Note: K, S, and A, with corresponding numbers in parentheses (e.g., K1, S2, A4), refer to Weill Cornell Medical College’s Educational Objectives of the program leading to the MD degree found at http://weill.cornell.edu/education/curriculum/edu_obj.html.

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:


1. K6, K7, K8 Discuss the overall spectrum of surgical illnesses (e.g., diverticulitis, biliary disease, liver disease, colorectal cancer, breast disease, and peripheral vascular disease) and the important steps in the decision process for treating these conditions.


2. K5, K7 Explain the physiology of an acutely injured patient, distinguishing whether this injury is a result of trauma, burns, infection, or the surgery itself.


3. K8 Identify the basic principles governing wound care, suturing, and management of tissue infections (e.g., the decision-making involved in determining when an infection needs drainage vs. when antibiotics alone are sufficient).


4. K3, K5, K8 Recognize the role of nutritional support in treating severely ill patients.


5. K8, A5 Identify clinical situations when consultations should be made with physicians from major surgical subspecialties (e.g., Urology, Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, ENT, Orthopedic surgery, Transplant Surgery, and Neurosurgery).


6. S9 Explain basic procedures that are essential to critical care (i.e., central lines, intubations, chest tubes).


Skills:


7. S4, S5 Perform a complete history and physical examination on patients hospitalized for surgical illnesses.


8. S11 Write a complete admission note for patients being hospitalized for surgical illnesses.


9. S11 Write clear and cogent daily notes for patients hospitalized for surgical illnesses.


10. S1, S5 Assess an acute abdomen.


Attitudes:


11. A5, A6 Function as a collaborative member of the surgical team.


12. A3, A4, A6 Demonstrate professionalism in interactions with patients, families, and members of the surgical team.

How Learning Objectives are Assessed
Methods for assessing student achievement of course learning objectives include the following: 1) direct observation and evaluation by team members; 2) written case logs (either in electronic or paper format); 3) presentations at conferences on surgical problems, including case outlines and literature reviews; 4) an oral examination; and 4) a written examination. Please refer to the course syllabus for more specific details on grading.