OCOM 8065 - General Surgery

General surgery is a four-week blended course that integrates biomedical, social, osteopathic, clinical, and health systems science into the clinical learning environment experience. Educational activities rely on the application and integration of foundational concepts in surgical medicine through faculty- and learner-directed study. Additionally, course topics are reinforced through rotation-specific clinical experiences. In this course, students perform comprehensive evaluations of patients and develop differential diagnoses and treatment plans for the most common surgical conditions, including preoperative to postoperative care. Students also explore clinical situations, patient presentations, and common complications that are relevant to the surgical specialty.

Credit Hours: 8

Course Outcomes
• Students will be able to manage patients in the perioperative period, including the selection of medications, IV fluids commonly used, and their pharmacologic profiles.

• Students will be able to discuss the anatomy of the abdominal wall and hernia defects and the commonly performed surgical procedures to repair hernias.

• Students will be able to diagnose and treat common skin and soft tissue infections.

• Students will be able to list benign and malignant conditions of the skin.

• Students will be able to describe the basic anatomy and normal physiology of the hepato- pancreato-biliary system.

• Students will be able to describe diagnostic tests and surgical treatment of liver, biliary, and pancreatic diseases.

• Students will be able to describe the approach to the injured patient, common trauma bay procedures, and possible sequelae of traumatic injuries.

• Students will be able to describe the pathophysiology of upper and lower GI causes of pain and possible treatments including lifestyle, medications, and pharmacology.

• Students will be able to list 3-5 potential complications of gallbladder, hernia, appendectomy, colon, and rectal surgery including their approximate risks and first steps in management.

• Students will be able to describe and interpret imaging findings related to breast disease, as well as the surgical management of breast disease.

• Students will be able to describe opportunities, attractions, and challenges of general surgery as a profession.