University of Nebraska Department of Pediatrics
982165 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska 68198-2165
(402) 559-9538
Fax: (402) 559-5137
The Pediatric Clerkship at UNMC is conducted in two parallel tracks, one conducted at UNMC and throughout Omaha called University Pediatrics, the other conducted primarily at sites throughout Nebraska called Community Pediatrics.
Students are required to submit their choices regarding their preferred track and location once the rotation schedule is established. Track and location assignments are based on the following criteria:
student requests (first come, first served),
location availability, and
academic performance.
NOTE: Final assignments are at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Medical Education. Students who do not make a preference known are assigned to a track and location on a "space-available" basis.
Please note all of the available Community Track positions will be filled first followed by the University Track. Therefore, even if you request a University slot you may be assigned to a Greater Nebraska site. Please read this information carefully before completing the Track Selection Form.
What is it?
This is a clerkship in Pediatrics designed to provide an exposure to the breadth of Pediatric Medicine, as practiced at a University Hospital. It is designed with an outpatient emphasis. This is limited to 14 slots per rotation group.
What are the goals of this alternative?
The goals of this alternative are to provide the student with solid foundation in basic Pediatric Medicine, and an exposure to the broad sweep of Pediatric Medicine as it is practiced in an academic center today.
Overview of the structure of the clerkship:
A typical student on the clerkship will have a schedule that includes 4 weeks on inpatient service, 2 weeks of selectives which may be specialty clinics or a private clinic, 1 week in outpatient clinic, and 1 week in the Newborn Nursery.
Comparison to Community Pediatrics:
Students who do University Pediatrics report that they see more inpatients and often deal with patients seen for tertiary care needs. They perform comparably to students from the Community Pediatrics alternative on both written and standardized exams. Both groups passed USMLE part 2 and there is no difference in terms of average final grade between the University track students and the Community track students. Student satisfaction with the rotation has been good.
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What is it?
Community Pediatrics is the name of an alternative Pediatrics clerkship that has been in effect since 1994. This alternative clerkship is intended to provide students with an experience in Pediatrics that reflects primary care Pediatrics as it is currently practiced in communities across Nebraska. Currently students may do this rotation in Fremont, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, McCook, North Platte, Plattsmouth, or Scottsbluff. Most sites take one student per rotation for Community Pediatrics. Some sites are not available for certain clerkships due to scheduling conflicts.
Why does it exist?
As above, this clerkship is intended to provide students with an extensive exposure to primary care Pediatrics in smaller communities throughout Nebraska. As there is a need for primary care physicians in Greater Nebraska, this clerkship alternative is intended to provide students with an exposure to primary care Pediatrics, and to provide them with a skill-base in Pediatrics that will be more directly applicable to primary care practice in Greater Nebraska.
What are the goals of this alternative?
There are two main goals, first to provide the students with a sound foundation in basic Pediatric Medicine, and second to provide opportunities to observe the practice of Pediatric Medicine in a smaller community in Greater Nebraska.
Overview of the structure of the clerkship:
Week 1: Orientation (At the request of the greater Nebraska preceptors, you will spend a week orienting at UNMC.)
Weeks 2-8: Work at Community Site
Comparisons to University Pediatrics:
Students who do Community Pediatrics perform comparably on both the end of clerkship oral exam and the National Board of Medical Examiners subject exam when compared to students of similar background who do University Pediatrics. The two groups perform similarly in terms of their final average final grades. Students from both backgrounds appear to have similar success in matching for Pediatric residency programs. Students report less inpatient exposure, and greater outpatient exposure. Student satisfaction with the rotation has been good.
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Note: Students interested in Pediatrics as a career have taken both pathways successfully, as yet there does not appear to be a difference in match success between the two rotations (there was no discernable difference between the two groups since the class of 1998.)
Site selections were due by 12:00 P.M. on February 5th. For more information about sites or if you have questions, please email Gary Beck.
Remember: Students who do not complete a form will be assigned to a slot as space allows, and you may not get assigned to the place that you want. It is your responsibility to complete the form accurately and on time.