Clerkship Introduction

No field of specialized medicine has a broader scope or greater responsibilities than has pediatrics, which is distinguished by its major concern for the growth and development of its subjects. Every physician must understand how the medical, surgical and behavioral problems of infants and children differ from those of adults, and how to manage them so as to permit the child to achieve an optimal state of mental and physical health. Therefore, the fundamental purpose of the pediatric clerkship is to provide a structured environment in which each medical student acquires a basic knowledge of pediatric medicine as well as human growth and development that will serve as a foundation for providing quality child health care in whatever field of medicine he or she may enter.

The clerkship is structured upon the principle that learning is an active process, which can be accomplished only by the student. The role of the faculty is to provide guidance, stimulation and example.