Medical Student Programs

SUR 700 – Surgery and Surgical Specialties Clerkship
Prerequisite-Junior medicalstudent.

The Department of Surgery will prepare all student learners to recognize and manage  minor surgical problems, evaluate surgical emergency situations, and understand the presentation and evaluation of common surgical problems.  The educational experience is designed to allow the learner to master the basic clinical skills found in Surgery.

The clinical education program is carried out in six hospitals/surgical services affiliated with the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  During the Clerkship in the Surgical Sciences, the student-learner will acquire the basic surgical skills required of any physician.  He/she will participate in the student-credentialing program and attend a series of conferences that are designed to emphasize the interplay of anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic factors responsible for surgical disease.  On the clinical services, the learner follows individual cases and works with the resident and attending staff.  The learner is assigned responsibility commensurate with his/her knowledge and experience.

The didactic experience in surgery is 12 weeks in length and the primary responsibility of students during the entire 12-week module is Surgery.  The clinical experience in General Surgery is offered for eight weeks total (four weeks each at two separate sites) from the following:  BGH, ECMC, VA, Millard Fillmore (Gates), WCHOB, MF Suburban, and RPCI.  These are intense inpatient experiences with intraoperative experience, ward assignments, ambulatory experience, required night call, student credentialing, and conference attendance.  Each site may also have an ambulatory component in which the student learner will participate in the evaluation of patients in the clinic/office setting.  The remaining four weeks may be used for Surgery 800 or for an approved elective.  Surgery 700 will take priority over any electives.  All students will be required to participate in all mandatory surgical activities for the entire 12-week clerkship. These include orientation, skills lab, didactics, case conferences, grand rounds, the surgical conferences at the hospital to which he/she is assigned, testing sessions, and the exit interview.  In addition, student-learners are expected to read and master the assigned textbook.

The Department assigns a grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  Grades are based on completion of the basic, mandatory components including attendance and presentation at the Student Case Conferences, completion of all credentialing documents, completion of required procedures, attendance at all required conferences, clinical evaluations, and testing.

SUR 800 – Surgical Specialties
Prerequisite-Junior or Senior medical student.

This module in surgical subspecialties includes experience in both hospital and clinic based surgery.  The clerkship is 4 weeks in length and includes 1 week of Anesthesiology, 1 week of Urology and a 2 week rotation on one of the following: Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, ENT ,or Vascular Surgery.   The goal of this experience is to prepare the learner for the practice of medicine by offering an experience in the scientific basis of surgical practice and exposure to a range of surgical specialties.  In this course, the learner will increase their working knowledge of the clinical practice of surgery and surgical subspecialties.  The learner will be able to apply this knowledge to the patient’s complaints and design a therapeutic plan.  

Direct patient contact is through participation in hospital rounds, clinical practice, office practice and participation in seminars.  At the onset of the course, each student is provided with a course syllabus describing the objectives and expectations (Goals Statements).  Small numbers of students are assigned to the surgical specialty services.  The students are expected to attend the surgical conferences at the hospital to which they are assigned.

They are expected to reach and master any assigned texts and handouts.  The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  Grades for the clerkship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

SUR 801 - Subinternship in Trauma Traumatology
Prerequisite-Surgery 700.
Dr. W. Alan Guo; Number of students: 1 in each module

The goals of the rotation are to give students a fundamental background in the principles of management of the patient suffering major trauma.  Students will be assigned to a Trauma Team at the Erie County Medical Center and become an integral part of that patient care team. They will be involved in the examination and care of trauma patients from the time of their admission via the Emergency Room throughout their hospital course to discharge and in-clinic follow-up after discharge.  After exposure to this course, students should have acquired the perspective concerning the proper priorities in management of major trauma as well as the interpretation of the evidence from clinical and laboratory findings suggesting the proper course of management.  All are integrated into the health care team and serve as subinterns with night call responsibilities.

The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  Grades for the clerkship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

SUR 803 – Subinternship in Pediatric Surgery
Prerequisite-Surgery 700.
Dr. Philip Glick; Number of students: 1 in each module

The Subinternship in Pediatric Surgery is designed for students who have a career interest in surgery, pediatrics, pediatric surgery, or any other pediatric subspecialty.  The goal of this internship is to familiarize students with the management of surgical diseases in children.  It is offered at the Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo.  Particular emphasis is placed on pediatric trauma, oncology, and abdominal emergencies.  Exposure to the care of children will occur in the wards, emergency rooms, operating room, and clinic.  All are integrated into the health care team and serve as subinterns with night call responsibilities.  All students are required to attend Department of Surgery Grand Rounds and Pediatric Surgery Grand Rounds.  Upon completion of this internship the student will have developed a methodologic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of inpatient and outpatient pediatric problems. The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Grades for the internship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.


SUR 805 - Subinternship in Vascular Surgery
Prerequisite-Surgery 700.
Dr. Linda Harris; Number of students: Maximum of 2 students in each module

The goal of the Subinternship in Vascular Surgery is to enable the student to develop a proficiency in the approach to and management of many surgical and medical vascular diseases.  This internship is designed for a student who has developed a career interest in vascular diseases including the medical management of vascular disease and general or vascular surgery.  You will be assigned to one of the participating hospitals. The student will become competent in interpreting angiograms, performing several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and managing patients pre- and postoperatively.

Students will workup new patients, participate in consultations, and undertake procedures.  All are integrated into the health care team and serve as subinterns with night call responsibilities.  Students will assist during noninvasive diagnostic procedures and
operations.  The student will actively participate in the vascular laboratory and become familiar with noninvasive vascular diagnostic techniques.  All students are required to attend Department of Surgery grand rounds and Thursday vascular conference.  Each will participate in night call with the health care team. 

Upon completion of the internship, the students will have developed a methodological approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of vascular diseases.  The student will feel confident in interpreting invasive and noninvasive diagnostic procedures, carrying out several diagnostic procedures, and understanding a broad spectrum of operative procedures as well as pre- and postoperative care. 

The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Grades for the clerkship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

SUR 807 - Subinternship in Breast or Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
Prerequisite- Surgery 700
Dr. Judy Smith; Number of students: maximum of 2 ( one each in breast or head & neck) students ea. Module

The goal of the Subinternship in Surgical Oncology is to enable the student to develop a proficiency in the approach to and management of Breast or Head and Neck disease.  This internship is designed for a student who has developed an interest in breast or head and neck disease.  It is offered at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  The student will become competent in interpreting diagnostic studies, performing several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and managing patients pre- and postoperatively.  All are integrated into the health care team and serve as subinterns.  When feasible students may choose one of two divisions: Breast and Head & Neck Surgery.

Students will work-up new patients, participate in consultations, and undertake procedures.  Students will assist during diagnostic procedures and operations.  The student will actively participate in various oncology conferences and rounds.  Upon completion of the subinternship, the students will have developed a methodological approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of malignant diseases.  The student will feel confident in interpreting diagnostic procedures and understanding a broad spectrum of operative procedures as well as pre- and postoperative care.  

The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School ofMedicine and Biomedical Sciences. Grades for the internship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

SUR 818 - Subinternship in Surgical Intensive Care
Prerequisite-4th year Medical Students
Dr. William Flynn; Number of students: 3-4 students each module

The goal of the Sub Internship in Surgical Intensive Care is to enable the student to develop a proficiency in the approach to and perioperative management of a variety of surgical diseases.  This advanced internship is designed for a student who has developed a career interest in the care of the critically ill patient.  It is designed as a tutorial in the strategies of decision making and monitoring of physiology in acutely ill patients.  The course covers the principles of nutritional support, fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and cardiorespiratory support.  The students will work closely with the resident and attending staff.  All are integrated into the health care team and serve as subinterns with night call responsibilities. 

All students are required to attend Department of Surgery grand rounds, Thursday critical care conference, and student case conferences.  Each student must submit and present a clinical paper.  Each will participate in night call with the health care team.  Upon completion of this internship, the student will have acquired a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic skills as well as the cognitive knowledge to care for the critically ill patient. 

The Student Evaluation and Education Committee assigns the grade according to the academic status policies of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Grades for the internship are based on completion of defined goals and clinical evaluations.

SUR 820 - Preceptorship in Surgery
Contact department for site location. Prerequisite-Senior medical student or permission of OME and instructor. Requires permission of coordinator to register.
Dr. Gregory Cherr; Number ofstudents: 4 in each module

This course is designed to increase a student's clinical experience in surgery. Preceptorships are available in all of the clinical disciplines of surgery.  Requests for this elective must be accompanied by a letter of support from a sponsoring faculty member.  Students signing up for this course must discuss their faculty assignment and intended program with the department course coordinator in advance of taking the course.

SUR 890 - Course at Another University
Contact department prior to registration. Prerequisite-Senior medical student.
Dr. Gregory Cherr; Number of students: unlimited.

Requests for a clinical or research experience in surgery at another university are submitted to the department's course coordinator for the approval of the chairman (University at Buffalo).  The request should be accompanied by a short description of the proposed course and the identity of the responsible faculty member.

SUR 950 - Research in Surgery
Contact department for site location prior to registration. Prerequisite-Senior medical student or permission of OME and instructor.
Dr. Gregory Cherr;  Number of students: 4

A research experience is available with many different members of the faculty. The purpose of the elective is to introduce the student to the scientific atmosphere of the surgical sciences.  There are many different projects available, and each has its specific requirements.  

However, all of the projects involve the surgical preparation of the research model, the measurement of the experimental variables, and the assessment of the data. The student has the opportunity to acquire an understanding of experimental design and the methods for evaluation of the experimental data.

All requests for this elective must be presented to the course instructor with a letter of support from the sponsoring member of the faculty and a description of the research project.  A student requesting a research experience must file all pertinent information with the Department of Surgery's coordinator prior to registering for the course.