Pediatrics Clerkship

As part of the Pediatrics Clerkship, third-year medical students complete two different subspecialty inpatient rotations and one outpatient ambulatory rotation during a seven-and-a-half week period. At IU School of Medicine, MD students consistently rate pediatrics as one of the best clinical rotations. They appreciate the diversity of clinical experiences and the mentorship of pediatric faculty.

Training Objectives

Upon completion of the Pediatrics Clerkship, medical students are able to complete the following tasks. These training objectives align with the IU School of Medicine MD Curriculum Competencies and Institutional Learning Objectives. This alignment enables faculty and students to understand how current student learning prepares them for the next stage in training and for their ongoing practice and maintenance of certification.

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Prospective and current medical students can learn more about the pediatrics clerkship on the Department of Pediatrics MD Education page.

Pediatrics Rotation

Perform and interpret a relevant, problem-focused history and physical examination in a pediatric patient.

Formulate and justify a prioritized problem list and differential diagnosis in a pediatric patient.

Formulate and justify a plausible plan of care for a pediatric patient.

Recognize ways to provide anticipatory guidance to the families of pediatric patients during visits in an ambulatory setting.

Differentiate normal and abnormal structure, function, growth and/or development in a pediatric patient.

Explain the etiology, progression and/or prognosis of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.

Recognize clinical presentations and explain the underlying pathology and pathophysiology of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.

Describe the diagnosis, prevention, treatment or management of common of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.

Analyze and evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic options using principles of evidence-based medicine.

Describe the role of population-based screening in pediatric populations for prevention and early detection of diseases that commonly affect pediatric patients.

Identify at least one social determinant of health that is affecting each pediatric patient.

Respond to clinical questions by independently seeking, analyzing and synthesizing evidence-based answers to advance clinical decision-making.

Seek, accept and apply feedback to clinical practice.

Identify the role and contributions of and establish respectful, effective relationships with the various members of the multi-professional health care team.

Identify a patient’s social context and analyze how it relates to their current state of health.

Discuss and follow national and institutional pediatric guidelines when determining a plan of care for a patient.

Demonstrate responsiveness to the whole patient by advocating for the patients’ and teams’ needs over their own and treating patients in a fair, unbiased, nonjudgmental manner.

Demonstrate responsibility for one’s own learning through daily preparation, full participation in learning activities, initiative in patient care, and timely completion of clerkship requirements.

Act in a professional manner by demonstrating compassion, respect, honesty, integrity and punctuality.

Adhere to ethical and legal principles in all interactions.

Communicate effectively with members of the health care team by clearly presenting clinical questions and data from the patient encounter.

Communicate effectively with patients and their families by listening attentively, allowing opportunities for questions, and maintaining appropriate eye contact.

Modify communication style based upon patients’ reactions and ability to understand.

Directly include the pediatric patients and their family in the decision making process as much as possible when determining a care plan for a patient.

Construct oral presentations or written documents representing an organized, focused, account of the student-patient interaction.

Pediatrics Clerkship

Training Objectives

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Patient Care 1

Patient Care 2

Patient Care 3

Patient Care 4

Medical Knowledge 1

Medical Knowledge 2

Medical Knowledge 3

Medical Knowledge 4

Medical Knowledge 5

Medical Knowledge 6

Medical Knowledge 7

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 1

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 2

Systems-Based Practice 1

Systems-Based Practice 2

Systems-Based Practice 4

Professionalism 1

Professionalism 2

Professionalism 3

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 1

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 2

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 3

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 4

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 5