School of Medicine

Rheumatology

Section: 4th Year Elective Catalog

Rheumatology at Washington Hospital Center : 4320-503

Department: Medicine

Instructor: Drs. Arthur Weinstein, Brian Walitt, Christopher Collins, Rajkumari Bhagati

Contact: Donita McKinney

Number: (202) 877-6274

Location: Washington Hospital Center

Duration: Four Week Elective

Max Number of Students: One per block

Description: The Rheumatology Section at Washington Hospital Center is an academic unit with busy clinical, educational and research programs. For medical students, we offer daily exposure to inpatients and outpatients with common and unusual rheumatic diseases including, osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE (there is a Lupus Clinic), and other connective tissue diseases and vasculitis. There is plentiful opportunity for joint aspiration/injection and synovial fluid analysis. In addition, students will learn of the use of approved and investigational biological agents in the treatment of rheumatic diseases in a rheumatology supervised infusion center. The academic program involves 3-4 fellows and rotating residents and includes didactic seminars, journal clubs, research conferences, clinical and x-ray conferences. Some conferences are held jointly with the rheumatology division at Georgetown . Students will be mentored in their activities by both faculty and fellows.

Rheumatology Consult Elective: 4331-541

Department: Rheumatology

Instructor: Various doctors

Contact: Virginia Steen, MD

Number: (202) 687-8233

Location: GUH and Veterans Affairs Hospital

Duration: Four Week Elective

Max Number of Students: One per block

Description: The student will be exposed to the full spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in children and adults. Our division sees a full spectrum of patients of all ages. Objectives for this elective include the following: To become proficient in performing a rheumatologic examination; To have reviewed the clinical manifestations, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of the major rheumatological disorders; To have observed and performed joint aspiration and soft tissues injectious; To become knowledgeable about synovial crystal analysis; To become familiar with normal and basic radiological manifestations of rheumatic disease and; To develop skills in performing a rheumatologic consultation. Student should clarify with the fellow exactly what days they have clinic or when they will not be there. Additional patients are often added depending on how many residents are available at any time. Student will perform consults or initial evaluations of rheumatology patients, prepare the write up and present to the attending and fellows. They will do follow up evalluations on their patients before the time for attending rounds. Notes should be focused on rheumatologic information and not general medicine issues. Students will be expected to present a 15 minute informal talk about a specific topic in a patient or just something they are interested in. They will be presented in the later 2 weeks. There will be weekly conferences including literature reviews, case managements and presentations, and visiting lectures. Two conferences each month will focus on case presentations from the consult service. Didactic conferences will be held as well; fellows direct this conference and give students lectures on joint exam, injection techniques, laboratory tests, and review of the pre and post tests.