3rd Year Medical Students

Electives

SURG 9505 – GENERAL SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective:      University Hospital
Elective Directors:      Name: Michael Shapiro, M.D.           Phone: 973-972-6639
Email: mes362@njms.rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 2
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 2
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: This elective is designed to provide the third year student additional exposure (in addition to the core clerkship) to the principles of clinical surgery, with particular emphasis on the pathophysiology ofsurgical disease and its management, both operative and non-operative. Activities include rounds with residentsand faculty, assisting in the operating room on appropriate patients, one-on- one sessions with the instructor, literature review, as well as at least one presentation on a topic of interest.

SURG 9512 – SURGICAL ETHICS
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Directors: Name: Michael E. Shapiro, M.D. Title: Assistant Professor
Phone: 973-972-6639
Email: mes362@njms.rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 2
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 2
Prior approval required: YES
Course Description: This elective is designed to build upon prior knowledge of Bioethics gained in the first two years with particular emphasis on ethical questions related to the surgical care of the
patient. Students will participate in surgical rounds and the operating room on General Surgery/Surgical Oncology, and using those patient experiences, examine ethical questions such as informed consent, shared decision-making, intrinsic bias, futility, organ donation and allocation of scarce resources, management of complications and disclosure of error, etc.
Students will round with the resident team as well as the course instructor, and in the Surgical ICU as appropriate. Students will meet with the instructor to discuss ethical issues arising in the care of the patients, and prepare at least one presentation of a topic of mutual interest. Students will also attend the November UH Bioethics Committee meeting.

SURG 9522 – ADULT CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Directors: Name: Huzaifa Shakir, M.D. Phone: 973-972-3555
Email: shakirhu@njms.rutgers.edu
Additional Faculty: Drs. Paul Bolanowski, Douglas Jackson and Constantinos Lovoulos When offered: Throughout the academic year.
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 2
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: The Adult Cardiothoracic Program includes cardiac, thoracic and esophageal surgery and will include working with the cardiac and thoracic attendings. The student will participate in Cardiothoracic conferences in which cardiac catheterization data, X-rays, angiography and other pertinent clinical data are discussed. He/she will participate in decision-making in regard to the necessity for, and types of, surgery done. Pre-operatively, the patient will be evaluated and both during the time of surgery
and in the postoperative course, the student may become an essential member of the team. The goals and objectives are for the medical student to become familiar with both cardiac and thoracic diseases and types of surgical therapy offered.

SURG 9532 – TRAUMA SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Directors: Name: Amy Gore, M.D. Phone: 973-972-3865
Email: goreav@njms.rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 1
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: In this elective, students will serve as members of the Trauma Team at the New Jersey State Trauma Center. They will participate in the initial assessment of trauma victims in the Emergency Room and in the subsequent pre-operative, operative and post-operative management. In addition, there are conferences, didactic lectures and daily rounds which allow for expansion of the interests of the student.

SURG 9533 – COLORECTAL SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Elective Director: Melissa M. Alvarez-Downing, MD Title: Assistant Professor of Surgery Phone: 973-972-6639 Email: melissa.alvarezdowning@rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 1
Prior approval required: Yes
Course Description: The elective is designed to introduce third or fourth year students to the field of colorectal surgery. Working with the sole colorectal surgeon at University Hospital, students will have the opportunity to evaluate patients in the office both prior to and after surgery, observe minimally invasive colorectal surgeries in the operating room, following patients admitted to the hospital after surgery or who require consultation by a colorectal surgeon and observe outpatient procedures such as colonoscopy and anorectal surgery. This elective will provide students with the opportunity to learn about the unique and vast field of colorectal surgery.

SURG 9545 - INTRODUCTION TO UROLOGY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center – students will be assigned on a first come basis by the elective director
Elective Director: Name: Robert Weiss, M.D. Phone: 973-972-4488 Email: weissre@cinj.rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year.
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 3
Max number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 4
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: Students will work closely with the urology team which is comprised of a chief resident, a junior resident and a PA. Students will also describe indications for operative intervention vs. medical management of different urologic diseases.

SURG 9560 - PLASTIC SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: 140 Bergen Street. Room E1620
Elective Director: Name: Edward Lee, MD Title: Assistant Professor, Program Director Phone: 973-972-3229 Email: leee9@njms.rutgers.edu
When is this elective offered? Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation 4
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation 4
Required Text: Grabb and Smith,”Plastic Surgery” Lippincott Raven, Chapters 1 and 2 prior to beginning rotation.
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: The elective is designed to introduce students to the field of plastic surgery.
Its emphasis is directed towards the understanding of wound healing, skin physiology, grafts and flaps, reconstructive hand injuries and cosmetic surgery. In addition, there will be an emphasis on microvascular surgery and its application in plastic surgery. The student will attend all plastic surgery academic conferences and will participate in ward rounds, clinic and surgery. The student will be expected to present a clinical case with discussion at plastic surgery grand rounds at the end of the rotation.

SURG 9566 – VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital, Newark, NJ Elective Directors: Name: Joe Huang, MD
Phone: 973-972-6295
Email: joe.huang.md@njms.rutgers.edu
When offered: Year-round
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 2
Prior approval required: No
Coordinator: Cynthia Soto Phone: 973-972-6295 Email cs1284@njms.rutgers.edu
Course Description: The student will be exposed to the field of vascular and endovascular surgery by learning about the pathophysiology and management of peripheral arterial and venous diseases. Pathologies encountered will include aortic aneurysms, carotid occlusive disease, lower extremity arterial disease, venous disease, and dialysis access needs. The student will become familiar with the evaluation and diagnostic testing modalities for these conditions. Through office hours, endovascular suite procedures, and operating room procedures, the student will also learn about the medical, endovascular, and open interventions to treat these patients. In addition to rounds and clinics, students will attend weekly pre-operative conferences, monthly journal clubs, and monthly morbidity & mortality conferences.

SURG 9575 – SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Directors: Name: Ravi Chokshi, M.D.         Phone: 973-972-1110
Email: chokshrj@njms.rutgers.edu
When offered: Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 1
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: This elective is designed to introduce the third year student to the principles of surgical oncology, focused on pre-operative evaluation, selection of operations, and post-operative care. Activities include formal rounds with residents and faculty as well as a series of conferences which the student may attend.

SURG 9585 – BREAST SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Directors:
When offered: Throughout the academic year with permission from Dr. Suarez-Ligon Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation: 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation: 1
Prior approval required: YES
Course Description: This elective is designed to introduce the third year student to breast surgery. Rounds are conducted daily prior to going to the operating room or clinic. In the operating room, the student will observe surgeries including an array of breast pathology. They will participate in all peri- operative care of the patient. In the office/clinic, students will see patients, take H & P’s, and present the patient to the attending who then sees the patient with the student.

SURG 9590 - TRANSPLANTATION AND HEPATOBILIARY SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Director: Name: Dr. James Guarrera and Dr. Flavio Paterno Phone: (973) 972-5045 Email james.guarrera@njms.rutgers.edu
When is this elective offered? Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation 1
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: During their rotation on the Transplant Surgery Service, students will be able to participate in all the surgical procedures performed in this section. These include multiple organ procurement, liver transplants, and various hepatobiliary procedures. In addition to the operative experience, students will be exposed to pre- and post-operative management of patients with various liver disorders resulting in surgical pathology. There is also a strong emphasis on bedside and operating room teaching regarding the various aspects of hepatic surgery and transplantation science.

SURG 9595 – MINIMALLY INVASIVE AND WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
Site(s) of Elective: University Hospital
Elective Director: Drs. Danbee Kim, Daniel B. Jones, and Bao-Ngoc Nasri.
When is this elective offered? Throughout the academic year
Max number of NJMS third year students per rotation 1
Max total number of 3rd and 4th year students per rotation 1
Prior approval required: NO
Course Description: This elective is designed to provide the medical student with exposure to minimally invasive surgery and weight-loss surgery/management. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate patients in the office both prior to and after surgery, participate in working with patients enrolled in our multidisciplinary weight-management program, observe minimally invasive surgery (including robotic surgery) in the operating room, and follow patients admitted to the hospital after surgery or who require consultation by MIS/bariatrics. Students will also be able to learn about how to use the robot, do simulations such as basic laparoscopy (FLS), robotic simulations, as well as the complex workup and preparation of weight-management for patients with obesity.