Description:
Residents will observe and participate in the diagnosis and management of orthopaedic bone and soft tissue tumors during 10 week rotations in their PGY-2 & PGY-4 years. Clinic patients are evaluated at VOI and operative procedures performed at VMC and VCH. This program stresses the work-up and treatment of orthopaedic tumors and operative approaches to orthopaedic tumors in both the elective and trauma settings.
Resident role and expectations:
Residents on the tumor service will function as an important member of the care team, assisting in clinical patient evaluation and surgical management under the direct supervision and guidance of the attending staff.
Readings (available in the resident library):
- Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Tumor
- Orthopaedic Pathology
Attendings:
Ginger Holt, M.D.
Jennifer Halpern, M.D.
Herbert Schwartz, M.D.
Goals and objectives by the end of this rotation:
- Medical knowledge: Obtain knowledge for the work-up, classification, and treatment options for a variety of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors of the spine, pelvis, and extremities in both children and adults. Obtain knowledge and comprehension of common surgical approaches for common bone and soft tissue tumors.
- Patient care: Obtain acumen in diagnosing and proposing treatment in the clinical setting, and the surgical treatment of pathologic fractures. Demonstrate competence in the evaluation and work-up of orthopaedic bone and soft tissue tumors.
- Interpersonal and Communication skills: Demonstrate interpersonal skills and professionalism necessary to adequately diagnose and treat a variety of traumatic/pathologic and elective tumors. Demonstrate courtesy and timeliness with colleagues, patients, and ancillary staff.
- System-based practice: Demonstrate understanding of how to work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems for patients with bone and soft tissue tumors disorders, including the understanding of how to make referrals to a musculoskeletal oncologist. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of medical oncology and radiation oncology in the care of orthopedic tumors.
- Professionalism: Demonstrate initiative in the needs of patients and professional staff, showing honesty, compassion, and respect for the patient issues both in terms of the medical diagnosis and the psychosocial ramifications.
- Practice-based learning: Demonstrate self-improvement through a critique of their performance during presentation of M&M cases.