University of Maryland School of Medicine - Terrae Mariae Medicus (Baltimore, MD)

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THEODORE E. WOODWARD, M.D. Head, Department of Medicine MEDICINE The Department of Medicine hopes to engender into each medical student, whether he is a future surgeon or not, a concept of total patient care. In the process of doing this, the student hears of the thrill of watching Entamoeba histolytica “waltz across the stage of the microscope”, of the privilege of doing urinanalysis and stool guaiacs, and of the reason why only one EKG machine is necessary for the third floor. At times, it appears that granulomatous diseases are more important than hypertension in the general population, but these fears are soon allayed when the student comes in contact with patients. With two months as a third year student and one month as a pseudointern, the medical rotation gives the student a large expo- sure to pathology. For all of its often overstated faults, most students leave the rotation with the feeling that they are somewhat better equipped to face the rigors of their internship because of it. Medicine has taught its lesson: if you want it done, do it yourself unless you can find a third year student. 28