Several excellent opportunities exist for a clinical experience by senior medical students at UC Davis Medical Center. Electives during the period of July 1 through January 31, for the most part, are filled with students interested in applying to the general surgery residency program. We place a high priority on the opportunity to observe applicants functioning as acting interns.

Click here for a complete listing of Surgery Medical Electives

Clinical Plastic Surgery Elective
Physician in Charge: Thomas Stevenson, M.D.
He/she learns principles of wound management and has the opportunity to deal with major reconstructive problems through management of flaps and microvascular techniques.

Physician in Charge: David Greenhalgh, M.D.
The student functions as an acting intern in the eight-bed burn unit and the 80-bed Shriners Hospital for Children. He/she learns principles of critical care, fluid and electrolyte resuscitation and management of surgical wounds. There is the opportunity to participate in surgical procedures related to burn care and to develop manual skills during these procedures.

Physician in Charge: David Wisner, M.D.
The student works as an acting intern on one of the two general surgery trauma teams, participating in the management of critically injured patients. Team hours consist of 24 hours on, 24 hours off. This is an extremely active trauma unit affording the student an opportunity to develop skills in the evaluation and resuscitation of the injured patient as well as perfecting his/her understanding of the physiology of shock and injury and its rational therapy.

Physician in Charge: James W. Holcroft, M.D.
The student participates in the direct supervision of critically ill surgical patients in the surgery S.I.C.U. Each student is closely supervised by attending physicians. This elective provides for in-depth experience with management of critically ill patients and provides a firm basis in surgical physiology.

Physician in Charge: James E. Goodnight, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
Students work as part of the Surgical Oncology team learning the medical and surgical principles applicable to cancer. He/she participates in the care of major surgical oncologic problems and has the opportunity to learn the medical, radiologic and surgical approaches to cancer therapy.

Physician in Charge: Staff
The student works as an acting intern, participating in perioperative management and operations on the heart, lungs, mediastinum and other thoracic structures. Regularly scheduled teaching conferences are conducted.

Physician in Charge: Hung Ho, M.D.
The service provides in-depth experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small bowel, colon and rectum, as well as disorders of the liver, biliary tract, pancreas and spleen. The primary emphasis of the student and junior housestaff is on diagnosis, preoperative and postoperative care of patients with G.I. problems under the direction of the chief resident and the attending faculty.

Physician in Charge: James W. Holcroft, M.D.
Student participates in pre-operative management and operations of arterial and venous system exclusive of diseases that require cardiopulmonary bypass for treatment. Includes patient care responsibilities with appropriate supervision.

Physician in Charge: James E. Goodnight Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
This is primarily a self-directed and multi-disciplinary study of breast changes and disease. The student will participate in benign breast clinic as well as clinics in surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. The student will assist in reading mammograms, will attend cases in the operating room, and will review histology from specimens with the pathologists. To the fullest extent possible, the student will follow cases through all stages of management.

Physician in Charge: Staff
This represents an outstanding clinical service and affords students active involvement in care of patients with neonatal congenital surgical problems, fluid and electrolyte management in infants, and a general experience in acquired surgical diseases in children.

Should you be interested in enrolling in general surgery electives, please download application directions at the Visiting Student admission page.

Lois Williams
Student Course Coordinator
UC Davis Medical Center
Surgery Housestaff Office
2315 Stockton Boulevard, Room 6309
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-5638
Fax (916) 734-5633

gensurg.students@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu