Hematology/Oncology

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RMDN605

    Prerequisites: Completion of all Phase 2 clerkships

    Length of Time: 4 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 3

    Credit Type: Physician Assessed Patient Facing (PAPFE) or Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Director at UW Health Hospital: Merat Karbasian-Esfahani, MD;

    Program Director at FHN: Arshad Shaikh, MD

    Program Director at CGH Medical Center: Mir Alikhan, MD

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: UW Health Hospital (1401 E. State St., Rockford, IL); CGH Medical Center (101 E Miller Rd, Sterling, IL 61081); FHN (1163 W Stephenson St, Freeport, IL 61032)

Narrative Description: The hematology/oncology rotation consists of 4 weeks’ time working with a preceptor, witnessing and participating in the inpatient and outpatient care of oncology and hematology patients. Screening, genetics, risk evaluation, radiation therapy, and community exposures are on a prn basis as opportunities present themselves. Students are expected to be prompt, neat, and pleasant.

M4 students will be expected to function as a “sub-intern”, performing histories, physicals, and consultations on inpatients, presenting daily on the patients they are responsible for, following their inpatients and attending any procedures they undergo, attending clinic and seeing outpatients in the company of the preceptor, and attending weekly cancer conference. Call is something that is earned by demonstrating interest and enthusiasm. Residents will round on a panel of patients in the morning and coordinate with the on call physician for clinic and consults.

A daily topic is provided in the Hem/Onc Workbook for each weekday of the rotation. The first week is focused on oncologic emergencies, the second on more common tumors (emphasizing the organization of approach rather than a compendium of facts), the third on hematology problems, and the fourth on topics such as therapeutics and supportive care. The last day is the student’s day to present a topic of his/her choice. The workbook has been derived from a variety of sources, most importantly feedback from prior students. The final topic is reserved for the students to present a disease, a clinical scenario, a basic science finding, or a humanistic interlude.

IM Essentials, available electronically in the UIC library, will serve as a condensed text that expands on the topics of this curriculum as well as other oncology and hematology topics. There is a test following the sections and it is suggested students take that test as they start the rotation – both to set a baseline and to identify potential areas to concentrate on.

It is critical that students be able to function with a variety of tools and in the environment of the medical resident. Just as clinical medicine remains an empiric science amidst the modeling and speculation of research, being a physician still entails “doing it” amidst theorizing and presentations! We will try to “do” a bone marrow or two, but will also read ECGs and radiology studies, and anything that our consultants will involve us in, whether a scope or surgery. Student clinical cases are the important, real life, studies. Additional ones are provided in the book.

Included are formatted sheets for reading the ECGs, adjacent to the graphics, and formatted H and P sheets. There is also a daily radiology study or picture of a microscope slide to review and report on. Again, a space is provided in the workbook for these reports. Students are welcome to alter these to their usual practice as long as they remain consistent, organized, and communicative. Please use the workbook, although we are all in transition to EMRs. Do not write actual patient names or identifiers in the book, as a matter of confidentiality. The tactile experience can be useful, and will give the student a chart to carry and follow their patients. Students are to document visits, procedures, and questions. I appreciate corrections and references, particularly hyperlinks, to literature, graphics, slide shows, and illustrations, as I seek to morph to an electronic experience.

Learning Objectives:

Topics covered:

  1. Febrile Neutropenia;
  2. Hypercalcemia;
  3. Spinal Cord Compression;
  4. SIADH;
  5. Acute Leukemia at Presentation;
  6. Colon, Breast, Lung Cancer;
  7. Lymphoma, Adult Acute Leukemia, Myeloproliferative Disorders;
  8. Thrombocytopenia, Anemia, Bleeding & Thrombolytic Disorders;
  9. Pain Control, Chemotherapeutic Agents;
  10. Suffering, Clinical Trials in Oncology; and
  11. “Wild card”.

Learning Activities: Tumor Conference, Breast Conference, Grand Rounds. In-patient rounding/ documentation/procedures. Outpatient clinic with rotating preceptors. Radiation oncology clinic (typically one (1) day).

Method of Assessment: Direct faculty evaluation of performance and standard UIC evaluation form completed and submitted. Personal consultation with the student will also be completed.

Required Reading: None

General Scheduling: Monday-Friday, per physician’s schedule. This rotation is not available over the holidays or post-graduation.

Additional Resources: None

Miscellaneous Information: None