Anyone know if 4th year rotations are available in Australia?

[keeping-it-real]

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just curious if such away rotation opportunities exist.

 

[turtle md]

I don't know about Oz, but I did an EM rotation in New Zealand. What I did was contact someone at one of their med schools, who put me in touch with academic affairs who coordinated with a EP a block where I could rotate. I had to get a work visa, which was not too difficult, and then some various other paper-work type stuff, but it was definately doable.

You can search on-line, or ask in the Oz forum here on SDN, for someone to contact.

Best of luck in your search. 👍

 

[Perrin]

How much did it cost to stay there for your rotation? Did they have any housing or were you on your own?

 

[Mary Jane Watson]

One of the students I rotated with during my away was doing a tox rotation in Australia; another friend of mine just got back from Australia for an EM rotation. So, yep, they're out there. Maybe check out the international forum?

MJ

 

[EctopicFetus]

They are there. I would ask your schools office of student affairs.

 

[turtle md]

How much did it cost to stay there for your rotation? Did they have any housing or were you on your own?

My wife and I rented a house for the month. It cost the equivilant of $700 US. We also bought a car (and sold it back when finished) so we could explore a bit.

 

[Perrin]

My wife and I rented a house for the month. It cost the equivilant of $700 US. We also bought a car (and sold it back when finished) so we could explore a bit.

Cool, thanks turtle.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Australia electives are possible. I did one myself at the end of 4th year.
I rotated for a month in Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

http://www.cs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/

The education is offered through University of Sydney

http://www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/

It took me 6 months to get it arranged, because there is A LOT of paperwork, but it's definitely worth it.

 

[trkd]

I am a 4th year at Royal Prince Alfred in Sydney. I wouldn't recommend this particular hospital for EM because you can go to some of the other U of Sydney hospitals that have more acute patients and higher flow. PM me about what sort of elective you are looking for and I'll hook you up with more info.

We'll have a kangaroo pick you up from the airport so pack light. 😀

 

[GeneralVeers]

I am a 4th year at Royal Prince Alfred in Sydney. I wouldn't recommend this particular hospital for EM because you can go to some of the other U of Sydney hospitals that have more acute patients and higher flow. PM me about what sort of elective you are looking for and I'll hook you up with more info.

We'll have a kangaroo pick you up from the airport so pack light. 😀

An EM rotation wasn't available at RPA when I applied. Additionally, Royal Prince of Whales hospital (close to the beach) required a 1 year application process, which was too late.

 

[trkd]

An EM rotation wasn't available at RPA when I applied. Additionally, Royal Prince of Whales hospital (close to the beach) required a 1 year application process, which was too late.

I didn't know whether they did or didn't but makes sense that RPA doesn't have one. Not a great place for students to learn much. All the good cases fly into Westmead and a few others. Traumas are mostly overdoses (large IV drug use in the neighborhood) and geriatric transfers it seems like.

 

[GeneralVeers]

I didn't know whether they did or didn't but makes sense that RPA doesn't have one. Not a great place for students to learn much. All the good cases fly into Westmead and a few others. Traumas are mostly overdoses (large IV drug use in the neighborhood) and geriatric transfers it seems like.

Heh IV drug overdoses as "Traumas". In L.A. we call those "floor patients".

 

[trkd]

Heh IV drug overdoses as "Traumas". In L.A. we call those "floor patients".

Yeah, we only get them once in awhile though. You probably get more in a month than we get in a year. I suspect it is different in areas like Kings Cross though. I am sure you checked out the area while visiting. Bizarre.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Yeah, we only get them once in awhile though. You probably get more in a month than we get in a year. I suspect it is different in areas like Kings Cross though. I am sure you checked out the area while visiting. Bizarre.

I didn't make it to King's Cross, but I lived near RPA in Darlinghurst. The area around Redfern station is an interesting place. Made sure to never go there at night by myself.

BTW Sydney has an awesome public transit system. It really puts U.S. cities to shame.

 

[trkd]

I didn't make it to King's Cross, but I lived near RPA in Darlinghurst. The area around Redfern station is an interesting place. Made sure to never go there at night by myself.QUOTE]

Yeah, Redfern is sad. The Aboriginal people are doing pretty bad here.

 

[keeping-it-real]

This sounds like it's gotta be pretty cool. I've always wanted to visit the land down under and i think working as a student doc there would be a pretty cool experience.

I was thinking about doing an EM rotation there but i would be open to other suggestions. As well, any recommendations on which part of the country to try and work at would be appreciated. thx.

-k

 

[turtle md]

Anyone know of anyone who did any locum work down under? I was checking out some info on the web, and it seemed pretty cool. Not too much $$, but enough to live on. Plus, they get you a place to live and a car to drive.

Maybe something I might do for a year after residency. My kids won't be too old, so no school to worry about.

Any info or personal experience wold be most welcome.

Turtle

 

[GeneralVeers]

Anyone know of anyone who did any locum work down under? I was checking out some info on the web, and it seemed pretty cool. Not too much $$, but enough to live on. Plus, they get you a place to live and a car to drive.

Maybe something I might do for a year after residency. My kids won't be too old, so no school to worry about.

Any info or personal experience wold be most welcome.

Turtle

I'm seriously considering spending a year working down their after residency. True the pay sucks, but it's a great place to spend a year.

 

[trkd]

This sounds like it's gotta be pretty cool. I've always wanted to visit the land down under and i think working as a student doc there would be a pretty cool experience.

I was thinking about doing an EM rotation there but i would be open to other suggestions. As well, any recommendations on which part of the country to try and work at would be appreciated. thx.

-k

Part of the country to go to depends on what you are trying to get out of it. If you want to see the weird and wonderful diseases, I would suggest going to the bush. These are places like Darwin and places around Alice Springs. They are Aboriginal communities (mostly in the Northern Territory) that are fascinating. Lots of pathology.

If you are looking for more modern livin', I suppose Sydney or Melbourne would be the place to go. Melbourne is kind of like Sydney but cleaner. However, Sydney has more touristy stuff. They are interchangable as far as I'm concerned but maybe I am bitter about large cities.

So, if you come to University of Sydney, there are a few electives I would recommend. The world famous Melanoma Unit is here. Kind of the mecca for it because Aussies have the highest rate of melanoma historically. Big a$$ hole in the ozone layer around this part of the world. If you are into that, it would fantastic. I thought dermatology (a separate unit here) was great also if you are with Dr. White. If you want a 4 week holiday, the Neurology team is massive and they will never notice if you are there or not. Transplant surgery was cool because you fly with them for retrievals but you'd have to let me know when you are going so I could check to see if a local student is placed with them already. Also lots of drug&alcohol/methadone clinic stuff here if you are into that kind of thing.

It kind of depends on your interests and if you want just a holiday or you actually want to show up at the hospital daily.

Let me know and then I can make some better recommendations.

 

[trkd]

This sounds like it's gotta be pretty cool. I've always wanted to visit the land down under and i think working as a student doc there would be a pretty cool experience.

I was thinking about doing an EM rotation there but i would be open to other suggestions. As well, any recommendations on which part of the country to try and work at would be appreciated. thx.

-k

Oops, totally neglected the EM part of your post. Just consider it as an extra . The reason I wouldn't recommend EM here is because you don't get to do as much procedures as you would there. There are too many interns, residents, registrars (like higher level residents), etc. Too many people above you that get to do all of it. This is even worse at the Children's Hospital. They just don't let you do anything. I would not come to Australia to do an elective that you hope to get lots of procedures done. You will be disappointed.

The exception to this is if you go rural. Lots of rural hospitals don't even have a single doctor there all the time. If you head to somewhere like Wilcania (20ish bed hospital in a really sad, f***ed up community), you will be running the hospital. There are a 2-3 nurses there all the time but that is it. If you need help, you can call the Royal Flying Doctor Service for medical advice. There are even more remote places where you will be doing even more.

This leads me to me next suggestion. You could join the Royal Flying Doctor Service for a month. Very cool. It is essentially a flying ICU/ambulance. This is how it works... Most of Australia is rural/remote. So 45 y.o. male gets an ax to the head on the cattle station and he is 1000 km from the closest hospital (common to be that far). Someone calls the RFDS and give coordinates. On-call doc and pilot jump on plane and land there. Plane is equipped as a full ICU. Retrieve person and head to closest hospital able to handle problem. They also do regular primary car clinics in remote communities. They can drop you off in places like Wilcania to run the show for a week and pick you back up later so that you can experience both. This was by far one of my best experiences here. It is amazing.

Ok, I am now rambling.

 

[wilkevo]

I am a medical student in china in my 4th year and starting rotations in January.I would like to do my cores and electives in Australia or Ireland.Am not Chinese.Does anyone know who to contact for placements?Thanks