Medical Student Surgical Education

The Goodman Surgical Education Center hosts Stanford medical students throughout their training. From basic suturing to laparoscopic technique, our Surgical Education Fellows instruct and nuture the surgical leaders of tomorrow. We currently participate in the following courses: 

SURG 204: Introduction to Surgery

Designed to give pre-clinical MD students a broad overview of all the surgical specialities. Lectures by leading surgeons from General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery. Orthopedic Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, Transplantation Surgery and Cardiac Surgery highlight the array of diseases and operations performed in their disciplines. In addition, each lecture gives students a "roadmap" as to how to enter that discipline.

SURG 205: Advanced Suturing Techniques/ Technical Training and Preparation for the Surgical Environment

Designed for preclinical medical students. Builds upon skills taught in the Surgical Interest Group's introductory suturing workshops. Topics include knot tying, suturing, hand-sewn anastomosis, stapled anastomosis, and laparoscopic technique. Emphasizes hands-on work with live tissue and surgical simulation. Preference to second year medical students. 

SURG 298: Procedure-Based Specialty Capstone Course

Designed for graduating medical students entering a procedure-based internship or residency (e.g. general surgery, surgical sub-specialties, obstetrics-gynecology, anesthesia, and emergency medicine). Prepares students with practical, high-yield clinical and procedural skills. Clinical skills include fielding common calls regarding surgical patients, obtaining informed consent, completing operative dictations, discharging patients, writing prescriptions, running trauma surveys, and interpreting surgically relevant radiology studies. The hands-on portion of the course covers basic open and laparoscopic surgical skills utilizing bench models, laparoscopic box trainers, and full cadaveric simulations. Prerequisite: graduating medical student. 

SURG 300A: Surgery Core Clerkship (SUMC, PAVAMC, SCVMC, KPMC)
Closed to Visitors

Provides students with clinical experience in the evaluation and treatment of a wide variety of surgical diseases. Emphasis is placed on teaching students to recognize and manage basic clinical problems. Students function as active members of the surgical team, and follow patients throughout their in-patient course. Outpatient clinics provide the student with the ability to participate in the initial work-up and care plan of peri-operative patients. Basic surgical skills are taught in the operating room, in the emergency department setting, and in the Goodman Surgical Education Center. The clerkship offers an opportunity for students to integrate their knowledge of anatomy, physiology and physical diagnosis into a treatment plan for patients with surgical diseases. A blended learning curriculum is in place for all students at all sites. It combines case discussions with video pre-session material and related skills sessions. This curriculum covers the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and principles of surgical management. A required textbook will be provided. Each student spends one four-week rotation at Stanford, the VA, Kaiser, or SCVMC. The remaining four weeks will be spent rotating on two different Surgical Subspecialties – Breast Service, Cardio-vascular, ENT, Plastic Surgery/Hand Surgery, Cardio-thoracic, Transplant, Trauma, Urology, or Vascular. A 1/2 day orientation is held at the beginning of the eight week period. The NBME Subject Exam is a required component of the clerkship. 

SURG 338A: Advanced Surgery Clerkship (SUMC)
Open to Visitors 

Allows a student to function as surgical interns, but with reduced patient loads. This surgical sub-internship curriculum is designed to provide senior medical students with the skills and knowledge necessary to function as an intern. The curriculum focuses on practical skills, including wound care and bedside procedures, and intern-level floor management, from writing orders to managing pages from nurses. Students are assigned to one of the general surgery teams at SUMC. The student will be fully integrated to the service and expected to participate in all teaching conferences and grand rounds. The student will have weekly meetings with the course director. The student must have successfully completed Surgery 300A. 

Resources

Establishing a Positive Clinical Learning Environment in the Surgery Core Clerkship


Learn how to tie a one-handed knot including slip knots and square knots.

How to hold forceps and load a needle driver.