Preceptor: Karen Hopkins, MD and Hugh Bases, MD
Telephone: (212) 263-7455

Prerequisites: Pediatric Clerkship

Description

Developmental–Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) is the subspecialty of Pediatrics concerned with the diagnosis/assessment of children and adolescents with suspected developmental disabilities and/or behavioral issues, and the management of affected patients.  This elective will acquaint the student with aspects of DBP from a clinical standpoint. Children and adolescents with the following conditions are typically evaluated and managed by DBP: Autism Spectrum Disorder, language delays and disorders, school failure and learning problems, genetic syndromes, ADHD, Intellectual Disability, temperamental variations, externalizing and internalizing conditions, sleep problems, feeding problems, somatoform disorders, elimination problems, and neuromuscular diseases.

Students will see patients in the Bellevue Hospital Center Developmental, School-Age Behavior and  Complex Medication outpatient clinics, an NYU Langone-based outpatient DBP practice, the Pediatric Rehabilitation clinic at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and the Neonatal Comprehensive Care Program (NCCP) at Kimmel.  On occasion, DBP performs consults on in-patients (at Kimmel and Bellevue Hospitals), and any student on elective would accompany the DBP Fellow to the consult. Students will also participate in conferences of the DB Pediatric service, visit a preschool for typically developing children, and observe a parent-child group for young children with language delays.  

Through these experiences, students will be exposed to the common and sometimes uncommon conditions that are seen by DBP. In addition, students will have an opportunity to improve skills in family counseling, and will gain an understanding of family, social, and school issues for children with developmental conditions.  The roles of the many professionals involved with assessing and/or treating affected children and families are presented, and students will gain an understanding of how a multidisciplinary team functions.

Objectives of the Elective

Students will:

1. improve their skills for taking an extended history/intake assessment.
2. improve their skills in the general physical examination and neurologic examination of children and adolescents.
3. gain exposure to and use basic developmental/academic screening procedures for young children and the school-aged child, and gain exposure to the use of more comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment tools.
4. gain exposure to basic principles of genetic transmission and molecular basis of diseases that can lead to developmental disabilities.
5. gain exposure to the needs of the physically handicapped child through a hands-on experience.
6. understand the importance and role of early literacy promotion in a young child’s development.
7. gain exposure and understand the role that psychopharmacology plays in helping to manage difficult behaviors.
8. gain an understanding of the typical patterns of development in a former preterm or critically resident through observing the neonatologist, psychologist, DB Pediatrician and occupational therapist in the follow up of high-risk infants.
9. observe typically developing children in a social and educational environment.
10. gain an understanding of the types of simple enrichment activities for families to engage in at home to enhance a young child’s potential, through observation and participation in an enrichment group for toddlers at risk for developmental delay and their caregivers. 

Key Responsibilities of the student while on Elective

Students will participate in inpatient and outpatient consultation/evaluation/follow-up management sessions, as well as sessions with Reach Out and Read, The Early Learning Group, and Edu-Care (day care center on site at Bellevue Hospital). Students will also participate in weekly clinical didactic conferences with DBP Fellows and the Pediatric residents on DBP rotation. A schedule will be created to suit the student’s needs.

In addition, students are responsible for a brief presentation on a case with an accompanying review or research article related to the condition involved.

Didactic Program:

Students will participate in inpatient and outpatient consultation/evaluation/follow-up management sessions, as well as sessions with Reach Out and Read, The Early Learning Group, and Edu-Care (day care center on site at Bellevue Hospital). Students will also participate in weekly clinical didactic conferences with DBP Fellows and the Pediatric residents on DBP rotation. A schedule will be created to suit the student’s needs. In addition, students are responsible for a brief presentation on a case with an accompanying review or research article related to the condition involved.

Method of Evaluation:

The Director of the DBP elective will receive feedback from the DBP faculty and Fellows, and students will be evaluated on the following:

• obtaining a comprehensive developmental history.
• performing a basic screening assessment in the outpatient setting.
• capturing the encounter accurately and succinctly in a clinical note.
• the quality of his or her presentation at a conference.

Scheduling Information:

Months Offered: Apr-May, Sept-Feb
Need to contact DBP director at least 2 months prior to desired start date to arrange schedule.
Duration: 4 weeks
Report To: Contact DB Fellows 1 week-10 days prior to start date.
Students per Period: 1