An eight-week, eight-credit-hour required clerkship in the third year designed to provide a broad overview of general pediatrics. The clerkship consists of four weeks on a general pediatrics ward, including pediatric intensive care unit, and hematology/oncology service; two weeks in the outpatient pediatric clinic; one week in the newborn nursery and developmental pediatrics; and one week in subspecialty and community pediatrics. In the outpatient setting, students gain experience in the evaluation of patients with common pediatric disorders (e.g., pneumonia, behavioral problems, and gastroenteritis) and in the ambulatory management of complex pediatric disorders, as well as exposure to patients in the child abuse clinic. The inpatient setting provides experience in the full range of pediatric problems from routine pneumonia, croup, and dehydration to the rare and complex entities of congenital disorders and inborn errors of metabolism. In the newborn nursery, students develop skills in the basic newborn examination. During the developmental pediatrics rotation, students make home visits to families of children with special needs. Primary methods of instruction include lecture, problem-based learning, case-based discussion/presentation, clinical preceptorship, problem-solving exercises, home visit, independent learning experiences, conferences, small-group discussion, and teaching rounds. Modes of assessment include the Pediatrics NBME subject examination, a departmental written multiple choice/essay examination, clinical evaluations, an oral examination/presentation, and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Demonstration of mastery of a prescribed set of clinical skills, included on the Clinical Skills Attainment Document, is required for successful completion of this clerkship.

A four-week, four-credit hour required clerkship in the fourth year. The AI emphasizes basic generalist competencies, is predominantly an inpatient experience, and includes night call. Acting interns are essential members of the ward teams, although students’ patient loads can be adjusted according to their aptitude. Some of the selectives also provide a minor amount of ambulatory clinical learning. The student has primary and direct responsibility for the continuing care of patients in the community or in one of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine programs at Prisma Health Richland, or the Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Alternatively, a student may elect to complete the AI as an extramural rotation but must have prior approval for this rotation from the USCSM AI director. The primary mode of instruction is clinical preceptorship. Other educational material may be presented via attending rounds, didactic lectures, subspecialty lectures, weekly grand rounds, resident case presentations, rounds with residents, clinical pathologic conferences, etc., and is dependent upon the specific rotation. Assessment will focus on core clinical skills, including, but not limited to, history and physical examinations, clinical decision making, case presentation, communication with patients, test selection and interpretation, and therapeutic decision making.

A four-week, four-credit hour required clerkship in the fourth year. The AI emphasizes basic generalist competencies, is predominantly an inpatient experience, and includes night call. Acting interns are essential members of the ward teams, although students’ patient loads can be adjusted according to their aptitude. Some of the selectives also provide a minor amount of ambulatory clinical learning. The student has primary and direct responsibility for the continuing care of patients in the community or in one of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine programs at Prisma Health Richland, or the Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Alternatively, a student may elect to complete the AI as an extramural rotation but must have prior approval for this rotation from the USCSM AI director. The primary mode of instruction is clinical preceptorship. Other educational material may be presented via attending rounds, didactic lectures, subspecialty lectures, weekly grand rounds, resident case presentations, rounds with residents, clinical pathologic conferences, etc., and is dependent upon the specific rotation. Assessment will focus on core clinical skills, including, but not limited to, history and physical examinations, clinical decision making, case presentation, communication with patients, test selection and interpretation, and therapeutic decision making.

The student will function as a member of the Pediatric outpatient team. He/she will spend time in the general Pediatrics clinic, which serves as a medical home for wellcare, acute and chronic pediatric medical issues. They may also rotate through various pediatric sub-speciality clinics. The student will be responsible for obtaining history and physical exams and participating in the health care of the patients seen in clinic. Clinic hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Attendance at the conferences which are required for Pediatric residents will also be required of the student participating in this elective. Evaluations will be based on subjective faculty critiques.

The student will participate in outpatient care of patients with hematologic/oncologic problems. The primary goal for the student is to develop a fundamental understanding of a broad base of common hematologic/oncologic disorders which can be expected to be encountered across the spectrum of medical specialties. Responsibilities will include initial history and physical examination of patients assigned, development of a treatment plan, and utilization of a multidisciplinary patient management approach when appropriate. Students will have the opportunity to participate in outpatient management in the various clinics including Sickle Cell, Hemophilia (pediatrics and adult), and Neuro-oncology and Late Effects/Long Term Follow Up. The student will be expected to be an active participant in all appropriate conferences.

The student in this elective will function as a member of the medical staff providing care to infants in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The student will work under the supervision of the pediatric resident and neonatal faculty of the NICU. The student will be responsible for initial evaluation of babies admitted, including elicitation of history, performance of the physical exam and gestational age assessment, and writing of initial orders. Medical management including gaining experience in technical procedures will be part of the learning experiences. The student will work with the respiratory and nursing staffs to gain insights into these important areas of neonatal intensive care.

The student will function as a member of an interdisciplinary team evaluating children and working with the parents of children having varied developmental problems. This rotation will provide the student with an opportunity to observe and interact with other professionals (psychologists, social workers, special educators, speech language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, etc.), as they evaluate and plan treatment for children with a wide array of special needs. Some time will also be spent visiting and learning about community resources available to children with special problems.

The student will help evaluate children with endocrine disorders and diabetes. The student will participate in patient care (private office, outreach clinics, inpatient consultation), possible Journal Club, along with basic science and/or clinical project discussion. Grade evaluation will be based on satisfactory clinical performance.

The cardiology elective consists of several distinct areas of service; general inpatient, PICU, NICU, newborn nursery services, and outpatient clinics, particularly the CRS Clinic and private patients seen in the Pediatric Cardiologist Office. The student will spend time in these areas with daily rounds on all of the hospitalized patients. The EKG's, echocardiograms, chest x-rays, and other procedures on each patient will be reviewed. The student will be expected to interpret the EKG's and echocardiograms along with the pediatric cardiologist. The student will attend the CRS Pediatric Cardiology clinics and selected outreach clinics. The student will also attend the private clinics in the Pediatric Cardiology Department. In this setting, the history/physical examination and the diagnosis of congenital heart disease will be emphasized. At the end of the elective, the student will have a good working basic knowledge of pediatric cardiology.

The objectives of this course are to introduce the student to the principles of emergency medicine as applied to infants and children. Clinical emphasis will be placed on treating: acute febrile illnesses, respiratory distress, wound management, orthopaedics, toxicology, critical care, and pre-hospital care. Administrative principles of emergency medicine will also be taught, such as use of consultants, COBRA/EMTALA, and multiple patient management. Five hours of lectures are presented weekly to reinforce important concepts. Other educational opportunities include online lectures, simulation labs, and toxicology workshops.

The student will function as a member of a multidisciplinary team evaluating children suspected of having been physically or sexually abused or neglected. This rotation will provide the student the opportunity to observe and interact with other professionals (psychologists, forensic interviewers, therapists, law enforcement investigators, social workers, attorneys) as they work together to determine the truth about what has happened to a child, and to formulate plans for treatment of the child and the family.

The Pediatric Nephrology elective will help students develop a basic understanding of renal physiology; learn the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to general nephrology problems; understand the radiographic appearance and work-up for congenital uropathies, and understand the basic principles of Chronic Kidney Disease/ESRD.

Interview, examine, and treat patients in general pediatrics, including well child evaluations, ADHD, acute infectious processes, and newborn nursery.

This rotation provides your best opportunity to learn about comprehensive care of the newborn. Our average daily census on the Pediatric Teaching Service is 23 babies, and we accept newborns at or above 35 weeks’ completed gestational age. Each month, common diagnoses in our newborn population typically include heart murmurs, drug exposure, ABO incompatibility, jaundice, minor birth defects, tachypnea, and high-risk social situations. Every couple of months we also see clavicle fractures, Erb’s palsy, Down syndrome, developmental hip dysplasia, cleft palate, hypospadias, and other less common newborn physical findings. Students may additionally learn circumcision skills on this rotation if they so choose; pediatricians perform all circumcisions at our institution.