Medical Student Elective
![Medical students, Sean and Bianka, look at a diagram on HIV.](https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=hPD3AO1F 200w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=NJk4X1V1 260w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=VlYzra7U 320w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=Ap3yM-gr 400w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=WdYnI8Gb 520w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=bjUb2b3x 640w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=CsqKSmOP 800w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=IV6JUfG1 1040w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=z6ue_GRG 1280w, https://www.infectiousdiseases.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/teaser/2024-04/infectious-students-hiv.jpg?itok=bW6SbzuW 1600w)
Infectious Disease Consult Service
The elective provides training in the recognition and management of general infectious diseases, particularly in hospitalized patients with infections. The infectious diseases consult team consists of two faculty members, two postdoctoral fellows, an infectious diseases pharmD, residents, and students. The elective is offered monthly, except for July and August.
Objectives
- To develop an approach to the patient with fever
- To recognize common infectious diseases
- To learn to interpret and use laboratory information appropriately
- To understand the principles of antibiotic selection.
Learning Opportunities
Under the supervision of one of our fellows, the student performs the initial evaluation of the inpatient consultation and follows the patient daily, writing chart notes to maintain communication between the consultation service and the patient's primary team. Consultation rounds are made five days a week with the consultation attending and the fellows. Two conferences a week are held by the division, and attendance by the students is strongly encouraged.