Medical School Elective Rotations in Genetics

DESCRIPTION: During this elective, the student will see and evaluate the pediatric and adult medicine inpatient consults with genetics resident and attending, and will have primary responsibility for following a number of these patients. The student will also attend the various outpatient activities that take place during the month, including the general genetics clinic (both at Lakeside and off-site locations) and the many specialty clinics: prenatal, Marfan syndrome, Metabolic disorders, Craniofacial disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Cancer genetics. Lastly, the student will have the opportunity to observe the activities of the cytogenetics and molecular diagnostic laboratories. There will be ongoing teaching from the Genetics resident and attending about each patient seen, and the student is expected to read appropriate literature for each case. In addition, there is a schedule of conferences, lectures and academic teaching rounds for which attendance is mandatory. The CHG faculty is committed to make this a worthwhile experience for all interested students, and to that end the student will have the opportunity to design the elective to best fit their individual interests. For example, the student planning a career in OB-GYN may wish to spend more time in the prenatal setting, a future oncologist in cancer genetics, etc. Please contact Dr. Parikh with any questions or for a complete clinic and conference schedule of the clinical activities. OBJECTIVE: The student will learn how to evaluate a patient (prenatal, pediatric, and adult) with a suspected genetic disorder. This will include learning which genetic tests are appropriate in each setting, how to interpret them and recognize their limitations. PREREQUISITE: None, although completion of rotations in pediatrics, OB/GYN, and medicine preferable.

Description: Students are considered members of the inpatient and consult services for both general genetics and metabolism. Their responsibilities will include inpatient admissions, assessing/managing consults for the genetics and/or metabolism services, daily management of patient treatment plans, presentation of patient information on rounds/conferences, and any other services required for complete patient care. Goals: To provide an inpatient genetics and metabolism experience with a heightened level of responsibility from the introductory medical genetics elective allowing for expansion of the student's genetic and metabolism exposure and enhancement of their clinical judgment. Learning Objectives: 1. Develop differential diagnoses for complex presentations 2. Create clinical care plans to acutely manage patients presenting with genetic/metabolic conditions or exacerbations of pre-existing metabolic conditions 3. Develop an effective approach/testing strategy to narrow a differential diagnosis using diagnostic reasoning and solving patient based-problems 4. Become familiar with interpreting genetic results and providing accurate summaries of findings to the team(s), patient, and family 5. Enrich prior knowledge through reading and searching the literature 6. Apply evidence based principles of acute and chronic disease management to patient care Prerequisites: None.