თსსუ-ის დიპლომირებული მედიკოსის ამერიკული პროგრამის კიდევ ექვსმა სტუდენტმა გაიარა კლინიკური როტაცია ემორის უნივერსიტეტში

TSMU US MD Program Student Clinical Rotations at the Emory University

TSMU US MD Program 12th semester students underwent clinical rotations at the Emory University (USA). From December 2019 till March 2020, before announcing COVID – 19 pandemic situations in the world, TSMU students, Sopio Gogia, Nikoloz Karazanishvili, Nika Tavberidze, Daniel Foster, Teona Pirtskhalava and Tamar Papidze were assigned in various Emory University Clinics. 

Sopio Gogia noted: “I was at the Emory Clinic from December 23, 2019 till March 7, 2020. During the nephrology clerkship I had opportunity to work with patients having troubles with kidneys. I broadened my knowledge in various types of dialyses. My second clerkship was in hematology. I was a member of congenital hematological problems treatment team. Besides, while I was working at the clinic I was attending weekly conferences dedicated to the discussions about congenital blood pathologies and various hematological oncology issues. I am proud that I was given chance to present an interesting case of my patient in hematology and discuss it”.

Attendance and participation in the weekly conferences and various activities planned by the Department, Clinic or University is a very important component of the clerkship of the Emory Medicine Program.

From December 30, 2019 till March 8, 2020 Nikoloz Karazanishvili had clinical rotation in general neurology at the Emory Clinic at Midtown and in intensive neurology at Grady Memorial Hospital. The TSMU student worked with his supervisor, residents and doctors, attended lectures and discussed neurological pathologies with various doctors and residents. “I had an experience in ambulatory medicine. In frames of clinical teaching, I was helping doctors in various manipulations and attended the thrombectomy procedures. The clinical experience gained in the USA is a valuable step in my career, as I am going to continue my postgraduate studies in the USA. Time spent in the Emory University gave opportunity to acquaintance with the US medical system in order to adapt with it in the future” said Nikoloz Karazanishvili.

From January 6 till February 28, 2020 the 12th semester student of US MD Program Nick Tavberidze was at the Emory University. He had clerkships in pathology and oncology. Nick Tavberidze said, “I worked at the Department of Pathology at the Emory University Clinic and Grady Memorial Hospital. I had special lectures about interesting cases twice a week and attended conferences on Wednesdays. The Oncology Department staff gave opportunity to participate in the biopsy procedures. The process was challenging, as I had to report about my impressions after the procedure. The oncology clerkship was a great opportunity and at the same time challenge for me”. Nick Tavberidze also participated in the palliative care service in Atlanta. He used to meet the family members of the patients with Dr. Grand. The opportunity given to the TSMU US MD Program student in terms of palliative care was an additional and interesting challenge for him.

The 12th semester student Daniel Foster underwent clinical rotation in Family Medicine at the Emory University Family Medicine School (from January 31 to March 8). He worked at the Emory Clinic at Midtown at the Department of Family Medicine. The clinic had 530 beds and Daniel worked with residents and took care of nearly twelve patients every day. The last two weeks he spent at the Dunwoody Medical Center where he worked with doctors and residents, collected information about patients and planned treatment for the patients which was later discussed with the team supervisor.  “I had opportunity to have practice in the theory accumulated at Tbilisi State Medical University for the last five years. I took care with diverse ethnic and age group people at the clinic and had opportunity to learn a lot of things from residents, doctors and all the devoted staff of the clinics” Daniel noted. 

Before announcing pandemic situation US MD Program student, Teona Pirtskhalava also managed to have clinical clerkship at the Emory University. Teona Pirtskhalava said, “I had opportunity to collect, analyze and set treatment plans of the patients. The reports were discussed by my supervisor at the end of each day. At TSMU we have a course “become a doctor” and we study how to draft notes and patients’ history. I was very proud when I found out that my notes and reports were precise and approved by my supervisor”. 

Tamar Papidze, also US MD Program student had clerkship at the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Emory University Clinic. She participated in various activities related to the laboratory analysis and diagnosing. Tamar also took part in the clinical and didactic activities including reading and evaluating computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients. Tamar Papidze said, “I learned cardiovascular management using standard and new pharmacological, electrical and surgical therapy. I also learned cardiovascular diagnostic studies, including load test, catheterization of the right side of the heart and endomyocardial biopsy. How to evaluate patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, implantable hemodynamic monitors, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and more. I observed the ethical issues, how American doctors are explaining patients their diagnosis or unfortunately telling why they are no more able to help them that the medicine is unable in their cases.”

At the end of the rotation the students presented their experiences at the Emory School of Medicine.

According to the agreement between TSMU and the Emory University, US MD Program student having passed the first level of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is given opportunity to undergo nearly half of the clinical rotations at the Emory School of Medicine.