BCC 8117: Interdisciplinary Oncology Elective

Dr. Sophie Dessureault and Moffitt Faculty

In this elective, students will have an opportunity to learn the fundamental principles of oncology and the multidisciplinary approach to the prevention and screening of cancer, as well as the diagnostic workup, treatment, rehabilitation, and surveillance of cancer patients. They will have an opportunity to review the fundamental biology of cancer, carcinogenesis, epidemiology, tumor markers, tumor pathology, clinical pharmacology, tumor immunology, and endocrinology, as well as an understanding of potential benefits and complications of multimodality therapy. By the end of the rotation, students will be familiar with the natural history of common cancers (e.g. breast, lung, colorectal) and with the workup and management of individual cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and throughout the course of their disease. Students will understand the concept and significance of staging. They will have a basic knowledge of cancer treatment modalities, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. They will have a better understanding of the causes of pain and suffering in cancer patients and be familiar with the appropriate treatment options for palliation of symptoms. Students will participate in a journal club event and have the opportunity to review statistical methods used in the evaluation of published research studies.

The course will consist of a preceptor-based ambulatory rotation in one of the clinical programs at the Moffitt Cancer Center (e.g. Breast, GI, Thoracic, Heme Malignancies, GU, Neuro, GYN, Sarcoma, Cutaneous, Head & Neck), attendance at weekly interdisciplinary Tumor Boards, one session at the Lifetime Screening Center in which students can witness genetic counseling, and a few select experiences in subspecialty fields (e.g. Infectious Diseases, Speech Pathology, Pain Clinic, Palliative Care, etc.) to better appreciate the full extent of total cancer care. Students will be evaluated by their preceptor and by the faculty who participate in their rotation. There will be no exams and no formal presentations to prepare.

It is important to note that a significant degree of flexibility is allowed in order to individualize each student’s experience during this rotation. Even though all students will be exposed to some degree to all fields of oncology (medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology), students will be given the opportunity to focus their rotation in one or two areas of interests (e.g. medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology). This will allow for students interested in these specialties to focus their experience and also to obtain reference letters relevant to their residency program applications.

 Pre-requisites

 BCC 7164 Surgical Care Clerkship and BCC 7144 Integrated Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Clerkship or at least one month of medicine and one month of surgery for visiting students.