Jump to content
School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

M1 Electives

Registration and Dates

To register for an elective, fill out the M1 Elective Form [PDF]. (Dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, and 14, 2012.)

Please call the preceptor of the electives you are interested in to see if it will meet your educational goals.

You will receive your notice by e-mail around December 6, 2011.

Electives

Period Application Deadline Time Available
January 10, 17, 24, 31;
February 7 and 14, 2012		 December 1, 2011 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

180–OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Dr. Nadir Ahmad
Maximum Enrollment: 2
Nelson Clinic, 7th Floor
Tuesday 1:00 p.m.
Phone: 804-828-3966—Denese Straughn, Assistant to Dr. Ahmad
Phone: 804-828-3965—Stephanie Brown, Residency Program coordinator

The scope of Otolaryngology has expanded during this century from the ear, nose and throat to include most of the head and neck; otolaryngologists treat virtually all diseases and lesions above the shoulders. Specialists receive training in otology, rhinology, laryngology, allergy, head and neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and bronchoesophagology. This elective is designed to expose the student to this subspecialty by rotation with team members. You will meet with Dr. Ahmad prior to the beginning of this elective and it will be a 30 minute conversation regarding expectations while on this service and also, to give students an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. You will also have a text that you will be given and Denese Straughn will receive a few administrative tasks for you as well. You will need to call or email Denese Straughn with any questions.

Back to top

700–AN INTRODUCTION TO ANESTHESIA and LIFE SUPPORT

Dr. Jay Napoleon
Maximum Enrollment: 3
Anesthesiology, Main Hospital, 5th Floor
Tuesday, 1:00 p.m.
Phone: 804-828-9160—Sherrie Payne

Students will spend O.R., mannequin and classroom time with Dr. Napoleon and other faculty, residents and senior medical students on anesthesia electives. Topics include basic and advanced airway management, intubations, IVs, anesthesia and team-building in life-support situations.

Back to top

902–INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION (PM&R)

Dr. William McKinley
Maximum Enrollment: 8
North Hospital, 1st Floor, Room 1-059
Tuesday, 1:00 p.m.
Phone: 804-828-4233—Wanda Allen

The medical specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) utilizes an interdisciplinary team approach to maximize a patient’s medical, physical, functional and psychosocial potential. This elective is designed to give students an overview of PM&R through exposure to the broad spectrum of rehabilitation medicine areas, including:

  • Spinal cord injury
  • Brain injury
  • Stroke
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Pain
  • Other disorders

Students will rotate with the Rehabilitation Medicine team members (physicians, physical and occupational therapy and others) which will allow them to become familiar with the team approach in PM&R.

 

Back to Top

 

903 - END OF LIFE CARE

Faculty: Dr. Laurel Lyckholm

Student Leaders: Monica Quach, M2 & Morgan Vargo, M2

Objective: To provide additional education in end of life issues from palliative care, sudden or traumatic death, pediatric death, transplant considerations and other topics.

Format: A series of 6 lectures featuring guest speakers followed by a discussion session. The lectures are personal and informal with the speakers often relying on personal anecdotes of patient experiences to convey the key points. The material is informative for all medical students regardless of intended speciality as it ranges from palliative care considerations to the team based approach to end of life and the challenge in delivering bad news.

Sessions run from 12 non to 2:00 PM and lunch is provided.

If you are interested in this elective you will need to sign-up with Nancy Jackson in the Electives Office (email at nbjackso@vcu.edu). NOTE - Some of the dates for this elective have been changed to accommodate exam schedules. If you have questions concerning this elective please contact Monica Quach or Morgan Vargo.

 

Back to top

801–THE DAVID HUME SOCIETY—SURGERY

Faculty: Dr. Rahul Anand
Maximum Enrollment: 3
1:00 p.m.
Phone: 804-828-1141; Susan Haynes; schaynes@vcu.edu
E-mail: ranand@mcvh-vcu.edu

*After you have been assigned to this elective, contact Dr. Anand or his assistant Susan Haynes for preceptor location and further information.

The David Hume Society Student Surgical Interest Group is pleased to announce the creation of an elective in surgery at MCV for M1 students. In keeping with the mission of the Hume Society, this elective is intended to provide greater exposure to General Surgery in the pre-clinical years for students interested in exploring surgery as a career option. Each student will be paired one-on-one with a clinical faculty member from MCV.

Students will meet with their preceptor surgeon a minimum of once a week for a period of six weeks. Students will be exposed to pre-operative clinical evaluation of patients, diagnostic test interpretation and post-operative care at a basic level, as well as learn skills such as scrub and knot tying. Opportunities to observe surgical procedures in the O.R. may occur as schedules permit. In addition, the participants will work with colleagues at all levels of training including M3 students, residents and attending surgeons. Students will be required to attend six afternoons for elective credit, but additional O.R. clinic experience is encouraged as necessary to improve the learning experience and may be coordinated with your preceptor. Students should plan on reading the relevant anatomy and physiology prior to O.R. cases in which they are involved. Some students may be assigned to the VA Medical Center.

Participation in this elective will provide students with a preview of their clinical years as well as strengthen the knowledge and skill base prior to the surgery clerkship. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about residency and practice, as well as meet and work with leaders in clinical education at MCV.

Back to top

600–SERVICE-LEARNING IN GLOBAL HEALTH

Faculty: Steven Crossman, M.D.
Administrative Coordinator: Sharon Flores, M.S.
Phone: 804-828-9626
Fax: 804-828-5856
E-mail: scrossman@mcvh-vcu.edu

The first year elective in service-learning in global health is sponsored by the VCU Department of Family Medicine, the VCU Department of Internal Medicine and the student organization HOMBRE (Honduras Outreach Medical Brigada Relief Effort) and this elective will be for HOMBRE and Reach 4 Ghana students ONLY, unless other arrangements are made in advance with Dr. Crossman. This elective is designed to give students first-hand experience in service learning in the international setting through work in an underserved community in a developing country. Current sites are in Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Ghana. Each site where students can work has direct involvement with local community leaders who work with our teams to help prioritize need and shape the work done by the group. In addition to providing direct medical care to hundreds of patients, students will also be expected to be involved in various projects to address the broader determinants of health (e.g., water supply, education and nutrition).

Prior to traveling abroad, participants will be required to attend the core lecture series throughout the semester and to work on their project preparation.

Enrollment in this elective must be approved by Steven Crossman, M.D.

Participating Faculty:

Steve Crossman, M.D., Associate Professor of Family Medicine

Patrick Mason, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics

Mark Ryan, M.D., Assistant Professor of Family Medicine

Michael Stevens, M.D.,M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Back to top

601–M1 I2CRP Honors Elective

Mary Lee Magee, MS, Steve Crossman, M.D.
Family Medicine Conference Room, 14th Floor, West Hospital

If you are interested in this elective you will need to sign-up through Mary Lee Magee[E-mail]:Mary Lee Magee/HSC/VCU

The International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship elective for first-year medical students introduces students to key concepts in community-oriented primary care, systems-based practice, cultural competency and the social determinants of health. The elective is required for all students enrolled in the four-year I2CRP Honors Program. Enrollment is limited to 24, with preference given to I2CRP students. The elective employs a variety of teaching methods, including lecture, experiential learning, reflection, and discussion. Through individualized observation experiences, students will be introduced to a variety of service providers in the VCU Health System and the greater Richmond community. Students will then use targeted writing assignments and follow-up discussions to consider how these experiences relate to key course concepts.

Back to Top

602-M1 LAW AND MEDICINE ELECTIVE

Sean McKenna, MD, Margaret Bacigal, JD

Student Leaders: Laura Kueny, M2; Alicia Bell, M2

Objective - To help make physicians and lawyers more aware of the ways that their two fields can work together to improve the lives of their patients/clients.

Location: University of Richmond School of Law (downtown location); VCU School of Medicine

Meetings: You must attend 4 out of the 8 monthly lectures where guest speakers willdiscuss different aspects of the interaction between medicine and law, followed by round table discussion.

Practical portion - Participation in the practical portion to be an average of 1 two hour session every other month working with families in a clinical setting to determine need for legal services and enrollment in the Richmond Child Health Advocacy Program (CHAP). CHAP is a unique partnership between the VCU School of Medicine, University of Richmond School of Law, and the Legal Aid Justice Center developed to provide a means to address social and legal concerns identified in patient interactions to promote health and well-being of the pediatric patient and his/her family.

Total minimum hours will be aproximately 14 hrs over the course of the school year to get CREDIT for this elective.

If you are interested in this elective you will need to sign-up with Nancy Jackson in the Electives Office[E-mail]:nbjackso@vcu.edu - This elective would be over the course of the entire year, rather than the six dates - If you have questions concerning this elective please contact Lauren Kueny, M2.

Back to Top

603 - YOGA IMMERSION and MEDICINE

Course Directors: Meghan Richardson, M2; Lian Lim, M2; and Cynthia Leung, M2

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mary Shall

Yoga Instructor: Robbie Norris (http://richmondprivateyoga.blogspot.com/)

Enrollment: 15

Phone Number: 828-0234 - Dr. Mary Shall - email: mcvyim@gmail.com; msshall@vcu.edu

The primary objective of this elective is to educate medical students and faculty about the anatomy and physiology of yoga and its impact on health and well-being, as well as some of the clinical applications of yoga and yoga therapy. This six week long elective will consists of didactic and practical portions. Weekly classes will meet for 30-45 minute presentations followed by a 1.5 hour yoga session. Lectures will enhance students' understanding of and appreciation for yoga as a therapeutic approach, exploring concepts of anatomy, physiology related to breath, movement, neuroplasticity, and prenatal yoga. Patient presentations will discuss how daily yoga practice can impact health and disease. Just as medicine is best understood in the context of patients, yoga is best known by practice. The practical portion of the course will allow students to immerse themselves in a 6-week practice consisting of weekly practice sessions and a home practice. Taught by Robbie Norris, a prominent yoga teacher in the Richmond community, the weekly practice will focus on learning a 45 minute sequence of yoga poses. Through this, students will develop a daily practice, growing from 5 minutes a day up to 30. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on how the practice affects them: physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. This class is for all skill levels- the practice and poses are individually modifiable. As such, it can provide a challenging experience for all levels of strength and flexibility.

Schedule: January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, and March 5, 2012. All sessions are held on Monday and begin at 1:00 PM unless notified otherwise.

Back to top

904 - Disparities in health and health care

Faculty: Wally R. Smith, M.D., Scientific Director of the VCU Center on Health Disparities and Professor of Internal Medicine at the VCU School of Medicine.

Student Leader: Nathan Finnerty, Class of 2013

Objectives: To increase student awareness of the prevalence of and factors contributing to health and health care disparities in the medical profession. Participants in this elective will be better prepared to meet and mend this pressing health care crisis.

Format: Faculty from the VCU Center on Health Disparities will be conducting a series of 5 lectures addressing the magnitude of, factors contributing to, the role of the physician in, and potential solutions to the current state of disparities in health and health care administration. Students will then be required to participate in a clinical practicum intended to expose them to the disparities discussed in lecture. Ultimately, all participants will better understand their role, as health care professionals, in eliminating disparities in health and health care.

Schedule: January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7 and 14, 2012. All sessions are held on Tuesday, begin at 1:00 PM, and last from 1 to 2 hours depending on the subject.

This elective will be credited to the students' academic transcript!

Contact: If you are interested in this elective or have any questions please contact Nathan Finnerty (nmfinnerty@gmail.com).

Back to top