Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Gastroenterology in Houston

Information about this clinical experience:

This is an outpatient experience during which you will be under the supervision of a highly regarded physician educator who is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. The preceptor completed internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine. 

Although the doctor has been in private practice for over 15 years, the physician remains actively involved in education. The preceptor is a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. As a preceptor, the doctor has also hosted first-year medical students as part of their Physician, Patient, and Society course. In this role, the doctor helps students acquire clinical skills.

Unlike other gastroenterology practices, this is a low-volume office because of the physician's overall philosophy of care. Whereas the standard gastroenterology practice in the U.S. will involve seeing patients every 15 minutes, this physician's evaluations take approximately one hour.  The emphasis is on gaining a strong understanding of the patient's issues. This involves a comprehensive approach where patients are given considerable time to explain their history and their concerns. In doing so, the physician seeks to get to the root of the problem holistically rather than rush to perform a battery of tests and procedures. Patients regard this preceptor as one of the most caring, knowledgeable, thorough, and empathetic physicians that they have ever meet. Perhaps the highest compliment comes from other gastroenterologists who refer challenging cases to this preceptor. 

What type of student will enjoy and benefit most from this practice? 

• Students who want to learn how to evaluate patients thoughtfully with an approach that takes biological, psychological, cultural, and spiritual perspectives into account. 

• Students who don't want to take the same approach with their patients because they understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in medicine that meets everyone's needs because each patient is unique. 

• Students who prioritize the sacredness of the patient-doctor relationship, seek to learn how to build trust with their patients, and want to be held accountable to their patients. 

• Students who want to see the power of integrating the art and science of medicine and learn how to think outside the box to transform patient care. 

While the patient volume is low, this preceptor is known to spend extensive time with the student helping the student acquire the patient-centered skills that our patients want and deserve. Therefore, a very personal relationship will be built that will allow for a meaningful letter of recommendation. 

Rotators will also have the opportunity to observe endoscopic procedures at an outpatient surgery center. Please note that you will also spend time with the preceptor's colleagues in cardiology and dermatology. These physicians are also exceptionally patient-centered and you will benefit from seeing their different styles. 

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing physical exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Have opportunities to research the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Being involved in patient education.

• Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities.

As this physician has many ideas and projects in motion to transform healthcare, there are opportunities for rotators to get involved in these initiatives to improve the practice and the delivery of healthcare. Such initiatives can help the rotator acquire a more diverse skill set for residency and provide a CV boost. Rotators interested in participating should inform the preceptor on the first day of the rotation.