Departments of Instruction

Division of Pediatric Surgery

The Division of Pediatric Surgery provides the opportunity for third- and fourth-year students, as well as anesthesia, family practice, pediatric, and surgical housestaff to serve on its clinical service. Third-year students spend time on the pediatric surgical service during their core clerkship in surgery. During this time, they are exposed to many of the surgical problems of childhood, congenital defects, traumatic injuries, and patients with childhood malignancies. Teaching sessions include a weekly residents’ conference and division grand rounds. The division’s ambulatory clinics are an integral part of the teaching program.  The students and residents interact daily with the Pediatric Surgery fellow, who is responsible for managing the service.

Fourth-year students may elect to spend one month in the division, where they function as acting interns. Particular attention is paid to the patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care units. In addition, both parenteral and enteral nutrition are emphasized, and fourth-year students are given the direct responsibility of administering these therapies under close supervision. Students also may rotate with the sections of pediatric urology or plastic surgery.

Residents from the general surgery program routinely are assigned to the pediatric surgical division. Elective time for residents in other training programs is provided. The responsibility of these residents is centered on pre- and post-operative diagnosis and care, nutritional therapy, and technical capabilities such as vascular access in the pediatric patient.