Four-Week Session

Prerequisite: Completion of basic clerkships in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine are required

Course Coordinator:
David Lang, MD, MPH

Course Description
The Clinical Center (CC) is the site of intramural clinical research for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Each year, approximately 3,000 children participate in more than 250 research protocols conducted by investigators from 15 institutes and centers. Most patients are seen on the multi-institute inpatient unit or inpatient mental health unit, the pediatric day hospital, or pediatric clinic. These patients, who are enrolled in specific research protocols, may present with simple or complex medical problems related or in addition to the disease or treatment being studied. The Pediatric Consult Service provides pediatric consultation and care to any child in the CC at the request of the patient's research physicians. Consult requests include general pediatric evaluations, comanagement, treatment of acute illnesses or conditions, assistance with minor procedures, and ongoing monitoring of issues such as growth and development. Consults are often provided for patients being seen at the CC for a wide variety of reasons; some examples include hematologic, immunologic, endocrine, genetic, rheumatologic, and mental health disorders.

The student will join the consulting team and take part in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of a wide spectrum of medical problems occurring in patients participating in research protocols. These activities frequently require extensive interaction between the Pediatric Consult Service, the research team, other CC specialists and the diagnostic laboratory and radiology services of the CC. An essential part of providing medical consultation in the CC environment requires review of existing literature and learning about new clinical and/or research tools pertinent to the clinical problems. In complicated cases, the Pediatric staff often assists in coordination of patient care utilizing these multiple sources of expertise and information.

As part of the student's experience at the NIH, he or she is expected to review in depth a relevant pediatric topic of his or her choice and to provide a short educational presentation for NIH staff.

Course Objectives

• Provide unique clinical experience of providing optimum interdisciplinary care for patients with multiple medical problems in a research environment.
• Learn the consulting skills needed to formulate a diagnostic and therapeutic plan.
• Effectively communicate information to patient, family, patient care team, and nursing staff.
• Review and present a relevant pediatric topic.

Staff

• David Lang, MD
• Deborah Merke, MD, Chief, Pediatric Services