It’s no secret that pediatric care comes with unique nuances. Performing common examinations on these pint-sized patients, such as listening to the heart and lungs, can be a challenge. The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (ICOM) “Medical Trick-or-Treat” event provided treats to children volunteering as pediatric patients while teaching student physicians some tricks in performing exams.

Organized by ICOM’s Pediatric Interest Group, pediatric volunteers ranging from infants to adolescents, visited campus to trick-or-treat and participate in a non-invasive examination. Student Doctors practiced listening to the heart and lungs, checking reflexes, and conducting an abdominal exam.

“As the professionals whose purpose is to advance the well-being of children, pediatricians must be advocates for the individual child and for all children, irrespective of culture, religion, gender,  sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity or of local, state, or national boundaries,” said Dr. Suzanne Rogers, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at ICOM. “Helping our medical students experience practicing their examination skills is an essential part of the pediatrics experience. As we always say, ‘Children are not little adults!’”

Student Doctor Tyler Lindsay, a second-year student at ICOM and member of the pediatric club’s executive board, says this event not only benefits students but is also beneficial for the pediatric participants.

“We’re getting to work on our exam skills and practice working with kids, so hopefully this is a fun experience for them,” Student Doctor Lindsay said. “Normally it’s a nerve-wracking thing to go to the doctor’s office, so the goal is to give them a positive association with visiting their pediatrician.”