I want this to be the last time I need to answer any questions about rotations
For year 3, you have a 50% chance of staying in Des Moines, about a 25% chance of staying in Iowa, and the other 25% is comprised of being elsewhere for a year. I remember Michigan, Ohio, and Mississippi?
Here is the current deal. About 50% of the students stay in what is designated Iowa Non Year-Long not in Des Moines. Last year, the students put in their zip codes which made that their home base and they tired to make as many rotations as close to their home base. For my class, they are
talking about switching to more of a regional system. These are some of the places that you may end up if you are in that group. Newton, Pella, Grinnell, Indianola, Winterset, Marshalltown, Ames, Storm Lake and Fort Madison. NO guarantee all rotations in Des Moines. Some students will have to leave the area for certain rotations which is usually OB and Peds because there are just not enough docs of those specialties in the state (Iowa is very Fam Med heavy).
Everyone else is in year-long sites. That does not guarantee that you won't have to do some traveling, but it is usually within an hour of your designated site so you are able to commute daily.
I understand everyone has a different idea of what an acceptable commute length is, but this is what DMU has established. Year-long sites are currently available in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and Minnesota. I know the school is actively working to find more year-long sites. This is a goal they have had for a long time. These were the sites for the Class of 2014
Iowa
- Davenport/ Bettendorf
- Fort Dodge
- Fort Madison
- Dubuque
- Clinton
- Mason City
- Waterloo
- Ottumwa
- Mercy Des Moines
- Methodist Des Moines ?? currently working on it
Minnesota
- Mankato, MN
- Willmar, MN
- Marshall,MN
Michigan
- Bay Regional
- St John Macomb, Macomb Center
- Mount Clemens
- St John Macomb, Oakland Center
Ohio
- Doctors Hospital Columbus
- Firelands Regional Sandusky
- St John West Shore Westlake
- St Joseph Hospital Warren/Youngstown
- St Vincent Toledo
- SE Ohio Core- Athens
Nebraska
- Faith Regional Hospital Norfolk
Missouri
- Des Peres Hospital St Louis
These sites are NOT guaranteed for any future classes (including my own class). They change yearly especially with more and more medical schools being opened. For example, we used to have a rotation in Casper, WY that the Class of 2013 had available for them, but this was no longer available for the class of 2014.
A few questions:
1. Are students given any sort of priority for rotation locations based on familial situations? I am married and will possibly have a child going into 3rd year. Picking up and moving would consist of a lot more for me than throwing a few garbage bags of clothes in the back of my civic (like it used to).
2. Other than the rural rotation(s), are most of the rotations ward based? I seem to remember them saying they were.
You are able to apply to be exempted from the lottery for special circumstances that your class officers will vote on. The voting is blinded so they don't actually know who they give exemptions to. It is unlikely that being married or having a child will get you an exemption. Being married and/or having children is not uncommon and would not be a unique enough situation on its own to be granted one. They typically do not give out a lot of exemptions. Things that I have heard that usually get you an exemption is having a medical condition that requires you to stay in an area for treatment and your doctor or being the only caregiver for someone (and that someone usually has some sort of special needs).
As for ward based, it really is going to depend on what specialty you are in at the time. From what I hear from my third year friends, they have a lot of time in the hospital especially when they are in the city. Some of the more rural areas have hospitals and when you are on those rotations you get to do A LOT. I guess it isn't uncommon to be a first assist on a surgery case which is kind of awesome.
Before the lottery, you fill out some paperwork that basically asks why you should be chosen to go where you desire. So yes, some priority is given and many of the people going to the Michigan and Ohio locations did so by choice.
They are starting this with my class. It is something that has worked for Kirksville so we are trying it out. We are still uncertain if every site is going to let you write your statement, but if the site participates they will be allowed to pick half of the students from the applications and the rest will be from the lottery. It sounds like you will not be told if you were picked based on application or by lottery when the results are in.
As for the future, Dr. Franklin said she had been working with the surrounding hospitals and areas to drastically increase the number of people that can stay in Des Moines, if not all.
They are currently working on making a year-long site at one of the local hospitals. My understanding is that this new site doesn't actually increase the spaces in Des Moines, but rather condenses all the rotations people were doing as part of Iowa Non-Year Long and make into a year-long site. Maybe in the future they will be able to increase the numbers at the site. A lot of things are up in the air.
I will say that with a class size of 220 it will be nearly impossible for all the students to rotate in just Des Moines. We don't have enough space for everyone. Even the University of Iowa does rotations outside of Iowa City. It really isn't that uncommon.
Maybe I am drinking the kook aid, but I am excited to see what President Franklin is going to do.
I don't know if you meant that to be kook aid or kool aid, but either way, don't drink it. Remember to always question. It is the best way to get more answers which I think leads to better results. Blind trust is never good.
I hope this answers a lot of questions
