Medical Education

Relates the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and psychosocial components of pain to the understanding and care of patients with acute, chronic, or cancer pain. Students are involved with faculty on a one-to-one basis while interviewing, examining, and treating patients in the multidisciplinary outpatient Pain Management Clinic from 8am to 5pm. Several times a week there are multidisciplinary conferences at lunch evaluating complex patients and neuromodulation cases along with morning teaching. Students will gain exposure to the multidisciplinary management of pain. In clinic they will have the opportunity to see interventional procedures including diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks using ultrasound, psychological strategies for managing pain including biofeedback and cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy treatments focused on regaining movement, acupuncture as well as individualized medical care plans for patients with a wide array of pain disorders. Students may also observe epidural, spinal, and peripheral nerve blocks and observe procedures performed with fluoroscopy in the outpatient surgical center. In addition to the outpatient Pain Management Clinic, the Pain Management Services oversees the treatment of patients with postoperative pain, acute on chronic pain, and cancer pain on the Acute Pain Service which involves daily teaching and work rounds beginning at 7:00 am at the Stanford Hospital where students participate as part of a team in implementing multimodal and interventional management strategies including neuraxial and regional techniques for perioperative pain management.

Please note: Visiting students must obtain approval from Yun Tao prior to applying for this clerkship. Please email Yun Tao to submit your requests.

More information can be found through the Stanford School of Medicine Course Catalog.