Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center

Hours of Operation
Thursday, May 15 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 16 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Onsite registrations is required for most Clinical Skills Center activities. Registration for all Clinical Skills Center activities is free to attendees of Internal Medicine 2008.


The Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center is a dynamic collection of educational activities providing hands-on learning and interactive self-study. Update physical examination skills, learn office based procedures, refine communication skills, and become adept at using medical reference software. Over 20 interactive workshops will be offered as part of the scientific program at Internal Medicine 2008.

Herbert S. Waxman Learning Center
View a two-minute video of the Learning Center
[ Windows Media Player ] [ Quicktime ]

In addition, the Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center will offer the opportunity for intensive practice of an array of important skills, including musculoskeletal, pelvic, breast, male urogenital, and thyroid examinations, as well as procedures such as skin biopsy, arthrocentesis, suturing, central line placement, and endometrial biopsy.

The Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center provides an opportunity for "hands-on" learning of clinical skills. These sessions are conducted in small groups, and are facilitated by either physician faculty or clinical teaching associates (patient models who teach and provide feedback.) Clinical Skills Center activities focus on short, faculty intensive learning sessions where the demonstration, practice, and feedback model is used to teach a variety of skills in the areas of clinical procedures, physical examination, and communication.

The Clinical Skills Center Interactive Resources Area also offers self-instructional software on various clinical skills as well as many examples of medical computing software applications.

Skills Training In Clinical Procedures

  • Learn how to perform arthrocentesis and soft tissue injections by practicing on model joints. Improve your identification of joint and bursal landmarks for a more precise injection technique.

  • Learn how to perform a shave biopsy, a punch biopsy, and an elliptical incision biopsy by practicing on a pig's foot. Practice these techniques, learn about cryosurgery basics, and receive feedback from experienced faculty.

  • Learn a number of different suturing techniques by practicing on pigs’ feet.

  • Learn the indications for toenail removal, practice a digital block, wedge resection and removal of an ingrown toenail, using realistic models

  • Practice endometrial biopsy technique using pelvic models

  • Use sonography equipment and training models to learn how to find vessels and practice line placement technique.

  • Learn the protocols and techniques for performing the ankle-brachial index in the office setting.

Skills Training in Physical Examination

Skills Training in Physical Examination

  • Learn to perform a sensitive and comprehensive pelvic, clinical breast, or male urogenital exam under the guidance of experienced patient-instructors.

  • Work with expert faculty and standardized patients to learn the proper assessment of the comatose patient or the patient with altered mental status

  • Develop and refine skills in the screening musculoskeletal exam in intensive, 3-hour workshops led by expert faculty.

  • Observe and practice the proper examination of the thyroid gland, as performed by an expert endocrinologist.

Skills Training In Auscultation and Interpretation

  • Refine auscultation skills by practicing with the Harvey cardiac simulator

  • Refine your knowledge of cardiac auscultation by listening to heart sounds while viewing corresponding phonocardiograms in a self-directed learning environment

Especially for Medical Students

Students can prepare for the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Examination by using the Clinical Skills Center’s professional teaching patients and receive feedback on their performance from expert faculty.

Quick Links

  • Shuttle Bus Schedule [PDF]: Download the schedule for ACP's complimentary shuttle running between the Washington DC Convention Center and participating hotels.
  • Guest Program: Activities and details for guests of Internal Medicine 2008 Attendees.