Advanced Physical Exam
MS-1 and MS-2

Advanced Physical Examination 1 (January – May 2010) 12 half days
Advanced Physical Examination 2 (August 2009 – January 2010) 12 half days

Course Director
Scott R. Herrle, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
herrles@pitt.edu

Co-Course Director, Pediatric Segment
Orooj Fasiuddin, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Orooj.fasiuddin@chp.edu

Co-Course Director, Pediatric Segment
Kishore Vellody, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Kishore.vellody@chp.edu

Course Description

This course takes a hands-on approach to learning to take a patient history and perform a physical exam.

The goals of the course are for the student to:

1. become comfortable in the approach to the patient.
2. build on the skills learned in Introduction to Medical Interviewing to develop proper techniques for taking a complete medical history.
3. begin to understand abnormal history patterns and their pathophysiologic implications
4. learn to record a history for the medical record.
5. build on the skills learned in Introduction to Physical Examination to perform an orderly and technically correct physical examination.
6. begin to appreciate abnormal physical findings and their pathophysiologic significance.
7. learn to record the physical examination for the medical record.
8. begin to analyze the data obtained in the history and the physical examination and to develop a problem list and differential diagnosis.

Students have three 4-week adult physical examination segments and one 4-week pediatrics physical examination segment.

Faculty for this course includes more than 70 physicians from local teaching hospitals.

Educational Methods

	Clinical skills development		Preceptorship/hospital experience		Lectures
	Patient write-ups		Standardized patients		Demonstrations

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on reports from clinical preceptors, a successful completion of an observed full history and physical examination of a simulated patient, and a written, multiple-choice exam.

Grading: Advanced Physical Examination 1 comprises approximately 43% of the Introduction to Patient Care Block, Section 2. Advanced Physical Examination 2 comprises approximately 43% of the Introduction to Patient Care Block, Section 3.  Grading for each block section is Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

Thuy Bui, MD, is a recipient of the Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring. Evan Waxman, MD, PhD, is a recipient of the Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award. James Shaver, MD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, as well as a member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.