DMU clinical rotations

[WHOOP8002]

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Can anybody that is going through the clinical rotations at DMU tell me how they feel? I got accepted to DMU and some other schools and can't decide where to go. I really like DMU's personality. Unfortunately, I heard comments from some students about how disorganized clinical rotations used to be. Have they improved? Are most of the hospitals quality hospitals or are they small community hospitals? Also, I noticed that a lot of students are doing their EM residency at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, IL. Can you tell me if that is a quality program? Thank you for your help.

 

[WHOOP8002]

Oh, I forgot. Do most students get their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choices?

 

[vietcongs]

Hi WHOOP, I'm currently a 3rd year student at DMU. Clinical rotations are still disorganized here. Things have improved a little, but some of the clinical coordinators still need to get their act together. The problem is getting them to make the phone calls. Usually I call any site that I wish to rotate, ask them if they can take a student for this date, if they say yes, I tell clinical affairs to send the paperwork. I have gotten 100% success with this. For Core hospital and FP clinic, I believe most students get their first or second choice hospital and core Family practice clinic if they can leave Des Moines. Des Moines rotations are somewhat limited. Havent heard of that EM rotation in IL.

 

[sidebentleft]

Can anybody that is going through the clinical rotations at DMU tell me how they feel? I got accepted to DMU and some other schools and can't decide where to go. I really like DMU's personality. Unfortunately, I heard comments from some students about how disorganized clinical rotations used to be. Have they improved? Are most of the hospitals quality hospitals or are they small community hospitals? Also, I noticed that a lot of students are doing their EM residency at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, IL. Can you tell me if that is a quality program? Thank you for your help.

Little improvement. There is much lip service to improvement, but no little improvement to date.

The reason is money. DMU refuses to spend $$$ to get rotations. They depend VOLUNTEER faculty, and those good souls that are willing to teach on a volunteer (unpaid) basis are drying up.

The only osteopathic hospital in town has closed.

There are many places you CAN go for rotations. You just must be willing to move and relocate several times during years 3 and 4. Some of these are probably very good educational experiences.

 

[Insight]

Little improvement. There is much lip service to improvement, but no little improvement to date.

The reason is money. DMU refuses to spend $$$ to get rotations. They depend VOLUNTEER faculty, and those good souls that are willing to teach on a volunteer (unpaid) basis are drying up.

The only osteopathic hospital in town has closed.

There are many places you CAN go for rotations. You just must be willing to move and relocate several times during years 3 and 4. Some of these are probably very good educational experiences.

So you are saying that unless I am prepared to move several times during 3rd and 4th yrs, the quality of clinical rotations is not assured. And I would have to go find places to rotate and base my decision to go there or not on my judgement and/or expereince?

 

[jean25]

I am a 3rd yr student at dmu and I am doing my 3rd and 4th yr rotations in Ohio. DMU contracts with OUCOM to send 40 students from the 3rd yr class to various sites in Ohio. Everyone in my class who wanted Ohio got it.
You are guaranteed to be here at least during your 3rd yr. I will also be able to stay here my 4th yr too. I picked the Ohio CORE program because I would be able to stay in one place for at least a year and I heard it was a good program. I am extremely happy that I came to Ohio (Toledo). The hospital is a level I trama and has 400-500 beds( I think). I get to rotate with DO and MD attendings. It has IM, ob/gyn, FP, ortho osteopathic residency programs. It also has ER, IM, gen surg, peds allopathic residency programs. The best part is that the OUCOM people arrange my rotation schedule for my 3rd year and I don't have to rely on dmu clinical affairs. The clinical coordinators here (toledo) are wonderful and really like working with the students.
If you decide to go to dmu, I would highly recommend the Ohio CORE program for your rotations.

 

[Insight]

DMU refuses to spend $$$ to get rotations. They depend VOLUNTEER faculty, and those good souls that are willing to teach on a volunteer (unpaid) basis are drying up.

I've heard from Nova alum that Nova relies on many volunteer sites/ people too.So I guess it's not entirely unique to DMU.

I am also considering DMU for this fall. So I called clinical affairs and during the conversation I asked her if they are planning on expanding/adding new sites. (I asked specificlaly for FL since that's where I am interested in at this point). She said yes, but they are trying to get sites close to Des Moines since it's very expensive for people to move to far-away places.

 

[ripulpancal2000]

Before anyone decides to attend DMU, I want everyone to know that a prominent profesor that everyone loves and is near and dear to everyone is dating one of my female classmates. Out of fear of embarrassment, I will not tell names unless I am asked to do so.