The graduation requirement to complete a clinical experience in anesthesiology can completed by taking either the 2-week or 4-week elective.
2 weeks
Course Director
William R. McIvor, MD, FASA
Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
mcivorwr@anes.upmc.edu
Course Description
The goal for the two week elective is to help students develop proficiency in common anesthesiology procedures, including airway management and intravenous cannulation and to show them the application of physiology and pharmacology in the perioperative setting. This two week experience is appropriate for who wish to have a concise experience in anesthesiology.
Course Objectives
- Demonstrate proficiency in common anesthesiology procedures, including airway management and intravenous cannulation.
- Demonstrate proficiency in preoperative evaluation of patients having anesthesia.
- Discuss the principles of physiology and pharmacology as they relate to perioperative medicine with multiple attending and resident physicians.
- Participate in simulated patient care experiences and reflect upon performance.
Educational Methods
- Clinical experiences
- Patient simulations
Students are paired with attending physicians and/or residents in the operating room, at the bedside, and in small groups. Students are assigned to one of the following sites: Passavant, St. Margaret’s, Shadyside, the VA, PUH/MUH, or Magee. Student’s preferences are considering in making those assignments.
Evaluation
The 2-week elective is graded pass/no pass, with the assessment based upon attendance, professionalism, and meeting the standard of clinical performance for Pitt med students.
4 weeks
Course Director
William R. McIvor, MD, FASA
Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
mcivorwr@anes.upmc.edu
Course Description
The goal for the four week elective is to help students develop a more robust understanding of physiology and pharmacology in the perioperative setting and to be exposed to anesthesiology sub-specialties like cardiac, neuro, trauma, OB, regional, and pediatrics. Students will spend a day providing anesthesia for patients having electroconvulsive therapy at WPIC. Students will have the opportunity to develop greater proficiency in common procedures, including airway management and intravenous cannulation and perhaps with other skills like central venous cannulation, arterial cannulation, and/or regional anesthesia skills. This 4-week experience would benefit students interested in anesthesiology, critical care medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and/or pediatric critical care.
Course Objectives
- Demonstrate proficiency in common anesthesiology procedures, including airway management and intravenous cannulation.
- Demonstrate proficiency in preoperative evaluation of patients having anesthesia.
- Participate in perioperative and periprocedural anesthesia care in multiple settings.
- Discuss the principles of physiology and pharmacology as they relate to perioperative medicine with multiple attending and resident physicians.
- Participate in simulated patient care experiences and reflect upon performance.
Educational Methods
Clinical experiences: Students are paired with attending physicians and/or residents occurs in the operating room, at the bedside, and in small groups. Students request site assignments at one of the following sites: the VA, PUH/MUH, Mercy, Children’s Hospital, or Magee.
Patient simulations: There are five simulation sessions associated with the 4-week elective: orientation on the first day, advanced airway and ultrasound workshop on the 3rd day, regional anesthesia, and crisis management on the last day.
Evaluation
The 4-week elective is graded honors, high satisfactory, satisfactory, and no pass. The final assessment is based upon attendance, professionalism, and meeting the standard of clinical performance for Pitt med students, clinical evaluations, and the student’s score on the multiple choice examination given on the last day of the elective.