This rotation is intended for students who seek a career in pediatric surgery or primary care pediatrics. Opportunities for clinical research projects are available. The students rotate at Santa Rosa Children's Hospital.

SURG 4038. Rural Surgery Elective. 4 Credit Hours.

In this rotation, senior students work with a private practice general surgeon in a rural setting. Senior students function as a "junior partners" on this general surgery service. They admit and discharge general surgery patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on general surgery patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of general surgery patients. They take call as designated by the surgeon. The objectives of this rotation are: to introduce students to the socioeconomic problems that rural patients face with access to care, to discover how the internet and distance learning decrease isolation in rural communities, to encourage students to consider surgical practice in underserved rural communities. Housing for the student will be provided during the rotation.

SURG 4040. Surgical Critical Care Selective. 4 Credit Hours.

This course provides senior students with a broad exposure to surgical critical care. Students rotate through the surgical trauma ICU and have the opportunity to gain a great understanding of the principles and practice of surgical critical care. The student will have good exposure to cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology. They will have the opportunity to learn about modern concepts of resuscitation, ventilator management, vasopressor support, nutritional support, and infection control. They will have opportunity to place central lines, PA catheters, arterial lines, and perform intubation and bronchoscopy. They will have opportunity to examine and manage critically ill and injured patients in the ICU and keep medical records daily. They will have opportunity to present patients on formal rounds daily and participate in didactic critical care conference and trauma morbidity and mortality conference. They will have opportunity to take call as designated by the service.

SURG 4042. General Surgery (UH). 4 Credit Hours.

Students will participate in the care of patients with common general surgical outpatient diagnoses. Students in a supervised setting will evaluate patients in the outpatient general surgery clinics at UT Health San Antonio and University Health System clinics. Students will participate in a high volume of outpatient surgeries both in the hospital setting and the surgery center settings. Students in a supervised setting will check in patients for their surgeries, participate in the operations, and participate in the safe transition of patients from the operating room to the post-anesthesia care unit. Students will evaluate post-op patients in clinic, going over pathology results, removing sutures or staples, and participating in the post-op continuity of care of patients who have undergone elective surgeries.

SURG 4043. General Surgery (Minimally Invasive Surgery- MIS). 4 Credit Hours.

Students function as "interns" on this broad-based general and laparoscopic surgery service. They admit and discharge general surgical patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on general surgical patients. They follow general surgical patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of general surgical patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the general surgical service.

SURG 4044. General Surgery VA. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" on this broad-based general surgery VA service. They admit and discharge general surgical VA patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on general surgical VA patients. They follow general surgical VA patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of general surgical VA patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the service. They mentor third-year medical students on the general surgical VA service.

SURG 4047. Trauma. 4 Credit Hours.

Students will participate in the evaluation and management of Trauma Patients. They will perform the primary, secondary, and tertiary survey of trauma patient. They will document their history and physical exam findings in the medical record. They will participate in bedside procedures and operative procedures in trauma surgical patients. They will participate in the care of trauma patients in the Trauma follow up clinic. The will present cases, attend trauma morning report and weekly conferences, and take call as designated by the service. Prerequisites: Must have completed Core Surgery Clerkship First.

SURG 4048. Vascular Surgery University Hospital/VA Hospital. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students function as "interns" on each vascular surgery UH/VA service. They admit and discharge vascular surgery UH/VA patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on vascular surgery UH/VA patients. They follow vascular surgery UH/VA patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units, and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre- and post-operative care of vascular surgery UH/VA patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the service. They mentor third-year medical students on the vascular surgery UH/VA service. Students have the opportunity to learn to perform a complete vascular physical examination and learn to interpret vascular diagnostic studies. They will have the opportunity to learn the finer details of endovascular treatment of vascular diseases.

SURG 4049. Surgical Internship Readiness. 4 Credit Hours.

The purpose of this elective is to prepare senior medical students who are interested in a surgical career for their surgery internship. This elective is a surgical "boot camp" to provide practical "hands on" experience for students. General Surgery Subinternship is required prior to taking this course.

SURG 4058. Emergency General Surgery Service. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students must function as "interns" on the Emergency General Surgery Service at University Hospital. They admit and discharge surgery patients with common urgent/emergent diagnoses. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre-and post-operative care of the emergency general surgery patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the surgery service. This service line at University Hospital cares for patients with common surgical diagnoses such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, abscesses, necrotizing infections, bowel obstructions, perforated viscera, acute abdomens along with any other surgical consultations commonly cared for by surgeons.

SURG 4400. Colorectal Surgery. 4 Credit Hours.

Senior students must function as "interns" on the colorectal service. They admit and discharge colorectal surgery patients. They perform history and physical examinations, and keep daily records on colorectal surgery patients. They follow patients in the outpatient clinics, in the emergency department, in the intensive care units and on general wards. They participate in operations for their patients. They participate in pre-and post-operative care of colorectal surgery patients. They present cases, attend all conferences, and take call as designated by the colorectal surgery service.

SURG 7000. Off Campus. 4 Credit Hours.

All off campus rotations must be approved by the designated faculty member prior to the beginning of the rotation (at least one week before the course begins). Credit will not be given for any rotation that has not been approved in advance. Required paperwork includes: "Course Approval" form, a written letter or email for acceptance form the physician preceptor with the start and end dates of the course/rotation, and a course description of your learning objectives and responsibilities during the rotation. Forms must include a complete address and telephone number for the off campus location or residence address for the student while at the off campus site. Forms will not be approved after the rotation has already begun. Contact the department for assistance with enrolling in this course.