DMU curriculum

[oncogene]

Hello,

Would the DMU students comment on the 3rd and 4th years at DMU. How are the rotations setup and where are they? How big are the hospitals that are rotated through and are they academic hospitals with other medical residencies? Thanks.

oncogene

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[jonwill]

Hello,

Would the DMU students comment on the 3rd and 4th years at DMU. How are the rotations setup and where are they? How big are the hospitals that are rotated through and are they academic hospitals with other medical residencies? Thanks.

oncogene

I'm currently a 3rd year at DMU. The 3rd year rotations are as follows: you rotate with each Dr. at the DMU Foot and Ankle Institute. Most of the Docs at the clinic also spend time at the Des Moines VA. One doc spends time as well at Methodist Medical Center. Methodist and VA are both major hospitals. You will spend time with a few of the docs treating people in rural communities. We also spend 2 months at Broadlawns Medical Center. This is where you will see a great deal of trauma (the doc there is actually the trauma editor for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery). It's the county hospital and you will see some good (and strange) stuff. All of these hospitals have a lot of other medical students and residents. Within your 3rd year group, you rotate going to surgeries with the doc you're currently rotating with. They usually at least let you scrub in, retract, and close.
The 4th year is up to you. Our 4th year allows us to see more programs than any other school. Their are only two requirments: you must do a 4-month surgical core (one month is spent in internal med) and you must do one month of pvt practice. The other months can be spent in podiatry or other medical specialties. I'm setting up my 4th year right now and am spending some time in Iowa, Florida, New Mexico, and Arizona.
As neat as the 3rd and 4th year are, don't over-look the first two years. They are murder! However, you'll be very greatful when you rock boards.

 

[IlizaRob]

don't over-look the first two years. They are murder! However, you'll be very greatful when you rock boards.

As a second year at DMU, I can attest to the above quote. I average 12-16 hrs a day, 6 days a week of my time at school. However, there are many people who are smarter than I and require less time to study.

 

[oncogene]

jonwill,

Where will you be in Arizona? I am just curious as to what is ou there. I have alot of family in phoenix area. Is there a good program in Arizona? So, the 4th year you pick a number of sites that interest you as possible residency locations? Do they teach you surgical cases in the same way as the their residents train or do you rotate
through different specialties at there respective hospitals? I am confused about the 4th year.

 

[diabeticfootdr]

jonwill,

Where will you be in Arizona? I am just curious as to what is ou there. I have alot of family in phoenix area. Is there a good program in Arizona? So, the 4th year you pick a number of sites that interest you as possible residency locations? Do they teach you surgical cases in the same way as the their residents train or do you rotate
through different specialties at there respective hospitals? I am confused about the 4th year.

The 4th year is what you make of it.

They're very flexible at DMU.

You're required to complete a "4 month core" which could be at a potential residency. You are required to complete 1 month of internal medicine and private practice, each. The other 6 months you can rotate with electives or at residency programs.

My 4th year I spent time at Yale, U of Tex San Antonio, Mayo Clinic with a peripheral neurologist, and even an elective in England with a famous diabetes specialist.

So, you can either have a fantastic educational experience, or if you're lazy, you can goof off (better to choose the former).

LCR

 

[jonwill]

jonwill,

Where will you be in Arizona? I am just curious as to what is ou there. I have alot of family in phoenix area. Is there a good program in Arizona? So, the 4th year you pick a number of sites that interest you as possible residency locations? Do they teach you surgical cases in the same way as the their residents train or do you rotate
through different specialties at there respective hospitals? I am confused about the 4th year.

If you choose all podiatric rotations your 4th year, you do clinic and surgery along with the residents. Some hospitals let you scrub and others don't (it just depends). Your core includes an internal medicine rotation. Other than that, you will only rotate through different specialties if you choose to do a month in another specialty (Dr. Lee Rogers above is a good example). However, in your 1st year of residency, you will rotate through various different specialties.
As far as residencies in Arizona, there are three. Two are in Phoenix and one is in Tucson. I've heard mixed reviews of the Phoenix programs but Tucson is very well rounded and you get a good number of surgical cases. A lot of it depends on what you're looking for.

 

[oncogene]

Are the programs in Arizona 2 year or three year residencies? What hospitals are the affiliated with?