Are residencies flexible on their non-pod rotations?

[Feli]

When scanning around on the CASPR/CRIP site, I'm a bit surprised that so many DPM residencies, even highly regarded programs, list a "no" for derm, diabetic wound care, rheumatology, plastics, vascular surgery, etc (under "clinical experiences"). Especially when they obviously have those departments and training programs available at the big teaching hospitals, why not have DPM residents get some reps there?

Just a few examples:
http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Detroit_Medical_Center.pdf (no derm, no rheumatology)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Florida_Hosp_East_Orlando.pdf (no derm, no peds, no trauma)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Inova_Fairfax.pdf (no derm, no rheumatology)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Legacy_Portland.pdf (no derm, no plastics, no rheumatology)

I know you see some podopeds, pododerm, podoplastics, etc in the pod med and pod sx blocks. Still, I just think it'd be useful to hang around with other allied fields for a couple weeks to pick up a few of their pearls and favorite meds; those specialists obviously do those kind of cases in much larger volume and might have more up-to-date and overall knowledge in their specialty area than the DPM attendings. Besides, practicing podiatrists frequently refer to - and get referrals from - those specialists, so it would likely be beneficial to establish relationships and have knowledge of what they do well.

Do some residencies allow a bit of flexibility or is their rotation schedule set in stone? For example, if I were to ask during a clerkship or interview:
"I feel that DPMs having good knowledge of dermatology and biopsy technique is important; how would you feel about one of your DPM residents working in behavioral rotation for 2 less weeks in order to work with derm team here instead?"
What would they say? Would I get laughed out of the room and crossed off their match list? Would they say "sure, we try to let you get the training experience you want while you are a resident here"? Am I overestimating the importance of those rotations to begin with?

Thanks.
Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but you only get one residency and I am getting a bit hung up on how some programs seem so balanced (ie Yale or Regions have "yes" for every rotation) while others are missing (at least on paper) allied health roatations that seem closely related to good podiatry.

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[dpmgrad]

When scanning around on the CASPR/CRIP site, I'm a bit surprised that so many DPM residencies, even highly regarded programs, list a "no" for derm, diabetic wound care, rheumatology, plastics, vascular surgery, etc (under "clinical experiences"). Especially when they obviously have those departments and training programs available at the big teaching hospitals, why not have DPM residents get some reps there?

Just a few examples:
http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Detroit_Medical_Center.pdf (no derm, no rheumatology)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Florida_Hosp_East_Orlando.pdf (no derm, no peds, no trauma)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Inova_Fairfax.pdf (no derm, no rheumatology)

http://www.casprcrip.org/html/casprcrip/pdf/Dir_Pgs/Legacy_Portland.pdf (no derm, no plastics, no rheumatology)

I know you see some podopeds, pododerm, podoplastics, etc in the pod med and pod sx blocks. Still, I just think it'd be useful to hang around with other allied fields for a couple weeks to pick up a few of their pearls and favorite meds; those specialists obviously do those kind of cases in much larger volume and might have more up-to-date and overall knowledge in their specialty area than the DPM attendings. Besides, practicing podiatrists frequently refer to - and get referrals from - those specialists, so it would likely be beneficial to establish relationships and have knowledge of what they do well.

Do some residencies allow a bit of flexibility or is their rotation schedule set in stone? For example, if I were to ask during a clerkship or interview:
"I feel that DPMs having good knowledge of dermatology and biopsy technique is important; how would you feel about one of your DPM residents working in behavioral rotation for 2 less weeks in order to work with derm team here instead?"
What would they say? Would I get laughed out of the room and crossed off their match list? Would they say "sure, we try to let you get the training experience you want while you are a resident here"? Am I overestimating the importance of those rotations to begin with?

Thanks.
Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but you only get one residency and I am getting a bit hung up on how some programs seem so balanced (ie Yale or Regions have "yes" for every rotation) while others are missing (at least on paper) allied health roatations that seem closely related to good podiatry.

Each residency program design their curriculum around what they want to focus on. Some residency programs may not have certain non podiatric rotations due to the fact that those rotations may not exist at their hospitals or do not have those rotations set up. There are residency programs that offer electives for the residents to choose to do. You may use your electives to do some of these non podiatric rotations. If a rotation is not available at the residency program, you can always approach the residency director about the possibilty of creating that rotation.

By the way, just because they have yes listed on every rotation, it may not mean that residency program have an establish rotation in that discipline. For example, if a resident gets to scrub in with a plastic surgeon once in a blue moon, the residency program may list yes for Plastic Surgery. You need to ask each residency program that you are interested in about the rotations that residents actually do.