Pediatric Developmental Disabilities Elective

Course Overview

The goal of this elective in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) is to familiarize students with typical and atypical child development through clinical experiences, small-group and media-based teaching/learning opportunities, and community-based site experiences, when possible. It is our hope that students will appreciate the role they play in developmental diagnostic evaluations, as well as the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration (with health and community professionals) in supporting a child and family affected by a developmental disability.

Students will learn more about autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and other developmental and behavioral diagnoses. Students will also learn more about basic management strategies for common pediatric behavior concerns, educational advocacy within early intervention and special education systems, and community services and their coordination.

All of this will be presented within a person- and family-centered framework, with attention to social determinants of health and recognition of the importance of family partnership.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the different domains of development (language, motor, cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive)
• Have a better understanding of how (through play!) to determine whether a child has typical or atypical development
• Perform the medical part of an interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation for a child with a developmental disability
• Describe the roles of other interdisciplinary team professionals (including psychologist, educator, nurse, social worker, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, audiologist, and nutritionist) in the care and support of a child with a developmental disability
• Participate in the process of care coordination for an individual with complex developmental disability
• Learn firsthand from a Family Experience what life is like for a family when disability is a part of the dynamic
• Describe the necessary screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic tasks involved in appropriate primary care for children with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism, Down Syndrome, attention deficit disorder, and learning disabilities
• List differential diagnoses for language delay, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficits, and motor disability in children and youth
• Understand and discuss appropriate use of pharmacologic agents such as psychostimulants, alpha adgrenergic agents, atypical antipsychotics, and other medications used in the care of children with developmental disabilities
• Understand how social determinants of health impact early childhood development and developmental trajectories

Schedule of Activities

Students will participate in all clinical activities of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, including our Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic (formerly known as Kirch Center), as well as visiting community agencies such as schools and childcare centers for guided observations. Students electing longer rotations will have more opportunities for higher level clinical interaction.

Although we have created 2-week blocks for this elective, we are open to students coming for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Students should contact DBP Elective Coordinator Ms. Carolyn King (carolyn_king@urmc.rochester.edu) if they are interested in taking this elective during dates that are not already established as a 2-week block session, or if they are interested in a 1-, 3-, or 4-week elective. We do our best to accommodate these requests!

Key DBP Faculty for this elective: Dr. Abigail LH Kroening (abigail_kroening@urmc.rochester.edu) and Dr. Dennis Kuo (dennis_kuo@urmc.rochester.edu).

Didactic Activities

• Weekly Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Core Lecture Series on research and leadership in the care of children with Developmental Disorders
• Weekly pediatric discipline conference
• Computer-aided instruction
• Individualized teaching
• For students electing experiences longer than 2 weeks, a brief, informal talk based on reading on a related subject of the student's choice

Student Evaluations

Students will be evaluated based on their engagement in clincal and learning opportunties, the quality and completeness of their patient workups, their ability to participate as members of interdisciplinary teams, and on their informal talks.