Does anyone know someone who had the experience of switching to the Phoenix, AZ campus for their clinical years?
The
Director of Admissions said they do a lottery to decide who gets to go there because of the high interest. It's a popular option, but I'd still like to hear more about it.
Hello, I'm an M3 at Creighton.
I was phoenix track but chose to stay Omaha.
In general it's pretty simple. Historically each entering class gets the option to select whether they'd want to be "Omaha track" or "Phoenix track" If the number of students interested in phoenix is greater than the number of spots a randomized list is formed with first X amount filling the list and subsequent students being ranked on a wait list. You have until February M2 year to decide if you'd like to keep your spot/ hear back about receiving a spot off the wait list.
Rotation requirements are the exact same with the exception that M3 electives vary slightly (Phoenix has neuroanaesthesia, and i think thats about the only difference). Otherwise both campuses have the same required number of weeks in each clinic. Administration assesses work hours / number of patients and procedural experiences to try to maintain equality between the 2 campuses but there are some variations here and there.
In theory both campuses are "the same" but there will be innate differences due to different geography/ culture / physician selection. You will perform M3 entirely at the campus you select. You will also likely perform M4 at the location you select however students have the option to do a rotation at the opposite campus if they choose too.
In omaha this means rotating at CHI Bergan (our big hospital) as well as other CHI hospitals (lakeside, immanual, etc.) the Omaha VA and Childrens hospital. Our phoenix campus historically rotated at St. Joseph's but we have since created the CU Arizona health education alliance and have expanded our clinical activities throught the maricopa integrated health system. We (Creighton) will officially have residencies through these hospital systems.
There isn't really any direct benefit / opportunity difference between the 2 campuses. Some may argue there is but other than PHX having the barrow neurological institute I still don't see any. People largely chose clinical campus based on their home location. i.e. All the people from CA, AZ, NM, etc went to phoenix. All the midwesterns (MN, NE, KS, MO, WI, etc.) stayed in omaha.
I'm going to avoid anything more specific simply because things are so influx. Our school is constantly trying to adjust our curriculum to serve our education needs and ensure we graduate excellent doctors.
If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to try to answer/ ask a classmate and relay the info.
