DMU rotation question, please help!

[DimaDrill]

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I am starting my first year at DMU this fall. I am from Chicago, and I found out that the school doesn't have any 3rd or 4th year clinical rotations in Illinois. Because of this my girlfriend also from Chicago wants to move to Des Moines before the start of my second year. She wants to do a PA program at DMU so we will be living together. Now at first that seemed like a good solution, but what if I get rotations assigned to me in states other than IOWA? Is there a way to get all or most of my rotations in IOWA?

 

[homeboy]

I am starting my first year at DMU this fall. I am from Chicago, and I found out that the school doesn't have any 3rd or 4th year clinical rotations in Illinois. Because of this my girlfriend also from Chicago wants to move to Des Moines before the start of my second year. She wants to do a PA program at DMU so we will be living together. Now at first that seemed like a good solution, but what if I get rotations assigned to me in states other than IOWA? Is there a way to get all or most of my rotations in IOWA?

Actually, the admin here at DMU is in the process of changing 3rd yr rotations so they'd all be in Iowa. Currently, many students go to MI and OH, and several other states, for required and elective rotations, but supposedly with the class of 2010 they're going to open up more core sites in Iowa (not necessarily Des Moines, but somewhere in the state) and eventually work to have all rotations 3rd yr done in state, which in many ppl's opinion, won't work. There's mixed feelings about this, as the residency opportunities in Iowa are scant (unless you want FP cuz those are everywhere) and outside Des Moines you're not going to see much--eg. all the big cases are going to get shipped to Iowa City or Des Moines. U. of Iowa has just about everything for residencies, but unless you're doing FP or IM, it's difficult to get one.
Currently, it's nearly impossible to get OB here in des moines, but most/all of the other rotations you can get here.

 

[DimaDrill]

So wait i don't understand, if I am in the class of 2010 can I get most of my 3rd and 4th year rotations in IOWA?

Actually, the admin here at DMU is in the process of changing 3rd yr rotations so they'd all be in Iowa. Currently, many students go to MI and OH, and several other states, for required and elective rotations, but supposedly with the class of 2010 they're going to open up more core sites in Iowa (not necessarily Des Moines, but somewhere in the state) and eventually work to have all rotations 3rd yr done in state, which in many ppl's opinion, won't work. There's mixed feelings about this, as the residency opportunities in Iowa are scant (unless you want FP cuz those are everywhere) and outside Des Moines you're not going to see much--eg. all the big cases are going to get shipped to Iowa City or Des Moines. U. of Iowa has just about everything for residencies, but unless you're doing FP or IM, it's difficult to get one.
Currently, it's nearly impossible to get OB here in des moines, but most/all of the other rotations you can get here.

 

[misparas]

So wait i don't understand, if I am in the class of 2010 can I get most of my 3rd and 4th year rotations in IOWA?

That's right. You can get more info in the official 2010 class thread. Feel free to drop in and contribute!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3709194&postcount=681

 

[homeboy]

So wait i don't understand, if I am in the class of 2010 can I get most of my 3rd and 4th year rotations in IOWA?

3rd year yes...supposedly it will be easier because they are supposedly opening new sites eg. OB was impossible to get in / near Des Moines, they're supposedly going to get more sites, but they're not going to be in Des Moines necessarily, but surrounding cities...Mason City, Sioux City, etc...it may be a few hours away with housing provided and you'll have to be gone from Des Moines for a month

4th year, you don't want to do all your rotations in Iowa (and some would argue that goes for 3rd yr as well) because the end of 3rd year through the fall of 4th year is when you want to be seen at residencies you want to apply to...and doing an ortho rotation with Joe Blow Orthopod won't help you as much as doing a rotation a big facility that has ortho residencies (which for DOs, is biggest in Michigan). there are very few residencies in Iowa besides FP and IM.

 

[DimaDrill]

WAIT...i want to do my residencies in Illinois, but DMU doesn't have any rotations in Illinois, would it then not matter where I do my rotations? 😕

3rd year yes...supposedly it will be easier because they are supposedly opening new sites eg. OB was impossible to get in / near Des Moines, they're supposedly going to get more sites, but they're not going to be in Des Moines necessarily, but surrounding cities...Mason City, Sioux City, etc...it may be a few hours away with housing provided and you'll have to be gone from Des Moines for a month

4th year, you don't want to do all your rotations in Iowa (and some would argue that goes for 3rd yr as well) because the end of 3rd year through the fall of 4th year is when you want to be seen at residencies you want to apply to...and doing an ortho rotation with Joe Blow Orthopod won't help you as much as doing a rotation a big facility that has ortho residencies (which for DOs, is biggest in Michigan). there are very few residencies in Iowa besides FP and IM.

 

[homeboy]

WAIT...i want to do my residencies in Illinois, but DMU doesn't have any rotations in Illinois, would it then not matter where I do my rotations? 😕

DMU might not have any official rotations in Ill (eg. core sites), but that's what 4th year is for...it's mainly all electives. if you're looking at res in Ill you could try and set up rotations in Ill during the first part of your 4th year.
Ex. if i wanted to go into rad in Mississippi...we don't have any structured relationship with any sites there, but I can set up a rads rotation for 4th year to be seen before i apply for their residency.
3rd year you don't have a lot of options, except 8 weeks of true electives, in which time you can do basically whatever you want...but like i said earlier, they're trying to change it so all of 3rd year is in iowa, so when you could have (in the past) done a rads rotation with a group of docs you know in Miss, you longer will be able to, and will have to find a rads rotation somewhere in Iowa...may be des moines, may be...middle of no-where Iowa...

 

[babyruth]

For right now, the only 4th year requirement is 4 weeks of FP and 4 weeks of a rural FP or 8 consecutive FP weeks. The rest is a free for all. Try to get set up your fourth year rotations in and around where you want to be doing your residency. Watch out for programs that have school contracts because sometimes they will only let you rotate through for a certain amount of time (usually 8 weeks), and will sometimes even bump you if one of their students wants that spot.

 

[babyruth]

I am in the Ohio core and they do a really nice job of things here and seem to be more organized than other places. Plus I am in one place for the whole year and do not have to move around. They even offer free housing if you want it.

 

[DimaDrill]

So basically what you guys are saying is that even if DMU does not have any set rotations in IL, I could still set up rotations in Illinois myself for my 4th year as my electives?

DMU might not have any official rotations in Ill (eg. core sites), but that's what 4th year is for...it's mainly all electives. if you're looking at res in Ill you could try and set up rotations in Ill during the first part of your 4th year.

 

[luckystar]

So basically what you guys are saying is that even if DMU does not have any set rotations in IL, I could still set up rotations in Illinois myself for my 4th year as my electives?

Yes.