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Pediatrics Clerkship

As part of the Pediatrics Clerkship, third-year medical students complete two different subspecialty inpatient rotations and one outpatient ambulatory rotation during a seven-and-a-half week period. At IU School of Medicine, MD students consistently rate pediatrics as one of the best clinical rotations. They appreciate the diversity of clinical experiences and the mentorship of pediatric faculty.

Training Objectives

Upon completion of the Pediatrics Clerkship, medical students are able to complete the following tasks. These training objectives align with the IU School of Medicine MD Curriculum Competencies and Institutional Learning Objectives. This alignment enables faculty and students to understand how current student learning prepares them for the next stage in training and for their ongoing practice and maintenance of certification.

Learn More

Prospective and current medical students can learn more about the pediatrics clerkship on the Department of Pediatrics MD Education page.

Pediatrics Rotation

  • Patient Care 1
    Perform and interpret a relevant, problem-focused history and physical examination in a pediatric patient.
  • Patient Care 2
    Formulate and justify a prioritized problem list and differential diagnosis in a pediatric patient.
  • Patient Care 3
    Formulate and justify a plausible plan of care for a pediatric patient.
  • Patient Care 4
    Recognize ways to provide anticipatory guidance to the families of pediatric patients during visits in an ambulatory setting.
  • Medical Knowledge 1
    Differentiate normal and abnormal structure, function, growth and/or development in a pediatric patient.
  • Medical Knowledge 2
    Explain the etiology, progression and/or prognosis of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.
  • Medical Knowledge 3
    Recognize clinical presentations and explain the underlying pathology and pathophysiology of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.
  • Medical Knowledge 4
    Describe the diagnosis, prevention, treatment or management of common of diseases, injuries and functional deficits commonly seen in pediatric patients.
  • Medical Knowledge 5
    Analyze and evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic options using principles of evidence-based medicine.
  • Medical Knowledge 6
    Describe the role of population-based screening in pediatric populations for prevention and early detection of diseases that commonly affect pediatric patients.
  • Medical Knowledge 7
    Identify at least one social determinant of health that is affecting each pediatric patient.
  • Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 1
    Respond to clinical questions by independently seeking, analyzing and synthesizing evidence-based answers to advance clinical decision-making.
  • Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 2
    Seek, accept and apply feedback to clinical practice.
  • Systems-Based Practice 1
    Identify the role and contributions of and establish respectful, effective relationships with the various members of the multi-professional health care team.
  • Systems-Based Practice 2
    Identify a patient’s social context and analyze how it relates to their current state of health.
  • Systems-Based Practice 4
    Discuss and follow national and institutional pediatric guidelines when determining a plan of care for a patient.
  • Professionalism 1
    Demonstrate responsiveness to the whole patient by advocating for the patients’ and teams’ needs over their own and treating patients in a fair, unbiased, nonjudgmental manner.
  • Professionalism 2
    Demonstrate responsibility for one’s own learning through daily preparation, full participation in learning activities, initiative in patient care, and timely completion of clerkship requirements.

    Act in a professional manner by demonstrating compassion, respect, honesty, integrity and punctuality.

  • Professionalism 3
    Adhere to ethical and legal principles in all interactions.
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills 1
    Communicate effectively with members of the health care team by clearly presenting clinical questions and data from the patient encounter.
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills 2
    Communicate effectively with patients and their families by listening attentively, allowing opportunities for questions, and maintaining appropriate eye contact.
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills 3
    Modify communication style based upon patients’ reactions and ability to understand.
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills 4
    Directly include the pediatric patients and their family in the decision making process as much as possible when determining a care plan for a patient.
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills 5
    Construct oral presentations or written documents representing an organized, focused, account of the student-patient interaction.