CLERKSHIPS IN PEDIATRICS

As one of the core clerkships during medical school, the Pediatric Clerkship experience introduces the student to the unique, complex, and rewarding field of Pediatrics. It emphasizes the important aspects of the care of infants, children and adolescents for all medical students, and provides a foundation for those who elect to further study the field. The Pediatric Clerkship equips medical students with the knowledge and skills of pediatric medicine to be competent military medical officers. 

Our clerkship goals are synchronized with those of the School of Medicine as well as the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics (COMSEP), and the meeting of those goals is consistently monitored across all of our clerkship sites.

Clerkship objectives

  1. Demonstrate a humanistic approach to patient care
    1. Recognize the role of culture, values, beliefs, and social determinants of health in influencing health and illness, especially military-unique conditions
    2. Describe the military physician’s role in the interdisciplinary care for patients and families
    3. Recognize the role of the health care team in advocating for the health, well-being and safety for children including principles of prevention
  2. Develop written and oral communication skills that will facilitate effective interactions with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team
    1. Interview an adolescent patient using a standard structured interview technique to address sensitive issues that affect health and safety
  3. Perform an age and developmentally appropriate physical exam pertinent to the needs of the patient and family
    1. Perform a comprehensive newborn physical exam
    2. Assess growth in children, including height/length, weight, head circumference and body mass index using standard or condition-specific growth charts
    3. Understand developmental milestones and tools used to assess age-appropriate development
  4. Integrate clinical information from the history, physical exam, and other available data to develop an assessment and plan for a pediatric patient
    1. Compare and contrast signs and symptoms of an acutely ill child requiring emergent care versus a stable child
    2. Obtain history and physical exam information necessary to assess the hydration status of a child
    3. Calculate weight-based dosing
    4. Assess the behavioral and developmental status of a pediatric patient
    5. Demonstrate knowledge necessary for the diagnosis and initial management of common pediatric complaints
    6. List characteristics of the history and physical exam that should trigger concern for possible adverse childhood experiences, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and neglect

Faculty and Resident Preceptor Orientation Video

CLERKSHIP LOCATIONS

  • Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Cavazos, TX (formerly Fort Hood)
  • Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center at Fort Belvoir, VA
  • Madigan Army Medical Center in WA
  • National Capital Area – Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic
  • Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA
  • Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in VA
  • Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA
  • San Antonio Military Medical Center at JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX
  • Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI
  • Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Liberty, NC (formerly Fort Bragg)
  • Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital in OH
  • Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in NC