Pediatric Inpatient Acting Internship-NATIONWIDE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL – TOLEDO
Title of Course: Pediatric Inpatient Acting Internship-NATIONWIDE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL – TOLEDO
Elective Year(s): Fourth Year – Acting Internship
Department: Pediatrics
Type of Elective: Clinical
Course Site: Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo // 2213 Cherry St., Toledo, OH 43608 Phone 419-251-4000
Course Number: PEDS 737
Blocks Available: All
Number of Students/Block: 1
Faculty: Dr. Heather Meade MD, Dr. Matthew Durst MD, PhD, Dr. Meera Mannicks MD, Dr. Erica Morgan MD, Dr. Andrew Gu MD, Dr. Jason Metacalf MD, PhD, Dr. Julie Weinberg MD
Elective Description/Requirements: The student will function as an acting intern, as if he/she were an intern, supervised directly by a senior resident along with the attending physician. Student will perform histories and physicals on patients, simple procedures (IV’s, LP, and venipuncture) under supervision, write daily progress notes, and actively participate in ward rounds. A maximum of six patients may be followed at any time to allow time for formulation of patient problem lists and management planning. Each acting intern must complete two on-line modules to prepare the acting intern for his/her role as teachers of junior medical students.
Length of Course: 4 weeks
Links to Core Competencies/Educational Course Objectives:
- Show sensitivity to cultural ethnic and socioeconomic factors that affect personal and family traits and behaviors. (EPOs: MK-2, IPC-1, PB-1)
- Obtain a medical history from a second person (usually a parent) as well as from the patient. (EPOs: PC-1)
- Be able to discuss issues of appropriate privacy at all ages and confidentiality in older children and adolescents. (EPOs: PB-3)
- Obtain record and interpret a relevant history that in unique to pediatric in addition to the standard medical history. (EPOs: PC-1)
- Modify the medical history depending on the age of the child, with particular attention given the following age groups: neonate, infant, toddler/preschool aged child, adolescent. (EPOs: PC-1)
- Establish rapport with children of various ages in order to perform the physical examination. (EPOs: PC-1)
- Recognize that the age of the child influences the area included in the exam as well as the order of the examination, and the approach to the patient.(EPOs: PBL-1, PC-1)
- Perform and record a complete physical examination on an infant, child and adolescent, including the observation and documentation of normal physical findings. (EPOs: PC-1)
- Recognize how exam findings have different clinical significance depending on the age of the child. (EPOs: PC-6)
- Write a concise history and physical and daily progress notes that clearly identify the most likely differential diagnosis and therapeutic plans. (EPOs: PC-1, PC-6)
- Work with other health professionals as members of a team in patient care. (EPOs: SBP-1)
- Choose and effectively use the learning resources available for self-directed study. (EPOs: PBL-1)
- Project a professional image and behave in an ethical, responsible, reliable and dependable manner. (EPOs: PB-1, SBP-1, IPC-2)
- Give a variety of common pediatric presentations of illness. Discuss the differential diagnosis and for each diagnosis the etiology and/or pathophysiology, natural history, presenting signs and symptoms, initial laboratory test and/or imaging studies indicated for diagnosis and plan for initial management (e.g. fever, sore throat, heart murmur, lymphadenopathy, seizures, etc.) (EPOs: MK-4)
- Fluid Management: (a) Identify and apply knowledge of daily water and electrolyte requirements in the care of pediatric patients; (b) Explain factors which increase daily fluid requirements; (c) Describe conditions in which fluid administration may need to be restricted; (d) Describe the conditions that contribute to dehydration including the pathophysiology of hypernatremic and hyponatremic dehydration; (e) Explain the effect of pH on serum potassium levels; (f) Prescribe appropriate fluids with context to the patient’s clinical presentation. (EPOs: MK-4)
- Select and request appropriate tests and diagnostic procedures and write appropriate referrals to continue the investigation of patient problems in light of therapeutic goal, time, availability and cost. (EPOs: MK-4, PC-1, PC-6, SBP-3)
- Participate in evening or weekend clinical care to support continuity of patient care and demonstrate professionalism in varied clinical settings. (EPO: IPC-2)
- Conduct structured patient handoffs using an evidence‑based communication approach to ensure safe and accurate transfer of care. (EPO: SBP-1)
Professionalism: UT/COMLS students will meet or exceed the institutional standards for professionalism as stated in the current Educational Program objectives and the current Educational Course Objectives for the Sponsoring Department
Instructional Methods:
- Inpatient rounds
- Teaching rounds
- Mentored technical skills practice
- Interpretation of lab data
- Residency conferences
Assessment Methods:
- Completion of Case presentations/write-up
- Acting Internship Assessment
- Presentation on topic of student's choice
Prerequisites: Successful completion of required Pediatric clerkship
Special Requirements:
- As part of the acting internship, students are required to participate in at least one evening or weekend clinical experience. This experience ensures exposure to the full spectrum of patient care responsibilities and supports readiness for residency-level schedules and work environment.
- Students are expected to participate in structured patient handoffs as part of their clinical responsibilities. This includes observing and contributing to the sign-out processes to ensure safe, effective transitions of care.
- Night week. Students can only sign up for one PEDS 718 or PEDS 737)
Clerkship Director: Rajat Kaul, M.D.
Clerkship Coordinator: Joseph Osinski
Phone Number: 419.291-0377
Email: joseph.osinski@utoledo.edu
ECC Approved
March 2026