Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Description: The Hematology/Oncology rotation is a combination inpatient and outpatient rotation of four weeks. The clerkship provides extensive clinic skills on establishing the rapport with patients and families, developing a logical approach for differential diagnosis and managing patients with problems ranging from a nutritional anemia to psychosocial impact and ethical issues inherent in chronic and sometimes terminal illnesses. The students are required to attend all Hematology/Oncology conferences (Tumor Board, hematology case presentation and slide review; Journal Club; and Research conference) and encouraged to attend Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds, M&M conference, etc.  

Students and residents will evaluate many patients during the initial contact and participate in the work-up, both on a cognitive and procedural level. Students will be encouraged to become patient advocates where appropriate and to better understand the psychosocial impact and ethical issues inherent in chronic and sometimes terminal illnesses.

Relevant articles and reading lists will be provided. Evaluation of students at their respective levels will be based upon their fund of knowledge, clinical skills, effectiveness of communication and a short presentation given during the rotation on a related topic of their choice. The presentation topics should be checked with the attending staff for appropriateness and focus, but most topics have been approved without problem.

Educational objectives:

At the end of the rotation the student is expected to demonstrate understanding in:

• The diagnostic approach to common hematological problems: anemia's; thrombocytopenia's; bleeding and thrombosis disorders; neutropenias; leukemia's and lymphomas; others.

• The evaluation of the child/adolescent with a suspected malignancy.

• The etiology of common childhood cancers.

• The basic components of treatment: chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem-cell transplant.

• The psycho-social support of the patient and family

Elective rotation director: Thomas Cochran, MD

Administrative support: Kelly Waddell (kdwaddell@cmh.edu), (816) 302-6889

General information contact: Holly Frey (hlfrey@cmh.edu)

Elective duration: Four weeks

Format: Inpatient and outpatient

Typical schedule:

• Monday - Friday - hours vary (depending on inpatient vs. outpatient) but no earlier than 6:30 am and no later than 5:30 pm.
• No call

Prerequisites: Completion of the Core Pediatric Clerkship.

Criteria for passing: Satisfactory performance on the clinical evaluation.

Criteria for honors: Outstanding performance on the clinical evaluation.