Four-Week Session

Prerequisite:
Completion of core clerkships.

Course Coordinator:
Douglas R. Rosing, MD

Course Description
The Clinical Center (CC) is the site of intramural clinical research for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Each year, about 6,500 inpatients are admitted to the CC and another 70,000 individuals are seen in the CC outpatient clinics. These patients, who are enrolled in specific research protocols, may present with simple or complex cardiology problems in relation to or in addition to the disease or treatment being studied. The Cardiology Consult Service (CCS) provides cardiology consultation and care to any patient in the CC at the request of the patient's research physicians.

The CCS welcomes medical students in their fourth year to a four-week clinical rotation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The student will join the consulting team and take part in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of a wide spectrum of cardiology problems occurring in patients participating in research protocols. These activities frequently require extensive interaction between the CCS, the research team, and other CC specialists.  An essential part of providing cardiology consultation in the CC environment requires use of the various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available at the CC.  These include electrocardiography, echocardiography, nuclear medicine, cardiac MRI, diagnostic and interventional catheterization, and cardiac surgery.  In addition, a review of existing literature and learning about new clinical and/or research tools pertinent to the clinical problems are included in all evaluations.   Students can use the enormous resources of the NIH computer system and one of the finest medical libraries in the United States to search for information about the patients they are seeing.   Weekly Cardiology Rounds are held and the student is expected to present a case and discuss it at the conclusion of the rotation.  A weekly research conference is also usually held.  Medical Grand Rounds and other teaching conferences are available, but not required.  There is no required evening or weekend duty.

Course Objectives 

• Provide unique clinical experience of providing optimum care for patients with multiple cardiology problems in a research environment. 
• Learn the consulting skills needed to formulate a diagnostic and therapeutic plan. 
• Effectively communicate information to patient, family, attending physicians, and nursing staff. 
• Become familiar with a variety of diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions.

Present one of their patients at one of the weekly Cardiology Rounds. 

Selection of applicants
Applicants will be selected based on review of the students credentials and cover letter, which should outline their goals for the rotation. Usually only one student will be allowed per session.  Availability may be limited due to program constraints.

Selected students are required to have malpractice/liability coverage for the elective period.

Staff
Douglas R. Rosing, M.D.
Kathleen M. Van Aalten, M.D.
Jennifer L. Audibert, CRNP
Brenda Holbrook, CRNP
Jamie B. Sinks, CRNP