The Pediatric Clerkship provides clinical experiences in inpatient and outpatient settings. Activities will include rotations on pediatric inpatient services with combinations of general pediatrics, subspecialty pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, pediatric critical care, and newborn services. Daily rounds will be conducted with faculty. Activities will include rotations in outpatient clinics in a variety of academic and community-based clinics. All clinics are supervised by faculty. Students may have opportunities to work with pediatric, family medicine, and emergency medicine residents during the clerkship. Clinical learning environments used in the clerkship include inpatient and outpatient services at The University of Kansas Health System and Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics. Patient care activities include conducting histories and performing physical exams on infants, children, and adolescents; generation of differential diagnoses and assessments; participation in ordering and performing diagnostic and therapeutic testing; and development of comprehensive care plans. Students participate in simulation activities to hone key pediatric skills. Student evaluations are based on clinical performance and assessment of problem-solving skills as well as performance on a mid-clerkship examination, an Objective Clinical Skills Examination (OSCE), and a multiple-choice examination given at the end of the clerkship. Prerequisite: Medical Basic Sciences.

This selective is an extension of the basic pediatric clerkship. It is designed to permit senior medical students to take increasing responsibility of patient care under close supervision of the faculty. Students will learn skills in patient management by active participation in the daily activities expected of a first-year resident. This selective is entirely clinical. The student will work on the pediatric inpatient unit at The University of Kansas Health System or at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Student performance will be evaluated by the faculty based on factual knowledge, practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and personal behavior and values. On the first day of the rotation, students will report to the inpatient attending assigned to the pediatric floor. Prerequisite: PED 900 or equivalent.

Primarily outpatient focused clinical experience in children with cardiac disease will be provided. Active participation in the pediatric cardiology clinics each week highlight the outpatient experience. Participation in any inpatient consultations may also be part of the clinical experience. Daily pediatric cardiology ward rounds are conducted by the senior staff. Personal instruction will be given in cardiac physical diagnosis with stress on cardiovascular hemodynamics, evaluation of heart sounds and murmurs, electrocardiograms, and cardiac radiology. Significant responsibility in patient management will be delegated to the student who will function as a member of the pediatric cardiology team. The student will attend the various pediatric cardiology conferences.. Opportunity will be available for participation in clinical investigative projects if the student so desires. Teaching conferences, seminar, and patient rounds will be made on the scheduled basis by a member of the senior pediatric cardiology staff. Offered in modules I-XII. Prerequisite: PED 900.

This selective is an extension of the basic pediatric clerkship. It is designed to permit senior medical students to take increasing responsibility of patient care and management by active participation in the daily activities of a private pediatric practice. This selective is entirely clinical. The student will work with clinical faculty at a distant site. Most of the experience will likely be in an outpatient setting with some inpatient experience. Student performance will be evaluated by the faculty based on factual knowledge, practical skills, problem-solving abilities and personal behavior and values. Offered in all modules if sites are available. Prerequisite: PED 900 or equivalent and permission of the Pediatric Clerkship Director.

This course will include involvement in the diagnosis and care of children with hematologic and oncologic diseases. The student will be involved directly with these patients under the supervision of the pediatric hematology fellows. During this time, he or she should become conversant with the general area of pediatric hematology and be trained in the diagnostic procedures including bone marrow examination and other routine and special procedures used in this subspecialty area. The special emphasis placed on the psychological aspects of these diseases for the child and the family will be part of the training experience. The complications that commonly occur in patients on chemotherapy make these patients particularly appropriate for a broad experience. Prerequisite: PED 900.

This selective is an extension of the basic pediatric clerkship. It is designed to permit senior medical students to take increasing responsibility of patient care under close supervision of the faculty. Students will learn skills in patient care by active participation in the daily activities of the pediatric outpatient clinic. This selective is entirely clinical. The student will work in the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic at KUMC in a variety of clinics. The specific clinics will be assigned by the Chief of the Ambulatory Pediatric Section after consultation with the student. Student performance will be evaluated by the faculty based on factual knowledge, practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and personal behavior and values. This course can still be taken for elective credit even if a student already has met the subinternship selective requirement. Prerequisite: PED 900 or equivalent.

This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of children and their families. Students will learn about normal and atypical child development, behavioral and emotional problems commonly seen in Pediatrics (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety, oppositional behavior), and helping children cope with acute and chronic illnesses. Students will observe/participate in outpatient clinics in the Developmental Disabilities Center and Behavioral Pediatrics section (e.g., autism assessment, developmental medicine, telemedicine, feeding team, and behavioral pediatrics clinic), as well as in medical inpatient consultations. Within the curriculum there is ample opportunity to pursue individual interests related to children with developmental and behavioral problems. Expected to be offered in most Modules. Prerequisite: PED 900 and permission of instructor.

Students will participate in the evaluation and management of children with infectious diseases. Laboratory aspects of infectious diseases will be emphasized. Students will attend teaching conferences and seminars on various aspects of infectious diseases. Offered in modules I-XII. Prerequisite: PED 900 and permission of instructor.

This module will serve to acquaint the student with the wide spectrum of neurological diseases of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The student will become familiar with the neurological examination of the newborn, as well as assessment of the infant and child. During the elective rotation the student will become actively involved in the diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders. The student will be exposed to routine laboratory procedures, such as lumbar puncture, EEG and brain scan, as well as special procedures, such as arteriography and pneumoencephalography. The student will be supervised by pediatric residents rotating through the pediatric neurology service and by staff physicians throughout all aspects of the module. Offered in modules I-XII. Prerequisite: PED 900.

The Pediatric Gastroenterology course will provide exposure to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas in infants and children. The student will obtain histories, physicals, and present cases on all Pediatric Gastrointestinal clinic and in-patients brought in for consultations. During endoscope, motility, and biopsy of the small bowel and liver, the student will learn the indications and technique as applies to patients they have worked up. Each student will be required to present a 30-45 minute paper on a specific Pediatric Gastrointestinal subject at the end of the course. Evaluation for the course will be based on assessment of performance of patient care and oral presentation and knowledge of literature. Prerequisite: Completion of third year.

This 2-week course is designed to provide students with a streamlined introductions to childhood developmental, emotional, and behavioral problems. Students will also learn about normal and atypical child development. Students participate in outpatient clinics, telemedicine, and medical inpatient consultations with faculty from developmental pediatrics, psychology, speech-language, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Expected to be offered in most Modules. Prerequisite: PED 900 and permission of instructor.

Students will participate in the evaluation and management of infants, children, and adolescents with chronic and acute pulmonary diseases in the out-patient setting as well as performing in-patient consultations. The students will be involved directly with these patients under the supervision of the pediatric pulmonology faculty.

Students will work on research programs arranged between them and the instructor. Students are responsible for initiating all arrangements > 90 days in advance of their elective in order to complete any necessary paperwork and certification before their first day in the course. They will also need to identify the faculty with whom they will work on research. The instructor may be able to help with this. The purpose of the elective is to provide the student an opportunity to become familiar with clinical research involving children and pediatric problems, and to learn about research protocols and methods. Available areas of research are dependent on the arrangement that the student makes with faculty. Department permission is required for this course. Initial contact can be made with Dr. Kourtney Bettinger (kbettinger@kumc.edu). This course is student-driven and the student must find a faculty member at least 90 days in advance. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor must be obtained prior to applying for this course.

The student will be actively involved in the care and management of high-risk and acutely ill neonates. Through clinical participation, tutorial sessions, and assigned readings, emphasis will be placed on modern neonatal intensive care techniques and developmental physiology and biochemistry. Students may elect additional consecutive four-week periods to pursue aspects of neonatology in more detail, engage in investigative projects or acquire first-hand experience in the operation of a regionalized program for care of high-risk or acutely ill neonates in the state. Interested students should contact the Pediatric Department.

Students will participate in the diagnosis and management of pediatric-age patients with endocrine-metabolic problems. Emphasis is placed on the clinical problems that are unique to pediatric-age patients such as puberty, abnormalities of growth, and juvenile diabetes mellitus. Students are encouraged to become involved in patient management by participating in rounds, clinic, conferences, consultative evaluation and care of the inpatients, and other functions of the endocrinology-metabolism staff. Offered in modules I-XII. Prerequisite: PED 900.

The Pediatric Immunology course will provide exposure to children with allergies, asthma, immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disease and arthritis. The approach to children with these disorders and the management of children with multisystem disease and chronic disease are emphasized. Students will be involved in the clinic and with consultations. The students will have exposure to ongoing research in these areas and will attend teaching conferences. Offered in modules I-XII. Prerequisite: PED 900.

Principles of ongoing assessment and management of critically-ill children with single and multiple organ failure will be presented. The teaching format will be formal and informal rounds at the bedside in the KUMC Pediatric ICU by faculty members of the Pediatric Critical Care Division. Integration of history-taking, physical examination skills, and laboratory and radiological assessment with pathophysiology will be emphasized.

Students will participate in the evaluation and management of children with urinary tract diseases and fluid and electrolyte disorders. This elective will give the students the opportunity to develop clinical skills in assessing a child's hydration status and in assessing the effect of the child's kidney disease or metabolic disorder on other organ systems. Students will also have the opportunity to review radiologic imaging studies of the urinary tract, to perform urinalyses, and to participate in the care of patients who require acute hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or continuous arterio-venous hemofiltration. Prerequisite: PED 900.