Medical Student Education at UC San Diego School of Medicine

Education

1st & 2nd Year Electives

• Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism I & II
  These courses in the first and second year medical student pre-clinical curriculum explore reproductive physiology and pathology. Health equity and reproductive justice concepts are integrated into the courses.
• RMED 223 Reproductive Medicine Preceptorship Preceptor: Pamela Deak, M.D.
  This course provides first or second year medical students with clinical exposure to women's healthcare. Clinical emphasis will differ each quarter depending on physician availability. Students may be assigned to one of many practice types: general OB/GYN, high-risk obstetrics, reproductive endocrinology, gynecological oncology, or pelvic reconstruction. A half-day each week will be spent in the physician's office participating in patient care. The option to shadow the preceptor while he/she is on obstetrical call may be available.
• RMED 228 Family Planning Elective Preceptor: Jessica Kingston, M.D.
  This course provides first and second year medical students with exposure to all aspects of family planning, from contraceptive methods counseling to abortion. Clinical emphasis will be based on each student's interest. A half-day week will be spent in the clinical participating in patient care.
• RMED 240A Pregnancy and Childbirth: Continuity with an Obstetric Patient Preceptor: Pamela Deak, M.D.
  This is the first of a two-part course which offers preclinical medical students the opportunity to learn about reproductive medicine by lectures, demonstrations and clinical observation. Students will follow an individual patient through her entire pregnancy and delivery.
• RMED 240B Pregnancy and Childbirth: Continuity with an Obstetric Patient II Preceptor: Pamela Deak, M.D.
  This is the second of a 2-part course which offers pre-clinical medical students the opportunity to learn about reproductive medicine and continuity of care by clinical observation of an individual patient through her entire pregnancy and delivery.

3rd Year Clerkship

• Our Clerkship is designed to provide an Introduction to Obstetrics & Gynecology for 3rd year Medical Students. The program is divided into 6 week blocks throughout the year. Successful completion is mandatory for graduation from UC San Diego School of Medicine. Education and training is provided through a series of lectures, simulations and hands-on labs. In addition, the students rotate through UC San Diego Jacobs and Hillcrest hospitals on labor and delivery, inpatient GYN services, and outpatient clinics. Students are also paired with a selected faculty mentor in the department for 4 clinical continuity sessions. The OBGYN Master Clinician Curriculum gives students individualized mentorship and clinical teaching. Experienced faculty are paired up with a small group of 2-3 students to observe and give real-time feedback in a clinical setting. This allows students to improve patient interview and physical exam skills, as well as their presentation skills, and creates a “safe space” for them to ask questions and have a faculty champion who does not evaluate them for a grade. More information about the MCP program can be found here: https://empathyandcompassion.ucsd.edu/centers/center-for-mentorship-in-medicine/index.html
• The program director is Julia Cormano, M.D. and can be reached through the clerkship coordinator Laura Diaz at ldiaz@ucsd.edu.

Note: Visiting students are not accepted for 3rd year courses but are accepted for our 4th year electives.

4th Year Electives

• RMED 428 Sub-internship in Maternal Fetal Medicine Preceptor: Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D.
  Advanced instructions in the evaluation and management of high risk pregnancies with emphasis on antepartum and postpartum management as well as fetal surveillance. During the 4 week course, students will spend 2 weeks helping to manage the antepartum service and 2 weeks in the outpatient MFM clinics and imaging center.
• RMED 429 Sub-internship In Family Planning and Women's Reproductive Health Preceptor: Jessica Kingston, M.D.
  On this sub-internship students will see patients presenting for the full spectrum of family planning and basic gynecologic care. Students will participate in evaluating patients presenting for early pregnancy assessment to include pregnancy termination, miscarriage, and pregnancy options counseling. Students will also see patients presenting for contraception, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infection, vaginitis, and cervical and breast cancer screening and will also learn examination and microscopy skills necessary to diagnose vaginitis. Students will also observe or participate in placement of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, outpatient surgical procedures and colposcopy. During the 4-week course, students will be expected to function as a sub-intern. The course is primarily outpatient, however for the interested student, overnight call may be arranged.
• RMED 430 Sub-internship In Gynecologic Oncology Preceptor:
  Students are provided with the opportunity to develop clinical management skills in the care of the critically ill gynecology/oncology patient. A level of performance similar to that expected of the gynecologic/ oncology intern is required.
• OBG 432 Ob-Gyn Sub-internship Preceptor: Jerry Ballas, M.D.
  This sub-internship is designed to give students primary responsibility for patient care at the internship level under close supervision of the responsible senior resident and/or attending faculty. It allows students maximum growth in technical skills and patient management expertise while being noncompetitive with interns and third year medical students.