Introduction and Overview

The pediatric clerkship is a major component of a medical students pediatric educational experience during medical school. It shares with other core clerkships common goals in developing competent general physicians. For some students this intensive clinical experience is their primary opportunity to learn about the health and illness issues of children.

Pediatrics is a unique application of human developmental biology. Thus, clinical pediatrics focuses on the impact of disease on the developing human. The pediatrician observes and treats the child within the context of the family, community, and society. Prevention of disease, in addition to its treatment, is an essential aspect of pediatrics. Pediatricians collaborate with other health professionals to meet these goals.

The clerkship curriculum provides all students with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to care for children and their families. The emphasis is upon an understanding of normal processes, such as growth and development, health assessment and maintenance, and common problems unique to children. In addition, the pediatric clerkship is an opportunity to introduce students to the intellectually and personally fulfilling aspects of pediatrics to foster interest in pediatrics as a career choice.

During the pediatric clerkship, students have contact with both general and subspecialty pediatricians. The clerkship emphasizes those aspects of pediatrics to be mastered by all students so that they may become competent generalists. With limited time available in the core clerkship, basic skills and common issues in both health and disease will be the focus.

The core objectives* of the pediatric clerkship are for the student to

1.    Learn the importance of growth and development and its clinical application from birth  through adolescence (physical, physiologic and psychosocial).

2.    Understand the influence of family, community, and society on the child during health and disease.

3.    Develop strategies for disease and injury prevention and health promotion.

4.    Develop clinical problem solving skills for pediatric care.

5.    Develop the communication skills needed to care for children, adolescents and their            families.

6.    Demonstrate competency in examining children and adolescents.

7.    Demonstrate the knowledge necessary for the diagnosis and initial management of common acute and chronic illnesses.

8.    Develop attitudes appropriate for clinical practice.

(*modified from COMSEP core curriculum, 1999)  

II. Principles in implementation of the core Pediatric Clerkship Curriculum

The CMS Pediatric Clerkship is structured in a 6 week format with 50% of the rotation spent in the ambulatory setting and 50% spent in the in-patient setting. Faculty strive to provide the student with a continuum of care, both inpatient and outpatient, since the unique aspects of pediatric care are best taught and learned under these conditions. Because students have different learning styles, the curriculum contains a variety of educational formats, each of which emphasize active participation by the student. Students are evaluated by a thorough assessment of knowledge as well as skills and attitudes.

Introduction and Overview

The pediatric clerkship is a major component of a medical students pediatric educational experience during medical school. It shares with other core clerkships common goals in developing competent general physicians. For some students this intensive clinical experience is their primary opportunity to learn about the health and illness issues of children.

Pediatrics is a unique application of human developmental biology. Thus, clinical pediatrics focuses on the impact of disease on the developing human. The pediatrician observes and treats the child within the context of the family, community, and society. Prevention of disease, in addition to its treatment, is an essential aspect of pediatrics. Pediatricians collaborate with other health professionals to meet these goals.

The clerkship curriculum provides all students with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to care for children and their families. The emphasis is upon an understanding of normal processes, such as growth and development, health assessment and maintenance, and common problems unique to children. In addition, the pediatric clerkship is an opportunity to introduce students to the intellectually and personally fulfilling aspects of pediatrics to foster interest in pediatrics as a career choice.

During the pediatric clerkship, students have contact with both general and subspecialty pediatricians. The clerkship emphasizes those aspects of pediatrics to be mastered by all students so that they may become competent generalists. With limited time available in the core clerkship, basic skills and common issues in both health and disease will be the focus.

The core objectives* of the pediatric clerkship are for the student to

1.    Learn the importance of growth and development and its clinical application from birth  through adolescence (physical, physiologic and psychosocial).

2.    Understand the influence of family, community, and society on the child during health and disease.

3.    Develop strategies for disease and injury prevention and health promotion.

4.    Develop clinical problem solving skills for pediatric care.

5.    Develop the communication skills needed to care for children, adolescents and their            families.

6.    Demonstrate competency in examining children and adolescents.

7.    Demonstrate the knowledge necessary for the diagnosis and initial management of common acute and chronic illnesses.

8.    Develop attitudes appropriate for clinical practice.

(*modified from COMSEP core curriculum, 1999)  

II. Principles in implementation of the core Pediatric Clerkship Curriculum

The CMS Pediatric Clerkship is structured in a 6 week format with 50% of the rotation spent in the ambulatory setting and 50% spent in the in-patient setting. Faculty strive to provide the student with a continuum of care, both inpatient and outpatient, since the unique aspects of pediatric care are best taught and learned under these conditions. Because students have different learning styles, the curriculum contains a variety of educational formats, each of which emphasize active participation by the student. Students are evaluated by a thorough assessment of knowledge as well as skills and attitudes.