Current Medical Students
M3 Surgery Clerkship
Welcome to the Surgery Clerkship—a pivotal phase in your medical education. This is where the principles you've learned in the classroom meet the intense, hands-on reality of patient care, complex decision-making, and critical operative skills.
The clerkship is designed to immerse you in the diverse fields of surgery, from Acute Care Surgery and Trauma to specialty areas like Cardiothoracic, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery. You will witness firsthand the technical precision, rapid problem-solving, and deep ethical commitment required of a surgeon.
What to Expect
During the next few weeks, you will be an integral part of the surgical team. Your responsibilities will include:
- Clinical Participation: Actively participating in rounds, clinic appointments, and surgical procedures.
- Skill Development: Practicing core physical exam skills, mastering sterile technique, and learning fundamental surgical concepts.
- Night and Weekend Call: Experiencing the high-acuity environment of emergency and trauma surgery.
This clerkship is demanding, but it is also incredibly rewarding. The knowledge and critical thinking skills you develop here will benefit you regardless of the specialty you ultimately choose.
Key Focus Areas
We encourage you to focus on the following pillars to maximize your learning experience:
| Pillar | Description |
| Patient Ownership | Take responsibility for understanding your patients' full histories, labs, and surgical plans. Anticipate needs. |
| Communication | Clearly and concisely communicate with residents, attendings, nurses, and most importantly, patients and their families. |
| Surgical Anatomy | Use your time in the OR to solidify your three-dimensional understanding of the human anatomy. |
| Surgical Ethics | Reflect on challenging cases, including informed consent and end-of-life decisions. |
Resources and Support
Your success is our priority. Please utilize the following resources:
- Clerkship Guide/Syllabus: Please refer to our Canvas which is week by week guide through your surgical clerkship. All information needed for the course is there.
Please feel free to reach out to me or the Clerkship Coordinator, Jennifer Clardy, with any concerns or questions. Dr Wade Christopher, a surgical oncologist, is our Associate Clerkship director and he is another resource. This experience will be transformative. Embrace the challenges, learn aggressively, and enjoy the privilege of caring for surgical patients.
Best regards,
Felicitas Koller, M.D.
Course Director, Surgery Clerkship
Department of Surgery, UMMC
For more information
 | Jennifer Clardy |