*Available to M3 students for four-week rotation only. Available to M4 students for two- or four-week rotation.

On the first day of the rotation, page the GI fellow on Loyola consults.

Elective is Monday-Friday, no weekends.

Gastroenterology Medical Student Rotation

Overview

The Gastroenterology (GI) rotation provides medical students with an opportunity to gain exposure to the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic disorders. Students will participate in a variety of clinical and academic activities including inpatient consults, outpatient clinics, procedures, case discussions, and multidisciplinary learning experiences.

Our goal is to provide students with a supportive, interactive learning environment that emphasizes clinical reasoning, evidence-based medicine, patient-centered care, and career mentorship.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the rotation, students will develop an understanding of:

• Approach to common gastrointestinal and liver disorders
• Clinical evaluation of patients with GI complaints
• Interpretation of laboratory tests, imaging, and endoscopic findings
• Fundamentals of gastrointestinal procedures
• Principles of evidence-based diagnosis and treatment
• Communication and presentation skills in a clinical setting

Students will be encouraged to develop clinical reasoning skills and understand the role of gastroenterology within multidisciplinary patient care.

Before Your Rotation

Students will receive a pre-rotation welcome email with:

• Rotation schedule and expectations
• Clinical responsibilities
• Recommended educational resources
• Key evidence-based GI literature and guidelines

Suggested preparation topics include:

• Evaluation of GI bleeding
• Diarrhea- acute and chronic
• Abdominal pain/Peptic ulcer disease
• Dysphagia and reflux disease
• Acute pancreatitis
• Abnormal liver tests
• Cirrhosis and its complications
• Inflammatory bowel disease flare management

Students are not expected to memorize guidelines before starting the rotation. The goal is to develop a foundation that allows meaningful clinical discussions and learning during the rotation.

Individualized Rotation Goals & Mentorship

At the beginning of the rotation, students will have the opportunity to share their individual goals, including:

• Interest in gastroenterology as a career
• Areas of GI they would like additional exposure to
• Interest in research or academic medicine
• Career planning and fellowship guidance needs
• Need for mentorship or letters of recommendation

Students completing an elective rotation with the goal of exploring GI fellowship are encouraged to communicate their goals early so the rotation experience can be tailored appropriately.

Faculty are committed to supporting students through clinical mentorship, career guidance, and exposure to academic opportunities.

Academic Opportunities

Students are encouraged to participate in GI academic activities, including:

• GI research meetings
• GI/IBD meeting
• Journal clubs/Grand Rounds
• Multidisciplinary case discussions/MnM/Tumor Board
• Educational sessions

Students interested in research, quality improvement, clinical education, or academic medicine are welcome to engage with ongoing projects and faculty mentorship opportunities.

Rotation Expectations

We value professionalism, curiosity, teamwork, and active participation.

Students are expected to:

• Arrive prepared and engaged
• Participate in patient care activities
• Present clinical information clearly and concisely
• Ask questions and seek feedback
• Demonstrate professionalism and respect toward patients, trainees, faculty, and staff

Each student will complete a brief educational presentation during the rotation:

20-minute GI Topic Presentation

The presentation should:

• Review a clinical topic relevant to gastroenterology
• Incorporate current evidence and guidelines
• Highlight practical clinical applications

This is an opportunity to develop skills in literature review, critical appraisal, and medical education.

Feedback and Evaluation

Students will receive ongoing feedback throughout the rotation focused on:

• Clinical reasoning
• Patient presentations
• Medical knowledge
• Professionalism
• Communication skills
• Engagement and growth

Students are encouraged to seek feedback throughout the rotation to maximize their learning experience.

Post-Rotation Feedback

At the conclusion of the rotation, students will be invited to complete a feedback survey.

Feedback will help us improve the rotation experience and ensure that future students have a meaningful and educational GI elective experience.

Our Commitment to Students

We strive to provide an inclusive and engaging learning environment where medical students can explore gastroenterology, strengthen clinical skills, develop mentorship relationships, and gain insight into a career in GI.

Course evaluation is by consensus of GI attending, GI fellow, and medical residents on service. 

This course is graded Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail.