Available to M3s and M4s.

Will require travel to the Illinois Poison Center once a week.

When applying for this rotation, please send a letter of intent explaining your interest in the EM Elective to Renata Barylowicz, who will forward to the course supervisor for approval.

Provides focused experience with the evaluation and management of poisoned and potentially poisoned patients.  The main objective of this elective is to introduce the senior medical student to the specialty of clinical medical toxicology. By the end of the rotation, the student will understand:

• The evaluation, differential diagnosis and management of the poisoned patient.
• The common poisons encountered by a clinician
• The response and treatment of biological, chemical and radiological exposures
Some example topics include analgesics (acetaminophen, salicylate), drugs of abuse, cardiotoxins, withdrawal states, toxic alcohols, envenomations (reptiles, marine and arthropods), toxic alcohols, toxicity of psychiatric medications and medication interactions.  

The student will be expected to be present during lectures, journal clubs, and rounding on patients at Loyola University Medical Center with toxicologic significance. At the end of the rotation a 30-minute presentation on a detailed toxicology topic of the student’s choice is required. Attendance will be tracked and will factor into grading.  

Grading will be Pass/High Pass/Honors.