SYLLABUS
College of Medicine
AY 2015-2016
Course title and number
Term (e.g., Fall 200X)
Meeting times and location
SURG 841, Surgical Oncology
All Year
Page the resident on Surgical Oncology rotation for times and locations
Course Description and Prerequisites
(V. Course Description
(from HSC Course Catalogue) and Overview
http://www.tamhsc.edu/education/catalog/
The Faculty will strive to:
1. Provide an in-depth experience in the field of surgical oncology, especially upper
gastrointestinal malignancies.
2. Involve the student in the preoperative, intra-operative, and post-operative care of the
patient.
3. Provide a better understanding of the significance of multimodality treatment regimens
in the therapy of cancer.
4. Allow the opportunity for clinical research.
VI. Course Objectives and Evaluation Method
1. Perform a thorough work-up of patients with different malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal tract, breast, and skin
2. Scrub in surgery and gain an in-depth understanding of the anatomy of the abdominal
cavity
3. Become very familiar with the outpatient and inpatient care of cancer patients.
4. Comprehend the mission of a surgical oncologist.
Evaluation
1. Standard TAMHSCCOM Clinical Evaluation Form
Course Evaluation:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Date Created/Revised: __4/7/15___ By: _T.O.____
Instructor Information
Name
Telephone number
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Elective Director
J. Scott Thomas M.D.
(254)724-7445
jsthomas@sw.org
By appointment
Desk 4A General
Surgery
Name
Telephone number
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Coordinator
Terri Okun
(254)935-4934
tokun@sw.org
8am-5pm
McLanes Subspecialty
Clinic
Learning Outcomes & Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Work directly with surgical oncology faculty both in the clinical setting and in the
operating room
Make ward rounds with the resident team every day with special attention to the surgical
oncology patients.
Attend tumor boards (Breast, GI, Endocrine) every week.
Attend relevant general surgical conferences.
Engage in direct didactic teaching with the surgical oncology faculty with special
attention to one topic that the student can present in some depth at the end of the
rotation.
COM Competency Based Learning Objectives: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/academicaffairs/curriculum/objectives/
Principles and Guidelines for Curriculum Development:
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/policies/pdf/curriculum-principles-guidelines.pdf
Course Objective:
Perform a thorough work-up of
patients with different malignancies
of the upper gastro-intestinal tract,
breast, and skin
Scrub in surgery and gain an indepth understanding of the anatomy
of the abdominal cavity
Become very familiar with the
outpatient and inpatient care of
cancer patients.
COM Competency
Based Learning
Objectives
(CBLO):
PC3: Develop
appropriate
differential
diagnoses by
integrating
collected clinical
information
PC3: Develop
appropriate
differential
diagnoses by
integrating
collected clinical
information
PC5: Interpret the
results of
commonly used
laboratory and
radiologic studies
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Taught (T)
and/or
Evaluated (E):
Evaluation:
Taught AND
Evaluated
Clinical
Performance
Rating/Checklist
Taught AND
Evaluated
Clinical
Performance
Rating/Checklist
Taught AND
Evaluated
Clinical
Performance
Rating/Checklist
Comprehend the mission of a
surgical oncologist
Click here to enter text.
PC9: Perform
technical
procedures
including:
venipuncture and
arterial puncture;
insertion of
intravenous,
central venous,
and urethral
catheters;
insertion of a
nasogastric tube;
lumbar puncture;
basic suturing;
and basic airway
management
Choose an item
Taught AND
Evaluated
Choose an item
Clinical
Performance
Rating/Checklist
Choose an item
Textbook and/or Resource Material
Textbooks (Required and Recommended Resources)
1. Textbook: Current Surgical Therapy
2. Assigned journal articles.
3. Conferences: 1. Endocrine Tumor Board – First & Third Mondays @ 12 noon 2. Breast
Tumor Board – Tuesdays @ 7 am 3. GI Tumor Board – Wednesdays @ 12 noon 4. Preop Conference – Thursdays @ 6:45 am 5. Morbidity and Mortality – Fridays @ 6:45 am
4. Patient-oriented activities, which include interest shown in the care of patients and
familiarity with the disease processes. Students will be asked to make one clinical
presentation at the end of the rotation. This will be on a topic of their choice in Surgical
Oncology. The discussion can either be a case presentation and discussion or on a select
topic in Surgical Oncology. Length of presentation is expected to be 30 minutes
Grading Policies
GRADING SCALE
Satisfactory
70-100
Unsatisfactory
69 and below
Should the course director determine remediation is required, the remediation plan will be at the
discretion of the course director and on a case by case basis depending on the issues involved.
Remediation plans could entail some (or all) of the following examples: Additional clinical shifts,
research papers, presentations, article reviews, exams, directed reading, web-based modules, etc. If the
student performance results in a failure of the elective, it will be recommended that the elective be taken
again in its entirety.
Attendance and Make-up Policies
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VII. Attendance Policy
A component of professionalism is to be present, prepared, and punctual. In the event of a
personal illness, critical illness within your immediate family, family death, or other
extenuating events, please communicate this to the clerkship director or administrator in a
timely manner. TAMHSC – COM student handbook states: Students who miss more than 20%
of a 4th year elective for any reason (2 weekdays during a two-week rotation or 4 weekdays for
4 week rotation) will require a remediation plan. Elective director will consider students
attendance and remediation if the student is requesting extended time off during interview
season.
Students will adhere to the same work schedules as the attendings and/or residents. Students
are required to attend morning report, patient rounds and Journal review.
Resources: Texas A&M Health Science Center Medical Student Handbook.
VIII. Policies and Procedures (generic information for all campuses)
Responsibilities and Expectation of Students
Students are expected to be present for the various clerkship activities that will be
noted by your residents and staff.
Attendance is expected at the various clinical activities including morning ward rounds,
operating room when assigned, third year lecture series, afternoon rounds,
conferences, and any activity specifically requested by your attending.
Students are expected to be punctual for all of the various activities noted on the
weekly schedule. Failure to adhere to the schedule will result in undue delays and
inconveniences to patients, students and faculty. However, your tolerance of any last
minute schedule changes in lectures is asked. Sometimes trying to arrange a lecture
series with surgeons is full of unforeseen scheduling changes
Dress and Appearance: In order to be accepted as a member of the health care team, it is
important to assume the same basic manner of dress, appearance and conduct as the other
members of the team. A picture name identification tag must be readily visible on your shirt or
coat collar, with introduction of your full name including “Ms.” or “Mr.” or “medical student”.
If the parent/patient refers to the student as a “doctor”, it is the student’s duty to correct this
error. One should not misrepresent his/her role.
Resource: Texas A&M Health Science Center Medical Student Handbook.
Course Topics, Calendar of Activities, Major Assignment Dates
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Course Schedule (may include in Appendices if available)
Surgical Oncology is a 2or 4 week rotation. Students will adhere to the same work schedule as
the attending and/or resident.
Other Pertinent Course Information
Clerkship Courses MUST include patient encounter and Log Information here. Actual log list can be
included in the appendix. Include information that is pertinent to ALL campus locations here like
processes and procedures. If there are campus specifics, include those locally not in this syllabus.
Indicate where course materials can be accessed for example Blackboard, One45, etc.)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For
additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu
Any student with a disability who needs accommodation should inform the instructor at the beginning of
the course.
Academic Integrity
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
College of Medicine
Professionalism and integrity Statement (Academic Honesty and Plagiarism)
All College of Medicine students are required to comply with the student code of conduct and the academic integrity and
honesty standards published in each component’s Student Handbook. Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with
the policies of each component. Students found guilty of Academic Dishonesty will receive an “F”/Unsatisfactory in the
course. For a full list of actions qualifying as academic dishonesty, please review the College of Medicine Student
Handbook at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf.
According to the Aggie Honor System Office, plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of another person's ideas,
processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of
another as one’s own (i.e., without crediting the author or creator). Plagiarism and other academic misconduct definitions
Date Created/Revised: __4/7/15___ By: _T.O.____
can be viewed on the Aggie Honor System Office website;
http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/RulesAndProcedures/HonorSystemRules.aspx#definitions.
E-mail Access and FERPA
The College of Medicine is communicating all official information to students through the students’ TAMHSC e-mail
accounts. Please check the account frequently during the semester for updates.
This course is supported with web-based and/or e-mail activities. In order to take advantage of these additional resources
and participate fully in the course, you have been assigned an e-mail address by the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
This e-mail address is for internal use only, so that faculty may communicate with you and the entire class. By registering
for this course, you are agreeing to allow your classmates to have access to this e-mail address. Should you have any
questions, please contact the TAMU’s Office of the Registrar at 979-845-1031.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which the HSC complies fully, is intended to protect the
privacy of education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records and to
provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also
have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office of the Department of Education
in Washington, D.C., concerning alleged failures by the HSC to comply with the act.
Mistreatment of Students
The College of Medicine is committed to providing a positive learning environment in which students can meet their
academic goals based on mutual respect in the teacher/learner relationship. Both parties must be sensitive to the needs
of others and differences in gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability. As outlined in the Student
Handbook under the section titled Standards of Conduct in the Teacher-Learner Relationship, belittlement, intimidation
and humiliation are unacceptable for effective learning and undermine self-esteem. Breaches involving student
mistreatment may result in a faculty or staff member being sanctioned or the loss of faculty and/or staff appointment.
These policies address student mistreatment involving College of Medicine employees, residents, affiliate staff, or
patients. Mistreatment may be reported through the College of Medicine telephone hotline, 1(855)-397-9835 or through
an online form at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/current/student-mistreatment-form.html. For a full list of reporting avenues,
please refer to the Student Handbook under the Mistreatment Policy.
Exposure and Occupational Hazard
The Needle Stick Policy and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure information for Medical Students may be accessed in the
Student Handbook at: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf
Note: More information is available on the aforementioned topics to all students on the College of Medicine website.
Date Created/Revised: __4/7/15___ By: _T.O.____