Clerkship Orientation Presentations

Third Year
Begins May

Students proceed directly into the Third Year Clinical Clerkships upon 1) successful completion of the Biomedical Sciences, and 2) obtaining a passing score on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Step 1. Occasionally, students may elect to delay entry into the clerkship program in order to pursue graduate studies.

Students begin the third year with a week-long DRS/PCC block which focuses on providing clinical skills essential to success in the clerkships. During the clerkships, students focus their attention and efforts on patient problem-solving and experience an increasing level of responsibility throughout the rotations. Student workload in the third year is controlled by the director of each clerkship. The total amount of time allotted for third-year clerkships is 48 weeks, which is taken over a 64-week period. After completion of a minimum of three core clerkships, students may choose one or more electives to enhance their skills and understanding in a specific discipline before completing all seven required clerkships.

These clerkships provide a breadth of clinical experiences in the major care areas. Students become an integral part of the health-care team in an academic setting involving both house staff and faculty as well as ancillary services of the teaching hospitals. Programs are available in facilities in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville.

DRS/PCC-3001/F - Prevention, Community, and Culture  (2 credit hours). The M3 DRS/PCC course consists of a week of "Preparing for Clerkships" and periodic workshops. The content of the introductory week includes charting skills, ECG and radiology workshops, "what to do in a code," suturing and knot tying sessions, venipuncture, and TB mask fitting. Clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis of common complaints, such as abdominal pain and headache, are reviewed. Workshops include interdisciplinary topics such as HIV/AIDS, hospital nutrition, end-of-life care, smoking cessation, complementary and alternative medicine, and medical disabilities. 

FME1-3001/F - Core Clerkship in Family Medicine (14 credit hours). The Family Medicine Clerkship is an eight-week clinical experience during which students participate in a unique breadth of patient care in the context of family and community.

Students experience traditional office-based practice under the supervision of a community-based family physician preceptor. With the office practice as a base, the family physician serves all aspects of patient care involving both inpatient and outpatient settings, ranging from the hospital to the nursing home. Students are placed with family physicians who practice the full breadth of the discipline, including obstetrical care, whenever feasible.

The department maintains a wide array of approved clinical training sites throughout the state of Tennessee and works closely with students to identify mutually agreeable clinical assignments. Student hardships will be considered in making the final assignment.

The clerkship is a full-time learning experience, typically mirroring the family physician preceptor and including both weekend responsibilities and night call. Students have several written assignments to complete as well as assigned readings during the eight weeks. This clerkship is also offered in Knoxville (FME2–3001/F) and Chattanooga (FME3-3001/F).

MED1-3001/F - Core Clerkship in Medicine (14 credit hours). The clinical clerkship in medicine is designed to provide the medical student with an opportunity to learn by experience in patient care and by the examples set by the faculty and house staff. The student is a participating member of the clinical team responsible for patient care which includes residents and the attending physician. A student is expected to: 1) acquire skill and efficiency in history taking and physical examinations, in technical procedures, in the assembly and interpretation of laboratory data, and in patient diagnosis and management; 2) apply to clinical problems the knowledge and facts acquired in the biomedical sciences; and 3) read current medical journals as well as textbooks. Each student is assigned to the University Medical Services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Regional Medical Center or Methodist University Hospital for the eight-week rotation. At the mid-point of the clerkship, each student will switch from one hospital assignment to another. Alternatively, students may rotate through Baptist Hospital in Nashville for four weeks of their rotation (Nashville MED4-3001/F). This clerkship also is offered in Knoxville (MED2-3001/F) and Chattanooga (MED3-3001/F). 

NEU1-3002/F - Core Clerkship in Neurology (7 credit hours). This four-week experience is offered in an eight-week rotation in concert with the Psychiatry Clerkship.  The clinical sites for the clerkship are at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Methodist University Hospital, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The major emphasis is on developing skills in neurological history taking and in the performance and interpretation of the neurologic examination. The clinical correlations of neurostructure and function taught in Neurosciences are expanded upon in the clinical setting. An exposure to the various categories of neurologic disorders and their pathophysiology is provided. The diagnostic approach to the patient stresses both anatomic and etiologic considerations. Neurology is a focal point for the dynamic advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of disease and related new therapies. Currently, this clerkship is offered only in Memphis.

OBG1-3001/F - Core Clerkship in Obstetrics and Gynecology (14 credit hours). This required eight-week clerkship is designed to familiarize the student with female pelvic anatomy and the normal menstrual cycle. In addition, obstetric and gynecologic history taking and pelvic examination are taught, along with the normal physiology of pregnancy and care of the normal pregnant woman through the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum course. Basic complications of pregnancy are covered, as well as specific diseases as related to pregnancy outcome. The gynecologic portion of the clerkship focuses on basic diseases which occur in the female pelvis, including infection, endometriosis, and cancer. This clerkship also is offered in Knoxville (OBG2-3001/F) and Chattanooga (OBG3-3001/F).

PED1-3001/F - Core Clerkship in Pediatrics (14 credit hours). Four weeks of this eight-week required clerkship experience are in an ambulatory setting that includes: general outpatient care, subspecialty clinic experience and primary care in a private office setting. The other four weeks are spent on inpatient service, providing direct "hands-on" patient management. An eight-week lecture series covers the most relevant topics in pediatric care. Regular rounds with faculty and house staff provide opportunities for interaction with all members of the health care team in managing the pediatric patient. This clerkship also is offered in Chattanooga (PED3-3001/F).

PSY1-3002/F - Core Clerkship in Psychiatry (7 credit hours). This four-week clerkship is offered in an eight-week block in concert with the Neurology Clerkship. Students are assigned to a general inpatient service as their home base, gaining familiarity with diagnosis and treatment of severely disturbed patients. Additional time is organized around psychiatric services in a general medical setting (Consultation-Liaison or Emergency Room at the Regional Medical Center) or the Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Lectures, readings, case conferences, and outpatient clinic assignments round out the experience. The student is expected to gain a basic knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis, applied psychopharmacology, and non-pharmacologic treatment options. Emphasis is on information useful to students regardless of their future specialty choice. Currently, this clerkship is offered only in Memphis.

SUR1-3001/F - Core Clerkship in Surgery (14 credit hrs). This eight-week clerkship encompasses general, vascular, and trauma surgery. The objective of this clerkship is to familiarize the student with the basic pathophysiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities involved in the art and science of surgery. The fundamentals taught in this rotation will be of benefit to individuals even if they do not choose a field of surgery as a career. The clinical rotations are four weeks each in two different facilities. These facilities include the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Regional Medical Center, Baptist East, St. Francis, and the Methodist University Hospital. In addition to this clinical involvement, each student is involved in small group conferences and an afternoon didactic lecture series delivered by members of the faculty. The student also participates in a skills laboratory, videotape presentations, grand round sessions, and generous outpatient experiences. This clerkship also is offered in Knoxville (SUR2-3001/F) and Chattanooga (SUR3-3001/F).

Additional information on each clerkship can be found at http://www.utmem.edu/Medicine/Acad_Affairs/UME/Clerkships/

Location of Clinical Clerkship and Elective Offerings: