This pediatric-focused elective is an opportunity for students to improve their medical knowledge of pediatric medical issues, deliver pediatric primary, and improve their medical Spanish knowledge in this population. The majority of the student’s time will be spent seeing patients in the outpatient pediatric clinic at BMC with attendings who are Spanish-speaking and/or Spanish-speaking Latino origin that have a significant proportion of patients whose primary language, either for them or their parents, is Spanish. These clinics may include, but are not limited to the following pediatric settings: Gastroenterology, Neurology, Infectious Disease, Endocrinology, and Primary Care. The student will learn the initial approach for new patients as well as long-term management of chronic illnesses in the designated clinical settings. Discussions with faculty around patient care will focus both on medical management in general, but also with specific attention to elements of the social and cultural influences that affect the quality of medical services and treatment and that can enhance health outcomes for the patient and family. As a clinician, the student will develop skills of more culturally sensitive care both through observation of the approach of the experienced physicians and through active practice and feedback. Complementing the clinic experience and exposure to medical Spanish, the course will have a series of literature discussions developed to cover diverse elements of Spanish-speaking patients and Latino health, cultural awareness and sensitivity, as well as care of patients with limited English proficiency. Students interested in the elective should have a working proficiency of spoken Spanish with capability of, at a minimum, interviewing the patient, gathering pertinent information and performing a pertinent physical exam. Students lacking this level of fluency may enroll in the elective, but should have comprehension of spoken Spanish sufficient to follow the interview and interaction in Spanish between the care provider and the patient. For those interested in receiving attestation of their language proficiency to adequately interview patients in Spanish through the Hospital Interpreter Services an evaluation can be arranged beforehand for such attestation.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.