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

  • Demonstrate a humanistic and team-based approach to patient care.
    • Recognize the role of culture, values, beliefs, and social determinants of health in influencing health and wellness.
    • Engage effectively with children across the age and development spectrum.
    • Demonstrate respect for the contributions of caregivers.
    • Engage effectively with members of the healthcare team in the provision of patient care.
  • Develop written and oral communication skills that will facilitate effective interactions with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team.
    • Elicit a comprehensive history and physical from patients and family, tailoring the interview and questions to the patient's age and developmental stage.
    • Concisely and accurately document patient encounters in the electronic health record.
    • Deliver complete and focused oral presentation following a structured format.
  • Perform an age and developmentally appropriate physical exam pertinent to the needs of the patient and family.
    • Demonstrate a child-centered approach to the physical exam.
    • Assess growth in children, including height/length, weight, head circumference, and body mass using standard or condition-specific growth charts.
    • Perform a comprehensive newborn physical exam.
  • Integrate clinical information from the history, physical exam, and other available data to develop an assessment and plan for a pediatric patient.
    • Compare and contrast signs and symptoms of an acutely ill child requiring emergent care versus a stable child.
    • Recognize hydration status of pediatric patients and plan appropriate fluid delivery.
    • Calculate appropriate weight-based dosing.
    • Differentiate typical versus atypical behavior and development of a pediatric patient.
    • Recognize different nutritional needs based on age and health status.
    • Generate a differential diagnoses for common pediatric complaints.
  • Identify history and physical exam findings that should raise suspicion for non-accidental trauma (ie, physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and neglect).
    • Recognize the role of the health care team in advocating for the health and well-being and safety for children, including principle or prevention. 

 

Faculty and Resident Preceptor Orientation Video

CLERKSHIP LOCATIONS

  • Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in TX
  • Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center in VA
  • Madigan Army Medical Center in WA
  • National Capital Area – Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic in MD
  • Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and Naval Medical Center San Diego in CA
  • Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in VA
  • Naval Medical Center San Diego in CA
  • San Antonio - Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center in TX
  • Tripler Army Medical Center in HI
  • Womack Army Medical Center and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in NC
  • Wright-Patterson AFB Hospital and Dayton Children's Hospital in OH
  • Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in NC