1 credit

Introduction to Surgery I introduces students to a surgical career and explores a range of surgical career options and lifestyles. An understanding of suturing, knot tying, and other basic surgical skills is acquired, as well as a familiarity with essential surgical instruments.

Hands-on experience enables students to become comfortable in the operating room while utilizing proper etiquette. Interaction with OHSU surgeons provides opportunity for mentoring.

Students will attend two Surgical Skills Lab sessions, attend at least one SIG Student/Faculty Interactive session, attend a minimum of four hours in the operating rooms, and mentor other students through volunteering for a minimum of two hours.

Volunteer work includes mentoring high school students who are interested in a surgery career during an OHSU skills lab or helping to teach suturing to premedical or other medical students. Fulfilling the elective requirements and submitting the Introduction to Surgery I Form is required to complete this course.

1 credit

Introduction to Surgery II expands upon Introduction to Surgery I. A basic proficiency of the technical skills taught in Introduction to Surgery I is required.

This course requires further attendance of surgical conferences and specialty talks. Students enrolled will be responsible for teaching 705B students in lab workshops. Students will also gain further experience by participating in operations during this period.

Two hours of volunteer work are required, which includes mentoring high school students who are interested in a surgery career during an OHSU skills lab or helping to teach suturing to premedical or other medical students. Participating in the skills lab beyond the initial two hour requirement can fulfill the volunteer requirement. Fulfilling the elective requirements and submitting the Introduction to Surgery II Form is required to complete this course.

1-4 credits

Students participate in self-arranged surgery research. At the completion of the rotation a 2-4 page summary of the research performed will be submitted.

Summaries should include a background of the selected research focus and the purpose of the research, as well as a description of the actual research experience. This description should include the methods of the research project and which specific information was obtained.

The summary should also describe methods used for statistical analysis. Using preliminary data to write an abstract is encouraged.

Students should also include a plan for eventual submission and presentation of their work.

Surgery Research Elective Instructions

The Surgery Research elective is an opportunity for you to participate in a research project that you may have interest in. In order to receive credit, there are some things we will need from you to process your paperwork.

Approval of rotation

• Obtain a request form from the Dean’s office and get the appropriate signatures.
• Once you have signed and your preceptor has signed, you will need to turn it on to the surgery Medical Student Coordinator along with a brief summary and your preceptor’s name, phone number, and email address. Your summary should include what the expected outcome you are looking for and what the project will include.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will submit it to the Clerkship Director for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will send it to the Dean’s office for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will contact you to let you know your request has been accepted, needs more information, or not approved.
• Once approved and signed by all parties, the Medical Student Coordinator will send you a copy of your completed signed form.

Completion of rotation

You will need to submit a 2-4 page report to include the following topics and information:

• Attending's name and contact information.
• Hours worked.
• Background of the process you are studying and the question you are trying to answer.
• Description of your actual research experience.
  • Were charts reviewed?
  • Were patients enrolled?
  • What information did you examine?
  • Did you undertake a statistical analysis?
  • Which methods were utilized?
• If you have preliminary data, you should try to write an abstract.
• Submit a plan for eventual submission and presentation of your work.

3 credits

This course introduces students to the treatment of adult cardiac and thoracic surgery, which includes valvular and coronary heart disease, aortic surgery, surgery for arrhythmia, heart transplantation, lung resection, esophageal surgery, and mediastinal procedures.

Students work with house staff and faculty and are responsible for patient workups, assisting in operations, and postoperative care in the ICU and on wards.

Students rotate one week in cardiac service and the second week in thoracic service. There will be opportunity to scrub in on heart surgery cases and experience both didactic and one-on-one teaching with faculty. Preliminary reading in cardiac and thoracic surgery is recommended.

3 credits

Students will participate with faculty and residents to gain experience in preoperative, operative, and postoperative care of pediatric patients with general surgical diseases.

During this two week rotation, students will have the opportunity to scrub in to cases and participate in didactic teaching sessions. Students may have the opportunity to rotate at either OHSU or Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

3 credits

Students will participate with the University or VAMC vascular surgery service, which includes operating room experience, as well as inpatient and outpatient work.

During this two week rotation, students will gain familiarity with the workups of common vascular disease processes. Students will be able to participate in didactic teaching sessions during the rotation.

3 credits

Students will spend 5-10 hours per week in discussion/didactic sessions with faculty in addition to 20-30 hours per week of clinical responsibilities.

Students will be expected to take overnight call on a schedule determined by faculty availability. Student responsibilities include patient workups, participation in operations, and postoperative care rounds with surgical, wound care, nutritional, and multidisciplinary teams.

Didactics and discussions will focus on topics and literature relevant to surgical nutrition.

While performing clinical duties, special emphasis will be placed on care of patients with special nutritional needs. At the completion of the rotation, students will be able to design and implement a plan for nutrition management for a patient throughout the course of their surgical procedure.

3 credits

Students participate in self-arranged surgery research. At the completion of the rotation a 2-4 page summary of the research performed will be submitted.

Summaries should include a background of the selected research topic and the purpose of the research, as well as a description of the actual research experience. This includes the research methods and results sections.

The summary should also describe methods used for statistical analysis. Use of preliminary data to write an abstract is encouraged. Students should also include a plan for eventual submission and presentation of their work.

Surgery Research Elective Instructions

The Surgery Research elective is an opportunity for you to participate in a research project that you may have interest in. In order to receive credit, there are some things we will need from you to process your paperwork.

Approval of rotation

• Obtain a request form from the Dean’s office and get the appropriate signatures.
• Once you have signed and your preceptor has signed, you will need to turn it on to the surgery Medical Student Coordinator along with a brief summary and your preceptor’s name, phone number, and email address. Your summary should include what the expected outcome you are looking for and what the project will include.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will submit it to the Clerkship Director for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will send it to the Dean’s office for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will contact you to let you know your request has been accepted, needs more information, or not approved.
• Once approved and signed by all parties, the Medical Student Coordinator will send you a copy of your completed signed form.

Completion of rotation

You will need to submit a 2-4 page report to include the following topics and information:

• Attending's name and contact information.
• Hours worked.
• Background of the process you are studying and the question you are trying to answer.
• Description of your actual research experience.
  • Were charts reviewed?
  • Were patients enrolled?
  • What information did you examine?
  • Did you undertake a statistical analysis?
  • Which methods were utilized?
• If you have preliminary data, you should try to write an abstract.
• Submit a plan for eventual submission and presentation of your work.

The Surgery-Away, Surgery-Community, Surgery-Preceptorship, and Surgery Research electives require additional steps.

Surgery electives are an opportunity for you to participate in a research project or participate at a community site or elective we do not offer. In order to receive credit, there are some things we will need from you to process your paperwork.

Approval of rotation

• Obtain a request form from the Dean’s office and get the appropriate signatures.
• Once you have signed and your preceptor has signed, you will need to turn it on to the surgery Medical Student Coordinator along with a brief summary (use the Teaching Plan as a guide):
  • Preceptor/Community Elective: Your summary should say what you will be doing and how it will fulfill your surgery requirements.
  • Research Elective: Your summary should include what the expected outcome you are looking for and what the project will include.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will submit it to the Clerkship Director for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will send it to the Dean’s office for approval.
• The Medical Student Coordinator will contact you to let you know your request has been accepted, needs more information, or not approved.

Preceptor/Community Elective

You will need to submit a 1-2 page report along with your skills card. Your report should include the following topics and information:

• Preceptor/Attendings name and contact information
• Hours worked
• Patient Care
• History and Physicals you did
• Presentations OR Time
• Call

Research Elective

You will need to submit a 2-4 page report to include the following topics and information:

• Attending’s name and contact information.
• Hours worked.
• Background of the process you are studying and the question you are trying to answer.
• Description of your actual research experience.
  • Were charts reviewed?
  • Were patients enrolled?
  • What information did you examine?
  • Did you undertake a statistical analysis?
  • Which methods were utilized?
• If you have preliminary data, you should try to write an abstract.
• Submit a plan for eventual submission and presentation of your work.

6 credits

This course is designed to educate students regarding the surgical management of liver and kidney transplantation as well as hepatobiliary surgery.

Exposure to transplant patients encourages appreciation of the process of abdominal organ transplantation from the patient perspective. Interactions with experts in the field allow students to expand their clinical knowledge in kidney disease, liver disease and transplant surgery.

Students participate in rounds, clinic, selection committee meetings and tumor board conferences, as well as assist with surgical procedures. Students may have the option of participating in local organ procurement procedures as they occur.

6 credits

The burns/general surgery rotation includes general surgery, acute burn care (including ICU and step-down care), reconstructive burn care, and a variety of complex wound management cases, such as necrotizing soft tissue infections, open abdomen/fistulas, purpura fulminanas, truncal pressure and ulcers. In addition, there are plastic admissions to our house staff service.

3-6 credits

The cardiothoracic surgery course provides intimate exposure to all aspects of adult cardiac and thoracic surgery, including valvular and coronary heart disease, aortic surgery, surgery for arrhythmia, heart transplantation, lung resection, esophageal surgery and mediastinal procedures.

Students work with house staff and faculty and are responsible for patient workups with the opportunity to scrub in on heart surgery cases and experience both didactic and one-on-one teaching with faculty.

6 credits

The majority of time is spent in general surgery with the opportunity to rotate through other surgical specialties, including ENT, urology, gynecology and/or orthopedics.

Students will have exposure to a rural general surgery practice and identify the differences between a rural surgery practice and a tertiary referral center, as well as learn to identify critical points in spectrum of rural general surgical procedures.

Students will continue to expand their skills at evaluating, diagnosing and treating surgical patients, including experience with minor office procedures.

6 credits

Students will be fully participating members on a Foregut and Minimally Invasive Surgery team. They will perform preoperative and postoperative care, evaluate patients in the emergency room and in outpatient clinics, and assist in surgery.

6 credits

Students will be fully participating members on a Colorectal and Bariatric Surgery team. They will perform preoperative and postoperative care, evaluate patients in the emergency room and in outpatient clinics, and assist in surgery.

6 credits

Students will be fully participating members on a General Surgery team. They will perform preoperative and postoperative care, evaluate patients in the emergency room and in outpatient clinics, and assist in surgery.

3-6 credits

Students will participate with faculty and house staff at a level comparable to that of an intern in the preoperative, operative and postoperative care of pediatric patients with general surgical disease.

3-6 credits

Students are exposed to an extraordinary variety of congenital and acquired defects in both children and adults.

Cranio-facial anomalies, maxillofacial trauma, microsurgery and unusual surgical problems are seen daily. Cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery of the hand, head, neck, torso, and lower extremities are common procedures.

Students will have the opportunity to evaluate patients and actively participate in the operating room, clinics and wards. They will interact directly with attendings, residents and patients.

6 credits

Students will learn to recognize signs of healing and infection. They will diagnose and treat conditions such as cleft lip and palate. Sewing skills are also acquired.

6 credits

Students will work with five attending physicians on the Veterans Administration Medical Center plastic surgery service.

Responsibilities include attending clinic, participating in the operating room, and rounding.

There is ample opportunity to see patients with supervision and to work closely with the attending staff as a first assistant in the operating room.

6 credits

Medical students are responsible for making their own arrangements for an away rotation. Approval forms must be submitted to the Education and Student Affairs office for review and approval prior to leaving for the rotation. See instructions above.

6 credits

A clinical preceptorship in general surgery is offered with a specific community surgeon. 

Students are responsible for making their own arrangements.

Students participate in the evaluation of patients during office visits, perform pre- and postoperative care, as well as assist in surgery. To enroll in this course, see instructions above.

3-6 credits

Clinical experience is offered in any of the surgical specialties at OHSU or the VAMC. Students participate in supervised care of surgical patients in hospital and outpatient settings. Key principles are learned in the care of surgical patients pre- and postoperatively. To enroll in this course, see instructions above.

4-12 credits

Students participate in surgery research (arrangement made by student). At the completion of the rotation they should turn in a summary of the research performed (2-4 pages).

This should include a section on the background of the process they are studying and the question they are trying to answer. Next they should include a description of their actual research experience. This should include the methods of research project and which specific information was obtained.

The summary should also describe methods used for statistical analysis. Using preliminary data to write an abstract is encouraged.

Students should also include a plan for eventual submission and presentation of their work. To participate in this elective, see instructions above.

6 credits

Students participate in the management of complex, critically ill general surgery, vascular and transplant patients. This is a highly educational experience that combines opportunities for patient management with excellent bedside and didactic teaching. OHSU is a quaternary care center for the state of Oregon, which serves to enhance this opportunity.

6 credits

Students participate in patient care in the surgical intensive care unit and learn principles for managing severely ill, injured, and postoperative patients.

3 credits

Students spend 5-10 hours per week in discussion/didactic sessions with faculty in addition to 20-30 hours per week of clinical responsibilities.

Students will be expected to take overnight call on a schedule determined by faculty availability.

Student responsibilities include patient workups, participation in operations, and postoperative care rounds with surgical, would care, nutritional and multidisciplinary teams. Didactics and discussions will focus on topics and literature relevant to surgical nutrition.

While performing clinical duties, special emphasis will be placed on care of patients with special nutritional needs. At the completion of the rotation, students will be able to design and implement a plan for nutrition management for a patient throughout the course of their surgical condition.

6 credits

Students gain experience in clinical oncology through participation in radiotherapy and chemotherapy clinics, tumor clinic and tumor board, surgery conferences, and inpatient rounds.

3 credits

The course teaches the basic technical and patient management skills expected of any surgical intern using a hands-on approach and case-based scenarios.

It includes deliberate practice sessions of all the listed technical skills with concurrent and summary feedback provided by residents and faculty.

Emphasis is placed on preparing students to manage common problems encountered while treating ward patients. Students are asked to independently assess and form a plan of action of patient care prior to conferring with the supervising resident and then undergo mock pages as the primary contact for all non-immediate life threatening occurrences. This course is offered once per year.

6 credits

Students participate in the care of critically injured patients at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, which is one of two  Level 1 Trauma Centers in Oregon. Students make daily rounds with trauma surgeons, fellows, residents and physician assistants.

6 credits

Students participate in the care of critically injured patients at OHSU, which is one of two Level 1 Trauma Centers in Oregon. Students make daily rounds with trauma surgeons, fellows, residents and physician assistants.

This is an excellent educational experience includes multiple planned conferences to include Trauma Conference, Morbidity and Mortality Conference, and a didactic lecture series. Students have the opportunity to present a case they have managed at one of the Trauma Conferences.

3-6 credits

Students function as sub-interns on the University or VAMC vascular surgery service, which includes experience in the operating room, inpatient and outpatient work. Students gain experience treating vascular surgery patients and disease.