Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine -- Hematology/Oncology - Rochester

Description:

This flexible elective introduces students to diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the common hematologic and oncologic conditions of children and adolescents. The facilities at Mayo Eugenia Litta Children's Hospital, the Special Coagulation laboratory, the Blood Bank, Hemato Pathology laboratory, and the Pediatric Oncology Clinics are utilized.

Specific Goals:

Depending on the components of the elective, students should develop an understanding in the following areas in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology:

1. COAGULATION
   1. Hemostatic mechanisms
   2. Use of clinical tests of hemostasis
   3. Diagnosis and management of coagulopathies
      1. Hemophilia's and von Willebrand's Disease
      2. Thrombotic diathesis
      3. Platelet abnormalities
2. BLOOD BANKING
   1. Blood Groups
   2. Appropriate use of red cell and platelet products
   3. Recognition and management of hemolytic disease in newborns and other blood group incompatibilities
   4. Indications and risks of transfusion, management of transfusion reactions
3. HEMATOLOGY
   1. Review peripheral blood smears and bone marrow aspirates and biopsies
   2. Develop an approach to the diagnosis and management of anemia in pediatric age patients
   3. Diagnosis and management of neutropenia
   4. Diagnosis and management of thrombocytopoenia
4. ONCOLOGY
   1. Childhood leukemia's
   2. Childhood Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
   3. Abdominal malignancies
   4. Bone tumors
   5. Soft tissue sarcomas
   6. Side effects of chemotherapy
   7. Late effects of cancer treatment

Activity Outline:

This is a flexible program, which can be adapted to the specific interest of the student. During the four-week elective, students can spend mornings at the hospital seeing inpatients along with the Hem/Onc team and afternoons in the clinic evaluating oncology patients being seen for ongoing therapy, hospital admission and long-term follow-up. Students can also spend 7-8 days in the special coagulation laboratory (Plummer 5), the Blood Bank, and/or the hematopathology laboratory.

Attendance at section conferences and tumor boards is expected. Students will have the opportunity of presenting a topic at one of these sessions.

Method of Evaluation:

Subspecialty fellows, medical technologists, and residents provide input for grades. Students are encouraged to contact the clerkship coordinator in advance of the clerkship to discuss the specific components of the elective.