Preceptor: Jeffrey Lorin, M.D.
Contact: Jeffrey.Lorin@va.gov
Course Code: 04-07
Telephone: (212) 951-3398

Prerequisite: Medicine Clerkship

Clinical sites

Veterans Hospital

Description

This is a 2-week elective that seeks to build on Cardiovascular knowledge, and experiences gained in the pre-clerkship and clerkship years. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the core principles, foundational knowledge, and essential skills relevant to the specialty through exposure to pathogenesis, evaluation and management of many aspects of inpatient cardiovascular diseases. Students have the opportunity to participate in all the activities of a busy cardiac referral center including observing diagnostic and interventional catheterization procedures, observing non-invasive studies (echocardiography, cardiac MR and CT and stress testing) and consulting on inpatients under the supervision of a cardiology fellow and attending supervisor. Students will also participate in the VA Cardiology Clinic on Monday mornings. 

Objectives of the Elective

By the end of this elective, through daily contact with patients and didactics, you will:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of the field of cardiology through a broad exposure to cardiovascular diseases, thus building upon your pre-clerkship and clerkship experiences
2. Expand your skills in inpatient evaluation and management of patients with cardiovascular diseases
3. Learn about specialty-specific history and physical exams as well as the indications for, and complications of specialty-specific procedures
4. Gain knowledge regarding treatment modalities used to treat cardiovascular diseases
5. Gain insight into the interdisciplinary nature of this specialty and how our clinicians interact with other medical disciplines to provide comprehensive patient care

Key Responsibilities of the student while on Elective

By enrolling in this elective, you have agreed to:

1. Participate in at least 35 contact hours of education each week
2. Provide communication of any excused absences to the Office of Student Affairs (excused absence form) and to the elective coordinator, in a timely fashion 
3. Arrive in a timely fashion to all locations to which you are assigned  
4. Participate actively in rounds and patient care with fellows and attendings, including:
   • perform physical examination
   • gather any relevant laboratory and imaging data, and 
   • present patients to the fellow and/or consult attending     
   • follow patients to cardiology procedures/testing, whenever possible
   • read assigned print/online educational materials
   • attend onsite cardiology fellow’s didactic sessions
5. The student is expected to read the chapters on cardiology in Harrison's Textbook of Medicine or a similar text

Key Responsibilities of the preceptor/residents/faculty while you are on Elective

By accepting your enrollment in this elective, the department has agreed to:

1. Clearly communicate their expectations of you
2. Maintain a supportive clinical learning environment 
3. Ensure that you have access to a broad case mix and clinical experience  
4. Provide the education necessary for you to gain an understanding of the patients and pathology reflective of this specialty
5. Provide feedback on your clinical skills

Didactic Program

You will be a member of the inpatient cardiology consult team for a 2-week block. During that time frame you are expected to attend all didactic conferences that a cardiology fellow attends including the Core Curriculum, Clinical Case Conference, Journal Club and Cardiology Grand Rounds. You will obtain a history, perform physical exam and present patients to the cardiology fellow and the cardiology attending. You will need access to CPRS, the hospital EMR.

Method of Evaluation

Students are assessed on the basis of active engagement, participation, and medical knowledge.

Scheduling Information

Months Offered: All year
Student point of contact before start of elective: Jeffrey Lorin, MD
On day 1: Students will begin at VA at 7:30am on 11 west in the CCU for CCU rounds where the students will meet the cardiology consult fellow
Duration: 2 Weeks 
Students per elective block: 2