The student will be permitted to review and participate in the care of surgical diseases of infants and children, including the operative management of premature infants with congenital defects, pre-/postoperative care in the neonatal unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and diagnostic radiology in acute pediatric surgical disease. The student will be introduced to the delicate techniques and manipulative skills necessary in the care of these patients.

The elective is designed to acquaint the student with the basic principles of plastic and reconstructive surgery including burns, cosmetic surgery, and trauma to extremities. Also included is an introduction to the principles of microsurgery. The student observes as well as participates in the pre-, post-operative and follow-up for such patients.

This elective exposes the medical student to patients with diseases of the vascular system including peripheral arterial occlusive disease, carotid stenosis, diseases of the venous and lymphatic system. The student will gain advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology of these diseases and the workup and management. The student will learn to evaluate these patients clinically, using non-invasive tests such as Duplex and invasive evaluation including angiography. The student will see and take care of vascular patients and this includes initial evaluation, management plan and participating in the treatment endovascular or operative. The student will follow these patients postoperatively in the intensive care until discharged.

This elective is designed to expose the students to the specialty of neurosurgery. The student will be exposed to both outpatient and inpatient care. During this rotation the student will have the opportunity to participate in the management of patients with various neurosurgical diseases including brain tumors, aneurysms, and disorders of the spine. The student will also have strong exposure to neurosurgical trauma including operative management of intracranial bleedings and management of increased intracranial pressure. The student will actively participate in the patient's care pre-, intra- and postoperatively and make daily rounds with the neurosurgery service both on the floor and in the intensive care.

By direct involvement in the clinical practice, the 4th year student will be exposed to cancer patients at all stages of presentation, during treatment and surveillance, and at relapse and or with advanced disease. A series of didactic lectures regarding basic principles in oncology, screening recommendations, and clinical and pathologic staging supplements the office and bedside evaluation of cancer patients so that the objectives of understanding adult cancer issues as listed above can be met. Patients are referred to the surgical oncology division and will be evaluated by the 4th year student in the presence of the surgical oncology division Faculty. Thorough history evaluation, review of previously obtained imaging studies and laboratory results, and review of previously obtained pathology slides will be incorporated into a general discussion for that particular patient's cancer or tumor. The 4th year student will be directly involved in patient discussions regarding evaluation and treatment. There will be a continuity of care inasmuch as pathology slides are reviewed, ordered imaging studies are reviewed and applied to ongoing or definitive decision making, and the 4th year student will have the opportunity to evaluate patients on the hospital wards and during return visits to the clinical office practice. The close shadowing relationship with division of surgical oncology Faculty allows for a comprehensive experience and continuity. The 4th year student will be present during office practice hours on specific days including Monday afternoon at the VA Medical Center, Tuesday morning at the Texas Tech Office Practice, and Thursday afternoon at the Texas Tech Office.

This elective is designed to expose the 4th year medical student to and educate him/her in all aspects of female breast disease. The student will participate in the outpatient clinics evaluating patients and participate in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant disease. The student will assist on breast biopsies in the outpatient clinic and will assist at hospital operative procedures. The student will spend time with the medical oncologist in the outpatient setting and at the Infusion Center. The student will also spend time at the Breast Imaging Center assisting with mammography and ultrasound.

This course is designed to provide MS4 students who intend to match to a surgical residency position to prepare for their Internship year. The course is based on the ACS/APDS/ASE Entering Surgery Resident Prep Curriculum and includes numerous sessions scheduled in the simulation center. The curriculum has been developed as a “finishing curriculum” to provide students with practical information and experience in tasks that they will be expected to perform as a beginning intern. Some examples of skills covered include order writing, performing patient hand-offs, handling emergency patient scenarios, performing surgical procedures and managing surgical patients. The course will also address issues related to professionalism, communication skills, evidence based medicine and systems processes.

Enter the exciting world of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma! This elective exposes the fourth year medical student to the most critically ill and injured surgery patients. The student will be an integral part of the acute care surgical team, anesthesia, and other departments, led by residents and an attending physician. This team uses a multidisciplinary approach to take care of patients from the time they are admitted until their discharge from the acute care unit. The medical students will be assigned patients appropriate for their level of training and under the direct supervision of the attending physician. They will learn to thoroughly evaluate the overall condition of the patient, develop a management plan, and get experience in executing the plan, including performing several bedside procedures. The student may be expected to round twice a day with the attending and the team, attend daily multidisciplinary conferences and take in-house call twice a week including one weekend day. The student may participate in additional educational activities including ICU lectures, morning report, Morbidity and Mortality conferences and Ground Rounds within the Departments of Surgery. The medical students will be evaluated by faculty or resident members of the acute care surgery department twice throughout the duration of the course which will include one midpoint evaluation to track progress and a final assessment. The grade will focus on medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice.

Through the direct pairing with a practicing Clinical Faculty Thoracic Surgeon the student will participate as a member of this team in the provision of inpatient and outpatient care, and emergency department and o9peratig room activities. This elective will provide the student an exposure to the gamut of basic principles of surgical evaluation, diagnosis and management as well as those principles specific to the clinical techniques of diagnosis and surgical management of congenital and acquired cardiothoracic disease.

This elective exposes the fourth year medical student to the most critically ill and injured surgery patients. The student will be an integral part of a team of residents from surgery, anesthesia and other departments, led by an attending specialized in intensive care medicine. Medical student will be assigned patients appropriate for their level of training and under direct supervision of the attending, will learn to thoroughly evaluate their overall condition, develop a management plan, and get experience in executing the plan including performing several bedside procedures. The student is expected to round twice a day with the attending and the team, attend daily multidisciplinary conference and take in house call once a week including one weekend day. The student is expected to participate in educational activities including ICU lectures, M&M and Ground Rounds within the Department of Surgery.

The student will serve as an extern on the surgical service and participate in the care of surgical patients in the emergency room, surgical wards, operating room, and clinic. Pre- and post-operative care and the management of patients in the Surgical Intensive Care units will be stressed. Assignments to selected clinical faculty preceptors are also available. Students will take in-house call.

During this rotation, the fourth year medical student will become intimately involved with the management and care of burn patients ranging from the most severe injury with life threatening burns to the less severe, both adult and pediatric patients.

The Neurological Surgery Sub-I elective offers fourth year medical students with a strong interest in the Neurological Surgery subspecialty, an opportunity to acquire and assimilate advanced clinical responsibilities at an intern level, by exposure to neurological patients in various settings: inpatient, outpatient, and operating room. This four-week elective rotation will provide an educational curriculum that emphasizes teaching of fundamental concepts of total patient care. The sub-intern will be assigned to a faculty mentor.

This course will expose 4th year medical students to the field of colon and rectal surgery. They will have the opportunity to participate in the outpatient clinic as well as procedures. Procedures will include colonoscopies, benign anorectal cases, advanced laparoscopy, as well as large open abdominal surgeries.

The student will observe and participate in all phases of radiological diagnosis to include fluoroscopy, plain film interpretation, special procedures, nuclear imaging, diagnostic ultrasound, and computed tomography where available. A large number and variety of patients are available at the affiliated teaching hospitals.

This rotation exposes the fourth-year medical student to the most critically ill patients with neurological pathology. The student will be an integral part of a team from neurosurgery, anesthesia, and other departments, led by an attending physician. Medical students will be assigned patients appropriate for their level of training. The students will learn to thoroughly evaluate the overall condition of the patient and develop and implement a management plan. The students will become familiar with common neurological conditions including vascular pathology and hemorrhage, closed and open head trauma, and increased intracranial pressure, as well as neuro-oncology and management of intracranial pressure monitors and external ventricular drains. Additionally, the student will become familiar with common ICU management practices including central lines, arterial lines, and ventilator management. The student will be expected to round daily with the attending and the team. The student may participate in additional educational activities within the Departments of Surgery including ICU lectures, Morbidity and Mortality conferences and Grand Rounds.