Director’s Welcome
Welcome to the Surgery Clerkship! We look forward to teaching you and exposing you to the field of Surgery. This clerkship is unique in that many of the diseases and treatments you encounter are not taught during the preclinical years. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but we are sure you will learn a huge volume in a short period of time. It is indeed true the days can be long, but rest assured you will grow as a physician.
For those of you interested in surgery, we hope this rotation answers that question whether this is “your calling” or not. Even more importantly, however, we aim to expose the “non-surgeons” to this wonderful occupation. It might be the last time one sees an appendectomy, evaluates abdominal pain in the ER, or sees the inside of the human body. We want everyone to get a glimpse “behind the curtain” of what being a surgeon is like. In addition to education and preparing for exams, enjoying the experience and having fun may sound cliché, but it is our goal.
We will educate you on surgical disease presentation, evaluation, and management. We will teach you how to place foley catheters, insert nasogastric tubes and perform basic suturing. You will see patients in the consult setting, on the wards, and in the office. The most memorable experience, however, will come in the operating room itself. As surgeons, we are privileged to operate on our patients—there is sense of humility and accomplishment that each case brings. With your involvement in the team, we hope that you also experience this fulfillment.
We ask you to engage in the Surgery Clerkship with an open mind, desire to learn, and never-ending energy—we can’t wait to share our field with you!
Eric Nelson, M.D.
M3 Surgery Clerkship Director
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Urology
Email: eric.nelson1@vcuhealth.org