To gain experience with the approach to understanding and managing the pulmonary patient.

During the one-month fourth-year elective in clinical pulmonary medicine, the prospective student will: 

• Become proficient with the pulmonary consultation history and directed physical examination
• Become proficient with the recognition and management of common pulmonary conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, and COPD
• Become familiar with the approach to tertiary-level problems in pulmonary medicine, such as interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer
• Become proficient with reading and understanding basic pulmonary function testing
• Become familiar with the integration of radiological findings with physical examination and clinical history
• Become exposed to pulmonary invasive procedures, such as bronchoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, thoracentesis, and specialized pulmonary function testing

Tips for Success 

• Understand and clarify, if necessary, the expectations your residents, attendings, and course directors have of you. 
• Keep a list of questions that arise during the day. 
• Find the answers to your questions every night. 
• Be an active participant in your patient’s care. 
• Be a “team player” 
• Be around. 
• Solicit feedback. 
• Learning occurs at all times, even on “non-assigned” patients. 
• Learn from your patients. 
• Practice self-directed learning. 
• Know your patients as people. 
• Be prepared and on time. 
• Participate in procedures. 
• Write orders. 
• Be honest – it is ok to say “I don’t know”