Clerkship

Clerkship

The second half of medical school, or clerkship, begins in the third year, when students get hands-on teaching and learning experiences in hospital wards and medical clinics in Edmonton and around north-central Alberta.

In year 3 & 4, the clerkship years, medical students receive their core hands on teaching in hospital wards and medical clinics in Edmonton and in communities in north-central Alberta.

In the clerkship years, students apply knowledge of medical science from studies in years 1 and 2 to a clinical setting with patient assessment and care. Clinical teaching includes classroom sessions taught by experienced residents, allied health professionals, and clinical preceptors, many of whom have won awards for their teaching and research.

For more information about Year 3 & 4 courses, please consult the University Calendar

Year 3 Clerkships MED 528 - Optional Summer Elective
An optional elective of variable length, to be developed by the student in consultation with a Faculty supervisor.
MED 531 Longitudinal Themes III
This course serves as a bridge of learning opportunities of the first two years to the last two years of medical school and includes a Link block to prepare students to apply their preclerkship knowledge and skills in a clerkship setting. Examples of learning events in Link block include, performance of clinical skills within a simulated clinical environment, approach to radiological problems, quality improvement, advanced care planning, clinical reasoning, and anti-racism. Longitudinal Themes then continues throughout the clerkship years with opportunities to participate in advanced communication skills and guided reflective practice in Physician Discussion Groups allowing students to develop such skills of self-reflection/metacognition, health advocacy, communication and professionalism.
MED 543 Integrated Community Clerkship

A patient-centered, community clerkship based in select rural and regional Alberta communities. This course uses Family Medicine as the core of the clerkship experience to provide students with experience in continuity of care, in handling undifferentiated problems, in coordinating care for those with chronic disease, and in other key areas of family medicine and generalist specialties. 42 weeks will be spent in the rural community. The remainder of the second term will be a mix of electives.

*Please note, you must apply for admission to this alternative Year 3 stream

MED 547 Clinical Electives
Elective opportunities for third year medical students.
OBGYN 546 Obstetrics & Gynecology
The 6-week Obstetrics & Gynecology clerkship provides students with opportunities to learn through clinical experiences (in-patient and ambulatory) as well as formal small group teaching sessions. Students work under the supervision of academic and clinical faculty members at four affiliated hospitals in the Edmonton area: Royal Alexandra Hospital, Grey Nuns Hospital, Misericordia Hospital and Sturgeon Community Hospital. Each student spends 3 weeks at the tertiary centre (RAH) as well as 3 weeks at a community site.
PAED 546 Pediatrics
PAED 546 is a mandatory 8 week student internship in the third year of MD Program. It is designed to provide students with a broad exposure to the discipline of Pediatrics.  The rotation involves clinical experiences in both the inpatient and outpatient general pediatric settings, a subspecialty experience, and experiences in the NICU and Pediatric Emergency Department
PSYCI 546 Psychiatry
The Psychiatry clerkship is a 6 week mandatory rotation in general adult psychiatry for third year medical students. The clinical experience primarily encompasses an inpatient exposure with variable student exposure to outpatients, groups and crisis services (including emergency call). The rotation is completed at one of five inpatient hospital sites (Grey Nuns, Alberta Hospital Edmonton, University of Alberta, Royal Alexandra and Misericordia) and is presently accommodating an average of 20 students per rotation. In addition to the core mandatory rotation in general adult psychiatry there are a number of opportunities for exposure to areas such as group therapy (Day and Evening Treatment Program), eating disorders, the Psychiatric Treatment Clinic (PTC), Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensics, Geriatrics, Consult-Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry.
FMED 546 Family Medicine
The Family Medicine clerkship is an 8-week rotation experience, normally divided into 4 weeks in a rural location and 4 weeks in an urban location. You will see a broad range of clinical presentations including a large number of undifferentiated clinical problems in a variety of clinical settings (family physician offices, emergency departments, hospice units, hospital wards, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and patients’ homes).These cases present a unique diagnostic challenge in which you will take an active part in managing.
SURG 546 General Surgery
Year 3 General Surgery is a 6 weeks rotation divided in 2 parts: 3 weeks at a community hospital and 3 weeks at a level 1 trauma hospital. You will be part of the surgery team and participate in clinics, consults in ER and wards, OR, and manage common perioperative issues. The “Big 9” general surgery topics to experience are: Appendicitis, Hernia, Gallstones, Breast Cancer, Colorectal cancer, IBD, Anorectal problems, Trauma, Pre-op Patient (for acute or elective surgery), and Post-op Patient with acute pain. It is a “hands-on” apprenticeship for common general surgical conditions that patients experience.
MED 546 Medicine
The year 3 internal medicine clerkship is an 8 week mandatory rotation which provides students with the opportunity to assess and manage and follow patients presenting with a variety of internal medicine issues. There is a call component to provide training in assessing and managing acute presentations of illness. In addition to clinical teaching, there are regular small group teaching sessions at each of the sites and a clerkship-wide weekly academic half day.
MED 540 Exams
Final exams (Comprehensive Exam and the Year 4 OSCE) for students registered in the MD program
MED 541 Longitudinal Themes IV /Transitions
This course will build upon the knowledge derived from the Longitudinal Themes I, II and III courses and will occur throughout the 4th year with opportunities to participate in advanced communication skills and guided reflective practice in Physician Discussion Groups allowing students to develop such skills of self-reflection/metacognition, health advocacy, communication and professionalism.
MED 555 Geriatrics
A 3-week clerkship for fourth year students offered by the Divisions of Geriatric Medicine & Care of the Elderly. The clerkship primarily encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and social aspects of illness in older adults. Students are attached to one of five base hospital sites in Edmonton (University of Alberta, Royal Alexandra, Glenrose, Misericordia or Grey Nuns). Clinical experience includes 2- weeks of inpatient service at the base hospital, with the remainder spent in the community. Community service comprises a mixture of clinics, emergency room liaison, community day hospital programs (CHOICE), rehabilitation, successful seniors (SEESA) and care delivered at home (Home Living and Long Term Care).
MED 556 Internal Medicine
A 3-week clerkship with a focus on consultative and ambulatory care. The students are assigned to one of multiple medicine subspecialties for the full rotation. The subspecialties each organize teaching sessions for the students assigned to them. There is no call component for this clerkship.
MED 557 Clinical Electives
Electives for Year 4 students registered in the MD Program
MED 558 Emergency Medicine
Student Clerkship in Emergency Medicine offers exposure to acute care management and critical care of patients initially presenting to the Emergency Department. The Clerkship builds a foundation of initial management and stabilization skills to treat severely ill and injured patients. Students are exposed to numerous patient presentations and a wide variety of clinical diagnoses. They work closely alongside numerous allied healthcare professionals in a coordinated team fashion. Additional educational experiences include two Simulation half days weekly clinical lectures, aHigh-Yield sessions half day, and Departmental Grand Rounds.
SURG 556 Specialty Surgery
The purpose of SURG556 is to build on the student's knowledge of surgical principles and provide students with the opportunity to evaluate patients with common surgical problems encountered in primary care. This is a 4-week rotation and students can choose from at least two of the following surgical subspecialties: cardiac, vascular, thoracic, plastics, urology, otolaryngology, neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery. Students will be exposed to clinic, operative cases, ward care, and emergency room presentations of patients with surgical conditions. Students will gain an appreciation for the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of subspecialty surgery.
Grande Prairie Site

Students in year 4 have the opportunity to complete their core rotations in Grande Prairie. The program is designed to ensure that students will meet or exceed the objectives of the mandatory rotations in the MD Program Year 4 curriculum.

Grane Prairie Year-4 Clerkship


Contact Information - Year 3 & 4

Year 3 Administrator - Laurie Logan
email: ume.year3admin@ualberta.ca
phone: 780-492-4119

Year 4 Administrator - Laurie Logan
email: ume.year4admin@ualberta.ca
phone: 780-492-4119

Year 3 & 4 Administrator Electives - Norma Maloney
email: electives@ualberta.ca
phone: 780-492-6743