Medical Students

Welcome

Welcome to the Saint Vincent Hospital. The Department of Medicine is an affiliated training site for the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), and it hosts substantial numbers of second, third and senior students from UMMS, as well as other institutions. We pride ourselves on being “user-friendly,” and the camaraderie among our house staff is unmatched. Our mission statement is “To mold world-class physicians from an environment rich in talent, compassion, and diversity.” You will also find that many of our faculty did their residency training at SVH and are therefore extremely supportive and committed to your education.

The overall goal of your rotation(s) is not only to learn but to gain independence. To become independent as a physician you need clinical and academic skills, knowledge, maturity, and compassion. Your position as a medical student confers great responsibility. Your patients will think of you as their doctor. The last two years of medical school is a turning point in your career; the step from the classroom to the bedside is completed.

Each patient is an individual. They come from different life experiences and will react to their illnesses in different ways. Don’t forget, patients do not read the textbooks. The more patients you see, the more “Art of Medicine” you will learn. You will learn to make the transition from “reporter of the facts” to “interpreter of clinical information.” Your rotation(s) will provide you with the opportunity to integrate the wisdom you have accumulated during your pre-clinical years with newly acquired knowledge of diseases by using your skills in history taking and physical diagnosis. These skills are not easily obtained and require diligence, continuous study, repetition and constant application. Although you will learn from observing your more senior colleagues, much of what you learn will be through your own work, contact with your patients, and your willingness to expose yourself to as many learning experiences as possible. Remember though, you will never be alone. Our interns, residents, and faculty are all here to help you learn and succeed.

We thank you for your interest in us and do hope you will consider St. Vincent Hospital for some of your elective rotations. We are confident that if you chose to come here, you will have a rich and rewarding experience.

Sincerely,
Dr. Gary Blanchard, Student Coordinator
Dr. Susan George, Program Director Internal Medicine Residency