Sponsored by the NIH Intramural Program on Research on Women's Health in cooperation with the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health

Session parameters:
This elective is offered for 8-week sessions. Twelve-week sessions may be available on a case by case basis. Two students can be accepted per session. Rotations will not be available during the months of July and August.

Important: Students should be sure to include in their application

1. Areas of interest in which they will do their preceptor guided literature review,
2. Whether they are applying for a 8 week or 12 week rotation,
3. Those applying for only a 8 week rotation should indicate which 8 week module they prefer:
 
    (a) Interdisciplinary Women's Endocrinology and Metabolism, or
    (b) Women's Behavioral Health and Reproductive Psychiatry.

Prerequisite:
Completion of clerkship in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Surgery

Coordinator:
Lawrence M. Nelson, M.D. 

Program Description:
The major goal of this elective is to have students integrate women's health care across specialties by experiencing interdisciplinary problems from the patient's perspective. 

There are three major components:

1) Curriculum in gender specific medicine
2) Interdisciplinary clinical rotations
3) Preceptor guided literature review

Students are expected to complete all three components of the program successfully.

1) Curriculum in gender specific medicine
Students will be required to complete an online curriculum and demonstrate basic competency in core aspects of gender specific medicine.   There is an online required women's health curriculum entitled, “The Science of Sex and Gender in Human Health.”  This must be completed with a passing score on the examination.  See: http://sexandgendercourse.od.nih.gov/index.aspx

2) Interdisciplinary clinical rotations
Students will become part of a team consisting of clinical associates and senior investigators within the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health. It is expected that students will complete a workup and presentation regarding several patients each week; participate in daily rounds; and participate in ongoing clinical investigative activities. There are also opportunities in which students will participate in the study and care of outpatients.  Students will participate with clinical associates in various activities including clinical rounds, grand rounds and various lectures.  There are two core modules.
 
3) Preceptor-guided literature review
Students will select a preceptor and prepare a referenced report on a gender specific medicine topic of mutual interest.
 

Clinical Rotations

A) Clinical Elective on Women's Behavioral Health and Reproductive Psychiatry

Rotation Description
The students' clinical experiences will include the following: 1) participation in clinical assessments, consultations, and management of women with mood disorders including women with reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders along side Investigators in the Section on Behavioral Endocrinology, NIMH; 2) attendance during psychiatric consultations in women who are admitted to other Institutes within the NIH Clinical Center and who have disturbances in mood and behavior secondary to several medical illnesses including HIV and breast cancer under the supervision of Senior NIMH Clinicians; and 3) attendance during the weekly NICHD-NIDDK clinical rounds.

Selection of Students
One student per module per 8-week or 12-week session.

Rotation Objectives
• In a research environment provide a unique clinical experience that takes a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and management of depressive disorders in women.
 
• Learn the clinical skills needed to evaluate behavioral disorders and formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans.
 
• Effectively communicate information to patients and the multidisciplinary clinical team.
 
• Gain insight into the role of reproductive endocrinology in the regulation of mood and behavior in men and women.

• Learn to evaluate and manage the psychological and emotional health issues related to disorders of women's health.
 
Staff
 
• Pedro Martinez, M.D., NIMH
• Peter Schmidt, M.D., NIMH
• Maryland Pao, M.D., NIMH
• Deborah Snyder M.S.W., NIMH

Weekly Schedule

Weeks 1 thru 8
Monday – NIMH Consultation rounds, NIMH Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic
Tuesday – NIMH Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic
Wednesday – Gynecology and Medical Endocrinology conferences
Thursday – NIMH Consultations, NIMH Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic
Friday – NIMH Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic, Endocrine research conferences
 
Clinical Rotations (continued)

B) Interdisciplinary Women's Endocrinology and Metabolism

Rotation Description
Students will spend most of their time on the clinical wards rotating among the reproductive, pediatric, and medical endocrine branches of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Selection of Students
One student per module per 8-week or 12-week session.

Rotation Objectives

• In a research environment provide a unique clinical experience that takes an interdisciplinary approach to caring for patients with disorders related to women's health involving reproductive, pediatric and medical endocrinology.

• Learn the consulting skills needed to formulate a diagnostic and therapeutic plan.

• Effectively communicate information to patient, family, attending physicians, and nursing staff.

• Gain insight into the evaluation and management of psychological and emotional health issues related to disorders of women's health.

Staff

• Lawrence Nelson, M.D., NICHD
• Alan DeCherney, M.D., NICHD
• Mary Ryan, M.L.S., OD/ORS
• Monica Skarulis, M.D, NIDDK
• Constantine Stratakis, M.D., D. Sc., NICHD

Weekly Schedule

Weeks 1 and 2
Monday – Inpatient ward work, the endocrinology of women's health
Tuesday – Outpatient Medical Endocrinology clinic and conference
Wednesday – Gynecology and Medical Endocrinology conferences
Thursday – Pediatric Endocrinology conference, Gynecology Consult Clinic
Friday – Reproductive Endocrine and Medical Endocrine research conferences

Weeks 3 and 4
Monday – Inpatient ward work, the endocrinology of women's health
Tuesday – Outpatient Pediatric Endocrinology clinic and conference
Wednesday –Gynecology and Medical Endocrinology conferences
Thursday – Pediatric Endocrinology Conference, Gynecology Consult Service
Friday – Reproductive Endocrine and Medical Endocrine research conferences
 
Available preceptors for written report
Autoimmunity - Mark Gourley, NIAMS
Bone - Michael Collins, NIDCR
Cancer - Itzhak Avital, NCI; James Lacey, NCI; Stan Lipkowitz, NCI
Environment - Ken Korach, NIEHS
Genetics and Endocrinology - Constantine Stratakis, NICHD
Human Genetics – Lawrence C. Brody, NHGRI
Heart - Richard Cannon, NHLBI
Information Technology - Mary Ryan, OD/ORS
Mental Health - Peter Schmidt, NIMH; Pedro Martinez, NIMH; Maryland Pao, NIMH; Deborah Snyder, NIMH
Obesity - Giovanni Cizza, NIDDK; Monica Skarulis, NIDDK
Reproduction - Alan DeCherney, NICHD; Lawrence Nelson, NICHD
Thyroid - Monica Skarulis, NIDDK