Chair/David W. Mercer, M.D.
Olabisi Sheppards, M.D., MS4 Director
Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718
Room 4536 MSB
Please review the elective catalog for a list of available courses.
Fourth year elective rotations are designed to engage the student integrate their knowledge of anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical decision making. Rotations involve experiences in the outpatient clinic setting, inpatient wards, operating room and procedural areas. Each elective allows for graduate responsibility in patient care to progress to functioning at the level of an intern.
Completing a surgery elective during Phase 3 will contribute to your education and development as a physician, regardless of your chosen specialty. Students who chose the General Surgery Career Specialty Track will be required to complete the three electives in surgery, with one completed after January of the senior year.
SURG 710 PLASTIC SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
This elective experience is designed to expose senior students to the principles of plastic surgery and possibly enhance any interest they may have in the field. Areas of focus include general plastic surgery, cosmetic and aesthetic surgery, breast reconstruction, pediatric craniofacial, facial trauma, burn and wound. The student will be expected for daily rounds, elective and occasionally emergency operations. Overnight on-call with the senior surgical resident on the service would be beneficial. Students will be expected to give a 15 minute indications presentation in their last week of the rotation.
Instructor: Dr. Hollins, Dr. Miller, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Figy, Dr. Wong, Dr. Hon, and Dr. Yang.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718, Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 720 UROLOGY CLERKSHIP 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
Students are active participants in the team caring for patients. Students will be exposed to genitor-urinary tract disease recognition, diagnosis, and therapy and be encouraged to partake fully in the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative management of these patients. Students are expected to give a clinical case study presentation during didactic conference during the month rotation. This case will be approved by a faculty advisor prior to presentation. Students will participate in 2-3 hrs of didactics/conferences a week including morbidity and mortality, tumor board, radiology, indications, and other educational conferences.
Instructor: Dr. LaGrange, Dr. Deibert, and Dr. Hill.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: By arrangement
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSAS. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 722 PEDIATRIC SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
On the pediatric surgical service, students will have the opportunity to see firsthand the physiology, pathology, and surgical care of a variety of surgical problems, from newborns up to adulthood. Students will have the opportunity to follow patients from the clinic, admission, scrub into their OR case, and follow them postoperatively. There are weekly pediatric surgical teaching conferences as well as weekly multidisciplinary conferences that the students will participate in. Students may be asked to give a presentation at a conference based on a patient they cared for during their rotation. Students are expected to come in on one day each weekend.
Instructor: Drs. Hanna, Thomas, and Zarroug
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 725 CARDIAC SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
During this elective, the student will function as a sub-intern. Students will participate in the pre-operative clinic evaluation of cardiac surgical patients, the surgical procedures, and the post-operative management. At the end of this rotation, the student should have an understanding of the diagnostic procedures used in evaluation cardiac and pulmonary disease, indications and contraindications for surgery, a thorough acquaintance with intra-operative cardiopulmonary bypass and post-operative cardiac intensive care unit management including mechanical ventilation, pharmacological agents utilized in the care of cardiac patients and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The student will be expected to be available for daily rounds, weekly conferences, elective and occasionally emergent operations (i.e. transplants). Overnight call is not typically necessary.
Instructor: Drs. Moulton, Siddique, Um, Castleberry, B. Duncan, and K. Duncan.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 726 ORAL SURGERY CLERKSHIP 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
During this elective, the student will function as a sub-intern. This elective is designed to expose the medical student to the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). The student will participate in all aspects of patient care including surgical evaluation and management of facial, head, and neck trauma, orthognathic (jaw) surgery, TMJ surgery, facial reconstruction, dentoalveolar surgery (third molar extractions), endosseous implants, and ambulatory management of patients. The student will have the opportunity to improve their head and neck anatomy and participate hands-on with suturing, administration of local anesthesia intraorally, and engage in regular didactic case conferences and grand rounds. Training to become an OMF surgeon includes doctorate degrees in both medicine and dentistry along with completion of a surgical residency. The student will gain exposure to the broad scope of practice of an OMFS - which includes facial reconstructive and trauma surgery, orthognathic surgery, dentoalveolar surgery, cosmetic surgery, oral, head, temporomandibular joint surgery, cleft lip/palate surgery, endosseous implant surgery, obstructive sleep apnea management and surgery, nerve repair, and more. Objectives for the student at the end of the four-weeks are to: 1) develop skills of pre-operative, operative, and post-operative patient management, 2) enrich their didactic surgical knowledge and head and neck anatomy, 3) improve hands-on surgical skills by participating in all aspects of care, and 4) understand how oral and maxillofacial surgery integrates within the tertiary care healthcare system.
Instructor: Drs. Desa, Untrauer, Tucker, and Ruskin.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 727 THORACIC SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
During this elective, the student will function as a sub-intern. They will participate in the pre-operative evaluation of thoracic surgical patients, the surgical procedures, and the post-operative management of these patients. At the end of this rotation, the student should have an understanding of the diagnostic procedures used in evaluation of thoracic and pulmonary disease, indications and contraindications for surgery in these patients, radiologic and pathologic evaluation of thoracic malignancy, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and ventilator management, as well as a familiarity with pharmacological agents utilized in the care of these patients.
Instructor: Drs. Lackner, Trujillo, and Berkheim.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 2.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 728 GENERAL SURGERY IN AFFILIATED HOSPITALS 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
Services: Methodist: Drs. Reilly, Winterstein, Buda, Dittrick, Carson, Kolkman, White, Grams, Patel, and Poole. Students selecting an elective at Methodist Hospital will be assigned to the General Service. This will include exposure to GI, Minimally invasive and Robotic, Bariatric, Breast and GI Oncology Surgery. Hospital assignments are made through the Department of Surgery. Private Colorectal Surgery (CRS): Dr. Beaty. Students selecting an elective at Methodist Hospital will be assigned to a teaching service of their choice when possible; however, in the interest of optimal educational experiences, it may be necessary to assign students to unfilled positions. Hospital assignments are made through the Department of Surgery.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 729 GEN SURGERY-VA 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with emergent and elective surgical diseases including benign and malignant hepatopancreaticobiliary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous disorders. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating, room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team.
Instructor: Drs. Carlson, Rivard, Murante, and deRosa.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 730 LIVER TRANSPLANT SURG 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
This elective is recommended to all students interested in a career in surgery with a special interest in solid organ transplantation. Students will function as a sub intern for the transplant patients only and will be intimately involved in all phases of the transplantation procedure; both donor and recipient operation, pre- and post-operative management and regulation of immunosuppressive drugs. Students will be exposed to patients undergoing liver transplant. In addition, all general surgical procedures on transplant patients and hepatobiliary operations will be a part of the rotation. The student must be available at all times throughout the rotation due to the unpredictable nature of transplantation.
Instructor: Drs. Langnas, Grant, Mercer, Vargas, and Merani.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 741 COLORECTAL SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to colorectal surgery. Student will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with benign and malignant conditions of the lower gastrointestinal tract including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, benign anorectal disorders, and screening or diagnostic colonoscopy. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team.
Instructor: Drs. Thompson, Langenfeld, and Leinecke.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 742 MINIMALLY INVASIVE AND BARIATRIC SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, specifically bariatric, foregut and hernia surgery. Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with complex upper gastrointestinal tract disorders, including bariatric, foregut, and hernia surgery. The student will be expected to be an active participant in all areas where patients are evaluated, including clinic, Emergency Medicine, and in the perioperative period. Prior to the conclusion of this rotation the student will be responsible for preparing a formal case presentation to all members of the team, which should focus on an interesting case that the students was involved in during the rotation.
Instructor: Drs. Haskin, McBride, Kothari, Murante, and Tanner.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 743 VASCULAR SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to vascular surgery. Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with vascular disease to include carotid stenosis, aortic and visceral aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, arterial embolic occlusive disease, venous thrombosis and venous insufficiency using open and endovascular techniques. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating, room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team.
Instructor: Drs. Longo, Johanning, MacTaggart, Baxter, Pipinos, Cook, and J.R. Thompson.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 744 GASTROINTESTINALI SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to gastrointestinal surgical oncology. Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with malignancy of the gastrointestinal and hepatopancreaticobiliary systems including esophageal, gastric, small bowel, colorectal, hepatic, pancreatic, and perineal carcinomatosis. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating, room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team.
Instructor: Drs. Are, Foster, Ly, Padussis, Reames, and Mammen.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 745 BREAST, ENDOCRINE, CUTANEOUS SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to the surgical management of benign and malignant breast and endocrine disease and cutaneous malignancy. Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with benign and malignant breast, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreatic diseases along with management of cutaneous malignancy. The rotation functions in a preceptor model with the student assigned to specific Attendings for 2 weeks each to increase continuity and depth of exposure. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating, room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team as well as attending weekly tumor board conferences. One weekend of call/rounding are expected during the four week rotation. No overnight call is assigned.
Instructor: Drs. Fingeret, Shank, Maxwell, Santamaria, and D. Ly.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 746 SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to the management of critically ill surgical patients. Student will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with critical illness. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the surgical intensive care unit including management of critically ill patients who require hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, and have organ dysfunction or failure. Students will participate in daily morning reports and team rounds. Students will observe and may perform procedures under direct supervision including venous and arterial line placement, bronchoscopy, intubation and ultrasonography. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team. It is recommended the student take at least 3 call shifts during their time on the service. This will allow the student the opportunity to see and experience all aspects of the Trauma and Acute Care Surgical specialty. Call shifts will be assigned at the beginning of the rotation.
Instructor: Drs. Cantrell, Evans, Bauman, Sheppard, Kamien, Goede, Waibel, Terzian, Hamill, Josef Berning, Cemaj, Buesing, and Kemp.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 747 TRAUMA SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
A Nebraska faculty intensivist alternates regularly with a Creighton faculty intensivist on the VA CCM team, so depending on the rotation you may not be supervised by a UNMC faculty member. This course may have additional credentialing requirements for the Omaha Veteran's Affairs Hospital. Objectives: Evaluate and assist in management of patients with acute presentations of common medical problems; Describe ventilator changes required for a patient on mechanical ventilation based on ABG interpretation; Define the various types of shock and describe their management; Categorize the variety of vasoactive medications and their use in clinical situations. This sub-internship offers opportunity for participation in the management of acutely ill patients, working closely with an ICU supervisory resident, the pulmonary and critical care fellow, and attending physician. As a sub-internship, clinical expectations will include primary responsibility for all patients assigned to their care, writing a note each day on their patients to be cosigned by the supervising resident and attending physician, active participation on rounds, and the option of taking in-house overnight call, with their supervising resident. Learning objectives for this rotation include management of respiratory failure, acute coronary syndrome, acute and chronic renal failure and hyperglycemia among others. The students will be expected to learn interpretations of chest radiograph and common dysrhythmias. They will participate in bedside procedures and they will be expected to be able to evaluate and recognize patients with a variety of life-threatening disorders and participate in their management. The student will be expected to attend any scheduled didactic lectures and engage in self-learning activities to expand their medical knowledge of the evaluation and management of critically ill patients. Honors work will require enthusiasm and initiative, as well as student presentations to the CCM team of clinical topics related to their patients' problems. This ICU rotation is appropriate for a motivated student seeking a moderate intensity of critical care medicine. Activity Hours/Week: Rounds-10, Didactic conferences-5, Independent learning-3 - Review literature related to patient problems, Research project-0, Independent patient care-0, Procedures-Based on student interest and competency. Any leave requests, either for residency interviews or other needs should be cleared with the attending physician by calling the contact number above.
Instructor: Drs. Cantrell, Evans, Bauman, Sheppard, Kamien, Goede, Waibel, Terzian, Hamill, Josef, Berning, Cemaj, Buesing, and Kemp.
Contact: Chelsea Hug for Attending Schedule, 402-559-4087).
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 748 EMERGENCY GENERAL SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a more in-depth exposure to the management of emergent general surgery conditions. Students will be expected to function as sub-interns on the service, including the pre and post-operative management of patients with a variety of acute non-traumatic surgical diseases including but not limited to bowel obstruction, visceral perforation, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, and diverticulitis. The student will be expected to be an active participant in the clinic, operating room, and emergency department settings. The student will be responsible for preparing a clinical conference for formal presentation to all members of their team. Weekday, night and weekend shifts will be assigned. It is recommended the student take at least 3 call shifts during their time on the service. This will allow the student the opportunity to see and experience all aspects of the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery specialty. Call shifts will be assigned at the beginning of the rotation.
Instructor: Drs. Cantrell, Evans, Bauman, Sheppard, Kamien, Goede, Waibel, Terzian, Hamill, Josef, Berning, Cemaj, Buesing, and Kemp.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 749 KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
This elective is recommended to students interested in a career in surgery with a special interest in solid organ transplantation. Student will be expected to function as sub-interns for kidney transplant patients only and will be intimately involved in all phases of the transplantation procedure; both donor and recipient operation, pre and post-operative management and regulation of immunosuppressive drugs. Students will be exposed to patients undergoing kidney and pancreatic transplant. In addition, all general surgical procedures on transplant patients will be a part of the rotation. The student must be available at all times throughout the rotation due to the unpredictable nature of transplantation.
Instructor: Drs. Maskin, Hoffman, and Merani.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn, M4 Student Coordinator, 402-559-4718 Room 4536 MSB.
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: 1.
Visiting Student Information: Visiting Students are not to contact faculty or clinical departments prior to acceptance through VSLO. Doing so is considered a professional breach and may disqualify the student from being offered a rotation.
SURG 750 SURGERY GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ELECTIVE 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
The course offers students the opportunity to participate in a health care setting in a foreign country. Students' responsibilities, performed under the supervision of trained medical personnel, may include work in clinics and hospitals; home visits with community health workers, and health education. In addition, the student will also participate in a brief orientation and debriefing on campus.
Contact: Sara Pirtle, International Health and Medical Education (402-559-2924) And Beverly Vaughn (402-559-4718).
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: By arrangement.
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 760 OFF CAMPUS ELECTIVE 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
Special off-campus electives at other medical centers can be arranged for an extraordinary learning experience not regularly available within the department. An Off-Campus Elective Application form must be submitted for this experience. The primary concern is to identify a responsible and acceptable faculty-in-absentia who can assure an active clerkship and offer an evaluation of performance. A student evaluation of this clerkship will be required upon completion.
Prerequisite: Off-Campus Approval form completed
Contact: Beverly Vaughn; bvaughn@unmc.edu; 402-559-4718; UT3 1336 (Zip 1045)
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: Variable Location: Variable
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 766 PRECEPTORIAL SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
Many members of the active faculty have indicated a willingness to share a preceptorial clerkship with a student. The list of faculty is maintained in the Department of Surgery. This involves surgeons on our faculty in active practice in Council Bluffs, O'Neill, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff and Omaha and can be arranged with the member of the faculty and certified by the Department of Surgery. Positions are available at Lincoln Veterans Administration Hospital. Bear in mind that each member of the faculty will set their own individual student limit. A responsible and acceptable faculty-in-absentia, who can assure an active clerkship and offer an evaluation of performance, must be identified prior to approval. An evaluation of the student's performance will be required upon completion and the student is responsible for assuring that the department receives the evaluation.
Contact: Beverly Vaughn; bvaughn@unmc.edu; 402-559-4718; UT3 1336 (Zip 1045)
Typically Offered: Each four weeks.
Capacity: Variable Location: Variable
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.
SURG 790 RESEARCH GEN SURGERY 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
This elective offers students an opportunity to work with faculty members in clinical investigations of surgical disease in ongoing bench research projects. Definitions of problems and programs of learning will be decided upon discussion with faculty. A letter from your PI is required before approval will be given for this course.
Prerequisite: Pre-arranged with designated faculty
Contact: Beverly Vaughn; bvaughn@unmc.edu; 402-559-4718; UT3 1336 (Zip 1045)
Typically Offered: Each four weeks
Capacity: Variable
Visiting Student Information: This course is NOT available to visiting students.