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Medical Student Education

UCSD School of Medicine Clinical Clerkship in Pediatrics (PEDS401) – Adolescent Medicine Experience (3rd year medical students)

Coordinator: Dr. Maya Kumar

During the pediatric subspecialty component of their pediatric clinical clerkships, third year medical students may apply for a clinical experience in the Rady Children's Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic and/or the Medical-Behavioral Unit.

The Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic provides care for patients aged 10 to 26 years with specific medical or behavioral health problems requiring subspecialist consultation. Students will have the opportunity to observe the management of many complex adolescent health issues, including eating disorders and weight disorders, mental health concerns, histories of childhood trauma or maltreatment, menstrual and pubertal problems, sexually transmitted infections, contraception management, and gender dysphoria.  Students will spend 1 or 2 sessions in clinic during their rotation and will receive an introduction to the biopsychosocial and trauma-informed approach required for effective medical care of adolescents and young adults in an outpatient setting. 

The Medical-Behavioral Unit is one of the few medical eating disorder inpatient units in the country that provides psychology support and programming in conjunction with medical stabilization. It is also one of the only inpatient eating disorder programs in California that treats adults over 21 years old. Students will spend one day on the unit and join the attending pediatrician for bedside rounds, participate in multidisciplinary team rounds, and join non-pediatrician members of the team (including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric technicians, and dietitians) as they conduct individual and group behavioral management sessions with patients.

UCSD School of Medicine Sub-Internship in Adolescent Medicine (4th year medical students)

Course Director: Dr. Kanani Titchen

During their 4th year, medical students may elect to participate in a pediatric sub-internship through the Rady Children’s Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic, the Center for Gender Affirming Care, the Medical Behavioral Unit, and the Medical Library.
 
The Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic provides comprehensive, compassionate, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care to patients aged 10 to 26 years with specific medical or behavioral health problems requiring subspecialist consultation. Sub-interns will participate in the management of complex adolescent health issues, including eating disorders and weight disorders, mental health concerns, histories of childhood trauma or maltreatment, menstrual and pubertal problems, sexually transmitted infections, and contraception management. At the Center for Gender Affirming Care, sub-interns will observe patient interactions with our team of specialists from Social Work, Adolescent Medicine, and Endocrinology as they provide medical and psychosocial support to gender diverse youth and their families. Sub-interns will learn about pubertal blockade, gender affirming hormones, and techniques for a trauma-sensitive genitourinary exam. The Medical-Behavioral Unit is one of the few inpatient medical eating disorder units in the country that provides psychological support and programming in conjunction with medical stabilization for a Family Based Therapy (FBT) approach to the treatment of eating disorders for patients up until age 30 years. Sub-interns will join the attending physician for bedside rounds, participate in multidisciplinary team rounds, and join non-pediatrician members of the team (including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric technicians, and dietitians) as they conduct individual and group behavioral management sessions with patients. Finally, sub-interns will work with a Rady Children’s Hospital Medical Librarian to better navigate PubMed and conduct a literature search with the end goal of producing a brief educational presentation on a related topic of their choice in the style of TEDMED.

Please contact Shannon O'Donnell for more information on medical student education.