Rotation Director Gene D. McGahren, M.D.

Attendings: Brad Rodgers, M.D 

                  Bartholomew Kane, M.D.  

                  Sara Rasmussen, M.D.

The Pediatric Surgery Service is a division of the Department of General Surgery.  There are two full-time attending Pediatric Surgeons; Bradley M. Rodgers MD (Professor and Chief of Division), and Eugene D. McGahren MD (Professor), and Sara K. Rasmussen MD (Assistant Professor). The team of residents usually consists of a Categorical General Surgery Resident in his/her 4^th year and three junior residents.  The 4^th year Resident is the Chief Resident of the service and rotates for a three-month period.  The junior residents are usually a 1^st or 2^nd year Surgery resident (categorical or preliminary), a 1^st year Pediatrics resident, and a 1^st year Emergency Room resident.  There are also 1 or 2 third year medical students on a rotation that lasts four weeks.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this rotation the medical student is expected to be able to:

1. Describe the embryology, normal development, common congenital anomalies, and presentations of pediatric surgical conditions.
2. Describe the normal physiology of children of different ages.
3. Evaluate pediatric patients and begin treatment of those with surgical conditions, trauma victims, and critically ill patients.  Also be able to recognize when a presenting patient does not have surgical condition, and institute appropriate treatment plan or appropriate consultation.
4. Develop and refine an understanding of the surgical management of pediatric surgical  patients. 
5. Interact effectively with members of the Pediatrics teams and sub specialists in the care of children.
6. Demonstrate professional behavior in carrying out all activities responsibly, adhering to ethical principles, and remaining sensitive and respectful of all patients and colleagues.

Responsibilities:

The medical student is expected to participate in all educational and patient care activities while on this service. The pediatric team is responsible for the overall management of patient care on the service.  This involves but is not limited to:

1. Twice daily ward rounds for patient evaluation and management.  This involves supervision of the junior residents in these functions as well.  The on-call attending participates in the afternoon rounds every day for teaching and supervision purposes.
2. Evaluation of each admission and consult.
3. Participation in operative cases according to his/her abilities and always with attending presence.  You should be completely prepared for every OR case prior to scrubbing in.  This means that you have reviewed the patient's history and know the results of all laboratory, radiology, and pathology studies.  In addition you will be expected to read about the patient's disease process, the treatment options, and the details of the proposed surgery, including relevant anatomy and the surgical techniques involved.
4. Attend Pediatric Surgery outpatient clinics held by each attending when not occupied in the OR or with emergencies.
5. Evaluate pre and post-operative patients in conjunction with the attending.
6. Organization of weekly teaching conference.

The Chief Resident is the key conduit of information to the attending staff and should communicate with at least the call attending each morning regarding the entire service. It is desirable that s/he also contact the other attendings to discuss their patients. It is imperative that there should be ongoing communication with the appropriate attending(s) about any new patients, active management issues, or any significant changes in patient courses. In addition, appropriate sign-outs to other residents who will be covering the Pediatric Service in his/her absence is critical.