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Medical Student Education

The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), the Pediatric Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, offers a variety of educational opportunities for medical students interested in pediatrics. CHAM offers a unique opportunity for students to learn in a high-volume, hands-on clinical setting.

Our faculty members have been nationally and internationally recognized for their contributions to the field of pediatrics and integrate the latest scientific and medical advances into training the next generation of pediatricians. More than 25 members of our pediatric faculty have been inducted into the Leo M. Davidoff Society, a prestigious award honoring teachers who have made significant contributions to the education of Einstein students.

Interested in medical student education at CHAM?

Research Opportunities

CHAM offers many opportunities for research in pediatrics and its subspecialties. All Einstein medical students can participate in these research projects during their first, second and/or fourth years. Concentrated research is offered through the Einstein summer research program.

E-mail the Office of Medical Student Research or call 718-430-2087 to learn how you can participate in research

3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship

The third year is the beginning of the clinical years for Einstein medical students. All Einstein students undertake a seven-week pediatric clerkship—many choose CHAM for this experience.

The clerkship provides the third year student with the opportunity to accumulate knowledge, develop skills and gain experience regarding well-child care and the evaluation of pediatric

medical problems. An emphasis is placed on:

  • Determining normal from abnormal history.
  • Physical findings.
  • Logical selection of diagnostic studies.
  • Accurate reporting and recording of data.
  • Development of management plans.

The clerk should begin to appreciate the importance of longitudinal relationships and the impact of the physician-patient-family-community interaction on comprehensive care.

Clinical experiences during pediatric clerkship training are very diverse and include inpatient, outpatient, emergency and newborn medicine. These are enriched with a variety of student didactics, such as:

  • Problem based learning sessions.
  • Case presentation conferences.
  • Physical diagnosis rounds.
  • Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics (COMSEP) clinical problem set reviews.
  • Inpatient conferences.

In addition, students attend departmental and house staff conferences, lectures and grand rounds.

Students learn to take responsibility for patient care in all clinical venues, under supervision and participate in the multidisciplinary teams, interacting with the pediatric house staff, faculty, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and therapists. Students may also attend family meetings and multidisciplinary case conferences to discuss patient care from a variety of perspectives.

CHAM’s clerkship in pediatrics has been the highest rated student evaluation clerkship at Einstein for many years. In the most recent student evaluation report, CHAM received an overall positive learning experience rating of 97.4 percent.

Educational Objectives for the Pediatrics Clerkship
General Clinical Skills

By the end of this clerkship, students will be able to:

  • Elicit a well-organized, accurate and appropriate history.
  • Perform an accurate physical exam appropriate to the age of the child.
  • Generate a differential diagnosis for commonly seen pediatric diseases.
  • Select appropriate diagnostic studies.
  • Interpret diagnostic studies.
  • Formulate a patient centered management plan.
  • Formulate a case summary.
  • Document patient oriented information effectively.
  • Employ clinical literature and basic texts in analyzing and understanding clinical problems.
  • Present all pertinent patient oriented information effectively.
  • Communicate effectively with parents, patients and families.
  • Demonstrate a fund of knowledge about the identified core conditions.
  • Establish productive, respectful working relationships with all health team members.
  • Educate colleagues about pediatric conditions and clinical questions.
 
Specific Pediatric Skills

By the end of this clerkship, students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between a well appearing child and one who requires immediate attention.
  • Differentiate the medical, emotional, and social needs of children of varying ages.
  • Recognize the common pediatric problems that require hospitalization.
  • Formulate the recommended pediatric clinical preventive services in a patient centered manner.
  • Evaluate the common problems found in children in an ambulatory setting.
  • Recognize normal childhood growth and developmental milestones.
  • Perform a normal newborn examination.
  • Illustrate the role that pediatricians and other health professionals play as advocates for children.

4th Year Pediatric Subinternships

During their fourth year of study, Einstein medical students complete a core and a selective subinternship. Each of these 4-week subinternships can be completed in the area of pediatrics and CHAM is a main clinical site for this rotation.

During the subinternship student’s function as an integral part of the patient-care team, assuming the same responsibilities as a first-year resident under supervision of the resident and attending physician. Subinterns are the primary provider for patients with a wide variety of pediatric illnesses requiring inpatient treatment.

Students gain experience and proficiency in:

  • Obtaining pediatric histories.
  • Performing physical exams.
  • Formulating differential diagnoses and management plans.
  • Managing psychosocial issues.
  • Evaluating test results.
  • Interacting with multiple services and disciplines involved in the care of the child.

Subinterns are on call as part of the house staff night float call system and attend all house staff conferences in addition to their own weekly conference.

4th Year Pediatric Ambulatory Care Rotation

During their fourth year of study, Einstein medical students participate in a 4-week advanced outpatient rotation which can be completed in pediatrics. CHAM is a main clinical site for this rotation.

Students serve as the primary provider for patients in the general pediatrics practice and the pediatric emergency department caring for patients for routine health maintenance as well as acute problems. They also gain experience in multiple subspecialty outpatient clinics and in the well-baby nursery. Student gain hands on practice in:

  • Common pediatric procedures.
  • Developmental and mental health screenings.
  • Anticipatory guidance and behavioral counseling.
  • Weekly didactic sessions.
Educational Objectives for the Ambulatory Care Rotation

By the end of the Pediatric Ambulatory Rotation, students will be able to:

  • Independently conduct a focused interview of a child and/or parent.
  • Perform an accurate physical exam on well and ill children of different ages.
  • Evaluate a newborn infant.
  • Perform routine procedures, measurements and screenings on children.
  • Manage common ambulatory problems and illnesses in children.
  • Appraise children’s health during well-child visits and provide anticipatory guidance to parents.
  • Assume more responsibility by making independent decisions in patient care.
  • Utilize appropriate interpersonal and communication skills in patient care.
  • Present findings of a clinical evaluation clearly and concisely in both oral and written forms.
  • Recognize the influence of families, communities, culture and psychosocial problems on the care of children.
  • Recognize and assess infant and toddler developmental levels.
  • Provide parenting advice on common behavioral problems in young children.
  • Evaluate pediatric patients with unique systems based conditions in several subspecialty areas.

Advanced Electives

Students seeking a more intensive specialized experience can take part in our advanced electives and concentrate in different pediatric subspecialties. Our students enjoy tremendous amount of flexibility to suit their needs and future goals.

The elective rotations are available in 4-week blocks. Einstein students or students visiting from other medical schools can take these electives to focus on a specific subspecialty to gain more advanced understanding and clinical experience in a specific field of interest.

4th year electives are available in:

  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Clinical Rotation in the Child Protection Center
  • Inpatient Pediatrics
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • Neonatal/Pediatric ICU
  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pediatric Endocrine
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition
  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Medical Genetics
  • Pediatric Mineral, Heavy & Trace Metal Metabolism
  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Pediatric Nephrology Research
  • Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine
  • Pediatric Rheumatology
 

To apply for Electives, please contact the Einstein Registrar's Office.

For more information about the medical student program at CHAM, please contact the Director of Medical Student Education:
Dr. Miriam Schechter
mschecht@montefiore.org