Specialty Care Clerkship (SCC)
MS-3

 4 weeks

Course Director
Stephanie Gonzalez, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
gonzalezsm@upmc.edu

Course Co-Director
David Eibling, MD
Professor
Department of Otolaryngology
eiblingde@upmc.edu

Course Co-Director
Evan Waxman, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
waxmane@upmc.edu

Course Description

This 4-week clerkship is designed to provide students with the opportunity to see patients in specialty-care settings. Students hone their skills in the performance of focused histories and physical examinations, and participate in the development of a plan for the patients. Students rotate for one week each through the specialties of adult emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology. They work closely with residents and faculty, and participate as the first point of contact for many patient encounters. In addition, there are workshops in select areas, including dermatology, detailed examination of the musculoskeletal system, suturing/splinting, and interpretation of electrocardiograms. A longitudinal didactic series focuses on topics in ophthalmology and otolaryngology.

Sites for the clerkship include specialist settings in numerous offices and clinics throughout the region, and emergency departments at UPMC Presbyterian and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Educational Methods

	Clinical experiences		Lectures		Workshops

Evaluation

Evaluation in this course is based on adult emergency medicine preceptor evaluations (15%), ophthalmology preceptor evaluations (15%), otolaryngology preceptor evaluations (15%), pediatric emergency medicine preceptor evaluations (15%), one written exam composed of multiple-choice and short-answer questions (30%), and professionalism (10%).

Grading: The clerkship is graded Honors, High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

David Eibling, MD is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award and the Clinical Golden Apple Award. Susan Dunmire, MD, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, multiple Clinical Golden Apple Awards, and the Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring. Evan Waxman, MD, PhD, is a recipient of the Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award.
In addition, Dr. Eibling and Dr. Dunmire are members of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.