Elective Opportunities (MS IV)

The Acting Internship in Emergency Medicine at University Hospital is a four week elective. Students will function as an acting intern in the Department of Emergency Medicine under the direct supervision of the Emergency Department attending. Students will have the opportunity to perform initial patient contact and evaluation, formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plan, and then discuss the case with the attending physician. The student will be exposed to the entire gamut of adult emergency department problems, ranging from the worried well to the critically ill or injured. University Hospital is a Level I trauma center, with approximately 50,000 patient visits per year. Other activities include a lecture series designed specifically for the students, weekly conferences attended by residents and students, prehospital experience with Rural/Metro Ambulance, night call, weekend call, introduction to the Poison Control Center (PCC), and introduction to the Pediatric Emergency Department. Reading materials are borrowed from the department. Evaluations for the course are based on daily interaction with staff and a written exam. (EMED 1302)

The second elective available is an Acting Internship in the Pediatric Emergency Department. The student will function as an acting intern within the Pediatric Emergency Department working under the direct supervision of the Pediatric Attending. There are regular lectures, seminars and conferences to be attended by the student. Weekend and evening calls are included. Evaluation of performance is based on daily workups, seminar, and conference presentations. (EMED 1309)

There are two electives in Emergency Medicine available at community hospitals affiliated with SUNY HSC, including Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital, and Upstate University Hospital at Community Campus. These can be set up through the Registrar's office.

Clinical Toxicology. Weekly activities include morning rounds, lectures, seminars, and conferences, inpatient contacts and prevention activities. The student will participate in CNY Poison Control Center and learn about the epidemiology of accidental and intentional poisonings in children and adults. Students will be responsible for following assigned cases from professionals regarding poisoning incidents and interacting on rounds. One to two poison related projects will also be assigned. Evaluation based on seminars, conference presentations and review of telephone skills at the PCC.

Students will work with EM faculty and ultrasonographeis to gain better understanding of ultrasound and how it relates to the practice of Emergency Medicine. They will learn the common ultrasounds performed in the ED & the indications for obtaining them. In addition they will complete a presentation or project relating to ultrasound which will be approved by the course director.

The student will rotate in the Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care Center at SUNY Upstate University Hospital. Clinic hours are Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm. The medical student will gain basic exposure to dive medicine, clinical hyperbaric medicine and problem wound management. They will be overseen by an attending physician and fellow in UHM (undersea and hyperbaric medicine). The student will participate in hyperbaric medicine consultations, wound care consultations, and ongoing wound care revisits. The student will oversee the daily hyperbaric oxygen treatments including assessment of any patient complications. The student will also have the option to take some home call for emergencies in hyperbaric medicine. Finally, the student will be expected to attend Wednesday morning teaching rounds and UHM fellowship lectures from 8am-10am. The Director of Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care will oversee the elective.

The goal of this elective experience is to provide senior level medical students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of educating with simulation. The student will have the opportunity to practice applying these concepts by teaching various learners under the supervision of experienced faculty educators. During the elective, the student will develop a simulation scenario. The student will learn to use and program their scenario with the high fidelity simulation mannequins. The elective will be based at the department’s EMSTAT Center, a state of the art immersive simulation-learning environment.