Educational Affairs - Office of Clinical Education

UTMB 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship (Outpatient Portion)

Every third year medical student at UTMB is required to take the Pediatric Clerkship. UTMB places approximately 240 UTMB third year medical students with preceptors across the state each year for this course. The entire 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship is six weeks long and is divided into these 4 segments:

  • 2 weeks of Pediatric inpatient service (1 day off each week to complete virtual work )
  • 1 week of a Pediatric subspecialty
  • 1 week of newborn nursery
  • 2 weeks of ambulatory-based Pediatrics with a volunteer preceptor (1/2 day off each week to complete virtual work - when this 1/2 day off occurs can be decided by the preceptor)

During the 2 week ambulatory rotation, UTMB medical students should see the following number of patient encounters.

Well child checks - minimum of:

  • Toddlers:  12 patients during the 2 weeks
  • Newborns:  12 patients during the 2 weeks
  • School age children:  12 patients during the 2 weeks
  • Teens:  4 patients during the entire week
  • We would also like our students to see a variety of sick patients (a few each day)

The preceptor needs to provide feedback on at least one WCC note and sign off on it signifying feedback.  We also ask the preceptor to provide midpoint feedback on the midpoint feedback form which the student will give you.  Students should be in PPE for sick visits or potential COVID patients.  There are no CRIs during the ambulatory portion this year.

 

Preceptor Qualifications

  • MD or DO
  • Board certified in Pediatrics
  • Preceptors must be licensed and working in the state of Texas
  • Must be a Pediatric generalist working in an ambulatory setting
  • No outstanding board orders on the Texas State Medical Board
  • Preceptor must go through UTMB appointment process before accepting students
  • As of April 19, 2022, all preceptors must comply with the CMS mandate and submit proof of COVID vaccination to UTMB's Employee Health.  Proof of the first two shots is required.  It is not necessary to show proof of a booster shot to be compliant.

Community Teaching Physician Commitment per Student

Teaching time per student:  Each student would rotate in your clinic for a 2 week period.  We require 4 ½ days each week in a preceptor's clinic (with a 45-hour maximum student work week)

During the first week, preceptors should orient students to the practice and ascertain their strengths / weaknesses regarding history taking, pediatric physical exam, and presentations. Students have had training in the Electronic Medical Record, and we encourage you to allow them to write notes on every patient they see. Students should receive feedback on their notes, and one Well Child Visit note needs to be turned in with faculty signature signifying receiving feedback. Student notes can be used by the preceptor with an attestation.

We appreciate you reviewing their knowledge on growth and development, immunizations and some of the commonly used screening tests during a well visit. We also appreciate you allowing them to see a variety of common sick complaints. By the end of the two weeks, students should be able to present clearly and concisely with all relevant information.  All through this, it is important to work with the students on their differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning.  It is very reasonable to assign students with reading on a variety of topics and have them do presentations. If time permits, it would be great if you can touch on coding, and the financial aspects of running a practice.

Preceptors may ask a student to round with them in the hospital after regular clinic hours. They may also ask the student to work during Saturday clinic hours. Both these teaching opportunities are acceptable as long as that time does not exceed the 45-hour work week maximum for the student.

 

2022-2023 Academic Calendar

Fall Term

Period 2a06/20/2022 - 07/01/2022
Period 2b07/05/2022 - 07/15/2022
Period 3a07/18/2022 - 07/29/2022
Period 3b08/01/2022 - 08/12/2022
Period 4a08/15/2022 - 08/26/2022
Period 4b08/29/2022 - 09/09/2022
Period 5a09/12/2022 - 09/23/2022
Period 5b09/26/2022 - 10/07/2022
Period 6a10/10/2022 - 10/21/2022
Period 6b10/24/2022 - 11/04/2022

Spring Term

Period 9a01/02/2023 - 01/13/2023
Period 9b01/16/2023 - 01/27/2023
Period 10a01/30/2023 - 02/10/2023
Period 10b02/13/2023 - 02/24/2023
Period 11a02/27/2023 - 03/10/2023
Period 11b03/13/2023 - 03/23/2023
Period 12a03/27/2023 - 04/07/2023
Period 12b04/10/2023 - 04/21/2023
Period 13a04/24/2023 - 05/05/2023
Period 13b05/08/2023 - 05/19/2023

Course Links

UTMB Pediatric Clerkship Website
UTMB Pediatric Clerkship Syllabus
Course Goals & Objectives (Syllabus Extract)
Pediatric Clerkship Case Logger

For questions about the evaluation form, please contact Tiffany Swain, the 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship Coordinator.

Course Contacts

Clerkship Co-Director (Galveston)Gayani Silva, MD
Clerkship Co-Director (Galveston)Melissa Smith-Phillips, MD, PhD
Clerkship Coordinator (Galveston)Tiffany Swain
Outpatient Coordinator (Galveston)Brian Sullivan

 


If you are interested in teaching medical students for the UTMB 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship, please contact Brian Sullivan.