DO Rotations = easier?

[Whatsamatta U]

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I just wanted to pose two questions to all you D.O. students out there. Having enough time to spend with my family is very important to me. I noticed that DO schools require much more time in primary care rotations than allopathic schools, as well as less required surgery rotations. From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN. Does this mean that on the whole there are less required killer rotations for DO students than MD?

Also, being that most DO schools don't have a teaching hospital for their students to rotate through, can students concerned with lifestyle choose to go to rotation sights that are slightly less intense? Like say a somewhat more relaxed OB/GYN?

(I know med school is difficult, I'm not looking for an easy way out, so please don't tell me I need to go find a different profession or what not. I'm just trying to get an idea of how I will be able to juggle personal life and med school.)

Thank you.

 

[Portier]

From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN.

My OB/GYN kicked a$$. Thoo Huat Tan, DO is a freaking superstar.

Surgery was less spectacular, but I learned a lot.

IM for me was inpatient hospitalist service. 13h days for 6 weeks. No weekends. It was a "long hard slog." I learned a ton on that service and feel confident doing inpatient work anywhere on any service now.

No rotation required more than I could give.

Finally, it's hard for DO students to compare their experiences in Core Rotations like OB and Surg with Allopathic students since Core Hospitals have to have DO DME's. Maybe if they do another primary care rotation at an Allopathic hospital then they could make the comparison, but I imagine most students don't do this.

What is a killer rotation?

 

[Beck928]

The answer all depends, but I say my rotations are not easier. Actually, I have good basis to answer since my husband is a 4th year MD student. I actually went out of my way to find kick a** rotations to learn the most. BUt then when I was doing family practice with one doc in his office (not in the hospital) I sometimes worked more because I was like his personal assistant. Whereas it's easy to "get lost" after noon-conference in a hospital based rotation, in the office you are there till the doc goes home, sometimes at 7 or 8pm. Just my 2cents.

 

[Buster Douglas]

I just wanted to pose two questions to all you D.O. students out there. Having enough time to spend with my family is very important to me. I noticed that DO schools require much more time in primary care rotations than allopathic schools, as well as less required surgery rotations. From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN. Does this mean that on the whole there are less required killer rotations for DO students than MD?

Also, being that most DO schools don't have a teaching hospital for their students to rotate through, can students concerned with lifestyle choose to go to rotation sights that are slightly less intense? Like say a somewhat more relaxed OB/GYN?

Depends on where you are... Private docs are less likely to waste your time than overworked interns and residents. Regardless of MD or DO, rotations at larger academic centers (hospitals with a large number of residents) are typically more gruelling because of the ungodly call hours and scut you have to do.

 

[Shodddy18]

I just wanted to pose two questions to all you D.O. students out there. Having enough time to spend with my family is very important to me. I noticed that DO schools require much more time in primary care rotations than allopathic schools, as well as less required surgery rotations. From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN. Does this mean that on the whole there are less required killer rotations for DO students than MD?

Also, being that most DO schools don't have a teaching hospital for their students to rotate through, can students concerned with lifestyle choose to go to rotation sights that are slightly less intense? Like say a somewhat more relaxed OB/GYN?

(I know med school is difficult, I'm not looking for an easy way out, so please don't tell me I need to go find a different profession or what not. I'm just trying to get an idea of how I will be able to juggle personal life and med school.)

Thank you.

Could you send a list or a source of time requirements for the two. I have not seen any differences myself?

 

[Whatsamatta U]

Depends on where you are... Private docs are less likely to waste your time than overworked interns and residents. Regardless of MD or DO, rotations at larger academic centers (hospitals with a large number of residents) are typically more gruelling because of the ungodly call hours and scut you have to do.

I guess this is more what I was getting at. Since DO schools don't usually have a large academic center attached for all the rotations and you have to set up your own, is it possible to avoid the places that are insanly grueling?

My overall point/question is that it seems that osteopathic schools give you more freedom to choose your rotation sites and have less required grueling rotations (such as surgery) so that a student CAN make third and forth year a little less demanding if that's what he or she wants/needs. Is this correct?

Oh, and in terms of killer, I just meant million hour days and on call, etc.

 

[BMW19]

I am only a first year so I cannot give you first hand experience, but I have two older brothers one DO and one MD so I do know a bit. 3rd year you will not "set up your own" rotations. You will have core and required rotations that the school will pick for you. You might have one or two electives but I think they are few in the 3rd year. It also depends what rotation you are in, like the above poster stated. I have heard that when you are on psych you are out by 4 and no weekends (most of the time). But when you do Surgery you may as well tell your family you will see them in a month! Just my opinion from what I have heard. 4th year I believe you have more flexibility.

BMW-

I guess this is more what I was getting at. Since DO schools don't usually have a large academic center attached for all the rotations and you have to set up your own, is it possible to avoid the places that are insanly grueling?

My overall point/question is that it seems that osteopathic schools give you more freedom to choose your rotation sites and have less required grueling rotations (such as surgery) so that a student CAN make third and forth year a little less demanding if that's what he or she wants/needs. Is this correct?

Oh, and in terms of killer, I just meant million hour days and on call, etc.

 

[(nicedream)]

I am only a first year so I cannot give you first hand experience, but I have two older brothers one DO and one MD so I do know a bit. 3rd year you will not "set up your own" rotations. You will have core and required rotations that the school will pick for you. You might have one or two electives but I think they are few in the 3rd year. It also depends what rotation you are in, like the above poster stated. I have heard that when you are on psych you are out by 4 and no weekends (most of the time). But when you do Surgery you may as well tell your family you will see them in a month! Just my opinion from what I have heard. 4th year I believe you have more flexibility.

BMW-

Not necessarily. I know at a few schools, including mine, you set up your own. And in that case, while I haven't started rotations yet, I am almost 100% sure that you can make them very easy compared to most core rotations at hospitals. Obviously if you are doing them with a preceptor, which is the case at many DO schools, the most you could possibly be working is what, 7-7? Usually 9-5. I mean, the dr is not going to have you sit there while he does his paperwork after hours or makes phone calls. I expect it to be more like shadowing, with maybe some H&P responsibility.

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

I am only a first year so I cannot give you first hand experience, but I have two older brothers one DO and one MD so I do know a bit. 3rd year you will not "set up your own" rotations. You will have core and required rotations that the school will pick for you. You might have one or two electives but I think they are few in the 3rd year. It also depends what rotation you are in, like the above poster stated. I have heard that when you are on psych you are out by 4 and no weekends (most of the time). But when you do Surgery you may as well tell your family you will see them in a month! Just my opinion from what I have heard. 4th year I believe you have more flexibility.

BMW-

The admissions lady at PCOM told me I could set up my own rotations for 3rd year, as long as they are approved by PCOM. The rotations will still be core rotations, but you can decide where you want them (A few in cali, ecuador, Puerto Rico...i'm puerto rican so she told me I could there...but who knows how hard that will be).

 

[BMW19]

I guess since our branch is new they don't want to ruffle any feathers, I don't think we have a choice where we go 3rd year

BMW-

The admissions lady at PCOM told me I could set up my own rotations for 3rd year, as long as they are approved by PCOM. The rotations will still be core rotations, but you can decide where you want them (A few in cali, ecuador, Puerto Rico...i'm puerto rican so she told me I could there...but who knows how hard that will be).

 

[Whatsamatta U]

Not necessarily. I know at a few schools, including mine, you set up your own. And in that case, while I haven't started rotations yet, I am almost 100% sure that you can make them very easy compared to most core rotations at hospitals. Obviously if you are doing them with a preceptor, which is the case at many DO schools, the most you could possibly be working is what, 7-7? Usually 9-5. I mean, the dr is not going to have you sit there while he does his paperwork after hours or makes phone calls. I expect it to be more like shadowing, with maybe some H&P responsibility.

So in essence, doesn't this mean that DO's can choose on the whole to have a lighter 3rd/4th year schedules?

 

[DrMom]

So in essence, doesn't this mean that DO's can choose on the whole to have a lighter 3rd/4th year schedules?

The schools still have standards that must be met & you can't generally set up core rotations just anywhere.

We often have students from other DO schools doing core rotations at our teaching hospital.

 

[Portier]

I think I know what this guy is getting at now.

At least at DMU, the non-assigned rotations (the non-CORE hospital) you can set up lighter rotations. There are some basics you have to do that are "harder," but if you want slack you can find it.

I'm thinking about finding something less intense for my 8 weeks of Family Medicine/Community Medicine that our OCA requires. What I'll likely end up doing is finding a place that's near some family and putting up with whatever slave labor I do at work so that I can spend some time with them.

Here's an example: For my Peds Core Elective, I went to Louisiana and did purely clinical private practice pediatrics. Another guy in my calss went to Blank Children's hospital in Des Moines: It was highly academic, lots of lectures, and inpatient focused. So, I guess the answer is, "Yes."

However, like Dr Mom said there are bare minimum requirements for schools to have by AACOM standards to have the school graduated accredited grads.

 

[Budd Chiari]

Here's the experience of a 4th year DO stud. who is finished with rotations.

At my school, our 3rd year was set for us except for 1 elective.
Surgery, OB-Gyn, and Internal medicine months were all long, hard days, with plenty of call including 2 in-house call nights a month for these services. An average day I would show up at the hospital at either 5:30am or 7am, depending on the service.

Fourth year is mostly elective, but you only had a certain # of preceptors to choose from and frequently I wouldn't get who I requested, and had to take whatever was available. There were a few preceptors and rotations that were known to be easy, with good hours, but these were snatched up quickly by students in the know (I wasn't so fortunate).

As for "requiring more primary care," at my school, we were required to do a total of 3 FP rotations, one of which had to be at an underserved site.

Most people at my school who were trying to match to MD residencies (~2/3 of us), did outside rotations at MD sites. My rotations at these sites didn't seem any more difficult than any of my other rotations, and indeed I found it easier to bug out early in large hospital settings ( I know that's not universally true, but it was for me).

All in all, there is probably not a significant difference, and I would say it's probably more school-dependent than degree program-dependent.

Hope that helps some.

 

[GregsAnatomy]

Generally speaking, I would say you are correct in saying that you may have more "family time" on DO rotations. But this will very GREATLY depending on the school you choose and the hospital you are rotating at. Here's an example of what my rotations are like at NSU-COM's primary hospital, Broward General Medical Center (800 bed Level I trauma center)

Internal Med (3 months) = 6 days a week, 12+ hours a day, q4 overnight call (meaning that every 4th night you stay the hospital until 9am morning report the following day)
Surgery (2 months) = same as above, with call generally until 10 or 11 pm every 4th day
Inpatient Peds (1 month) = same as above
Ob/Gyn (1 month) = 8am-8pm 6 days a week
The other rotations (family med, ambulatory peds, psych) are generally M-F 8-6.

This is one of the roughest of rotation sites at NSU. The good news is that there are 9 other sites you can choose from, many of which with easier schedules. Just do your research and I'm sure you'll find a school/hospital that fits your family life.

 

[Whatsamatta U]

Generally speaking, I would say you are correct in saying that you may have more "family time" on DO rotations. But this will very GREATLY depending on the school you choose and the hospital you are rotating at. Here's an example of what my rotations are like at NSU-COM's primary hospital, Broward General Medical Center (800 bed Level I trauma center)

Internal Med (3 months) = 6 days a week, 12+ hours a day, q4 overnight call (meaning that every 4th night you stay the hospital until 9am morning report the following day)
Surgery (2 months) = same as above, with call generally until 10 or 11 pm every 4th day
Inpatient Peds (1 month) = same as above
Ob/Gyn (1 month) = 8am-8pm 6 days a week
The other rotations (family med, ambulatory peds, psych) are generally M-F 8-6.

This is one of the roughest of rotation sites at NSU. The good news is that there are 9 other sites you can choose from, many of which with easier schedules. Just do your research and I'm sure you'll find a school/hospital that fits your family life.

So I have a feeling my hunch was correct. That's great. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I just wanted to pose two questions to all you D.O. students out there. Having enough time to spend with my family is very important to me. I noticed that DO schools require much more time in primary care rotations than allopathic schools, as well as less required surgery rotations. From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN. Does this mean that on the whole there are less required killer rotations for DO students than MD?

Also, being that most DO schools don't have a teaching hospital for their students to rotate through, can students concerned with lifestyle choose to go to rotation sights that are slightly less intense? Like say a somewhat more relaxed OB/GYN?

(I know med school is difficult, I'm not looking for an easy way out, so please don't tell me I need to go find a different profession or what not. I'm just trying to get an idea of how I will be able to juggle personal life and med school.)

Thank you.

At our school, we get 8 months of electives to do whatever you want anywhere any the world with any DO or MD.

Make your schedule as easy as you want it. Of course be able to explain why you didn't work hard during rotations once you get to your residency interviews.

 

[Luba Licious]

Make your schedule as easy as you want it. Of course be able to explain why you didn't work hard during rotations once you get to your residency interviews.

Just because a rotation is not as intense does not mean you didn't work hard.

 

[(nicedream)]

Also, how would residency directors know anything about your rotations? All they see are the grades and letters.

 

[Echinoidea]

Of course be able to explain why you didn't work hard during rotations once you get to your residency interviews.

Thank you for the requisite gunner comment on who works hard enough and the dire consequences of wanting a balanced life.

Of course, you could take the other route, and then you would need to be able to explain to your kids why you were never around while they grew up. Putting your own family first does not mean you can't be a great doc.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Thank you for the requisite gunner comment on who works hard enough and the dire consequences of wanting a balanced life.

Of course, you could take the other route, and then you would need to be able to explain to your kids why you were never around while they grew up. Putting your own family first does not mean you can't be a great doc.

I don't have kids.

I'm also not a gunner. I study at sports bars.

Either way, if you take all blow off electives, you will have a less than impressive application. You cannot disagree with that.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Just because a rotation is not as intense does not mean you didn't work hard.

No, but the OP made the impression that they intended to work as little as possible.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Also, how would residency directors know anything about your rotations? All they see are the grades and letters.

3 months of radiology at a 100 bed hospital might draw some questions.

 

[dtn3t]

I don't have kids.

I'm also not a gunner. I study at sports bars.

Either way, if you take all blow off electives, you will have a less than impressive application. You cannot disagree with that.

You apply in your fourth year, so all the grades that programs get in the application are third year core rotations and an elective or two if you're lucky enough to have them. No one cares about your fourth year rotations (when most electives take place) because no one, including the student, cares about the fourth year. Blow off electives are the staple of fourth year. That's the beauty of it.

With that being said, finding easy rotations your third year will be nice, but how much can you learn? All that will come into play with your performance during your Step II and fourth year Sub-Is (so ok, maybe a couple months of your MSIV year are important). Work hard during your third year to learn, it's the best time to soak it all in because it really does build a solid foundation. Then when you hit the last year do all the derm and rads rotations you can find.

 

[OSUdoc08]

You apply in your fourth year, so all the grades that programs get in the application are third year core rotations and an elective or two if you're lucky enough to have them. No one cares about your fourth year rotations (when most electives take place) because no one, including the student, cares about the fourth year. Blow off electives are the staple of fourth year. That's the beauty of it.

With that being said, finding easy rotations your third year will be nice, but how much can you learn? All that will come into play with your performance during your Step II and fourth year Sub-Is (so ok, maybe a couple months of your MSIV year are important). Work hard during your third year to learn, it's the best time to soak it all in because it really does build a solid foundation. Then when you hit the last year do all the derm and rads rotations you can find.

That's good advice. I'm sure it will prepare you to be a good physician and an excellent intern. 🙄

 

[Luba Licious]

That's good advice. I'm sure it will prepare you to be a good physician and an excellent intern. 🙄

You really like taking things out of context, don't you?

 

[yesfinally]

The answer all depends, but I say my rotations are not easier. Actually, I have good basis to answer since my husband is a 4th year MD student. I actually went out of my way to find kick a** rotations to learn the most. BUt then when I was doing family practice with one doc in his office (not in the hospital) I sometimes worked more because I was like his personal assistant. Whereas it's easy to "get lost" after noon-conference in a hospital based rotation, in the office you are there till the doc goes home, sometimes at 7 or 8pm. Just my 2cents.

Hi

I read on your profile that you were engaged to a medical student in Ohio and doing the long distance relationship thing. I am also engaged to a medical student. She will be attending a MD school in New york. I was wondering if you are still with your fiance, or if you guys are married yet. I know it will be hard being away from your loved one. Although I have no doubt that we will make through this, its nice to hear other people have done similar things.

 

[cicatrix]

You apply in your fourth year, so all the grades that programs get in the application are third year core rotations and an elective or two if you're lucky enough to have them. No one cares about your fourth year rotations (when most electives take place) because no one, including the student, cares about the fourth year. Blow off electives are the staple of fourth year. That's the beauty of it.

With that being said, finding easy rotations your third year will be nice, but how much can you learn? All that will come into play with your performance during your Step II and fourth year Sub-Is (so ok, maybe a couple months of your MSIV year are important). Work hard during your third year to learn, it's the best time to soak it all in because it really does build a solid foundation. Then when you hit the last year do all the derm and rads rotations you can find.

That's good advice. I'm sure it will prepare you to be a good physician and an excellent intern. 🙄

Why on earth would you think rads and derm don't contribute to people being good physicians/interns? I read x-rays and other rads studies every day in the hospital so a rads rotation or two is invaluable. Also, every FM, IM, peds, EM doc I've talked to recommends some time doing a derm rotation because they deal with so many derm cases themselves.

Just because something has shorter hours doesn't mean that it isn't valuable and just because someone is choosing to do a lighter rotation doesn't suggest that they won't be a good physician.

 

[glorytaker]

Why on earth would you think rads and derm don't contribute to people being good physicians/interns? I read x-rays and other rads studies every day in the hospital so a rads rotation or two is invaluable. Also, every FM, IM, peds, EM doc I've talked to recommends some time doing a derm rotation because they deal with so many derm cases themselves.

Just because something has shorter hours doesn't mean that it isn't valuable and just because someone is choosing to do a lighter rotation doesn't suggest that they won't be a good physician.

I have to agree. I've had all the various doctors listed plus a Hem/Onc doc say I should do a derm rotation. Some schools also require a 2 week rads rotation. I'm doing a derm rotation right now and I'm averaging 50-55 hours a week, which is a lot more than I expected. I'm also tempted to go do an unofficial 2 week rads rotation as I'm on my last required rotation right now.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Why on earth would you think rads and derm don't contribute to people being good physicians/interns? I read x-rays and other rads studies every day in the hospital so a rads rotation or two is invaluable. Also, every FM, IM, peds, EM doc I've talked to recommends some time doing a derm rotation because they deal with so many derm cases themselves.

Just because something has shorter hours doesn't mean that it isn't valuable and just because someone is choosing to do a lighter rotation doesn't suggest that they won't be a good physician.

I plan on doing radiology. You've taken the post out of context.

The discussion was about doing multiple easy rotations the entire time, just to get out of doing any actual work.

 

[cicatrix]

I plan on doing radiology. You've taken the post out of context.

The discussion was about doing multiple easy rotations the entire time, just to get out of doing any actual work.

I don't believe I've taken anything out of context. I quoted your exact post (and the post you were responding to) and responded to it directly.


Interesting assumption that we wouldn't be doing any work on those kinds of rotations. Again, short hrs don't equate no work or no useful learning. Even someone trying to "get off easy" can still learn a ton on these rotations.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I don't believe I've taken anything out of context. I quoted your exact post (and the post you were responding to) and responded to it directly.


Interesting assumption that we wouldn't be doing any work on those kinds of rotations. Again, short hrs don't equate no work or no useful learning. Even someone trying to "get off easy" can still learn a ton on these rotations.

Not if you do 3 months of it. I was talking about doing multiple easy rotations (possibly in resort locations) on purpose.

 

[Whatsamatta U]

I plan on doing radiology. You've taken the post out of context.

The discussion was about doing multiple easy rotations the entire time, just to get out of doing any actual work.

I hope you don't feel that that was what I was asking. I am fully prepared to work hard and learn as much as possible. I was curious about whether or not DO schools let you take on a slightly lighter, fewer 100hr weeks, schedule by giving you the opportunity to pick your rotation spots. This does not mean that I don't want to work or slack off in medical school. I just don't want to be forced to do so much scut work that I no longer see my family.

 

[dtn3t]

Why on earth would you think rads and derm don't contribute to people being good physicians/interns? I read x-rays and other rads studies every day in the hospital so a rads rotation or two is invaluable. Also, every FM, IM, peds, EM doc I've talked to recommends some time doing a derm rotation because they deal with so many derm cases themselves.

Just because something has shorter hours doesn't mean that it isn't valuable and just because someone is choosing to do a lighter rotation doesn't suggest that they won't be a good physician.

Dude calm down. The point I was making was for the shorter hours during fourth year. That's what I meant in terms of fourth year. It's shorter hours with minimal BS work. No rounding to get numbers, no call, no calling consults, no pleading with the lab to get a lab done stat. Just all learning (yes, VALUBLE learning) with great hours (also valuable) and laid back people. And I mentioned derm and rads for a reason, because they are extremely important. I would mentioned others that are just as easy but might not be as helpful, but I'm afraid of the backlash now. Yes, derm and rads are EXTREMELY important, is that what you want me to say? Because I've said it, twice. I'm sorry if I confused or offended anyone.

 

[cicatrix]

Dude calm down. The point I was making was for the shorter hours during fourth year. That's what I meant in terms of fourth year. It's shorter hours with minimal BS work. No rounding to get numbers, no call, no calling consults, no pleading with the lab to get a lab done stat. Just all learning (yes, VALUBLE learning) with great hours (also valuable) and laid back people. And I mentioned derm and rads for a reason, because they are extremely important. I would mentioned others that are just as easy but might not be as helpful, but I'm afraid of the backlash now. Yes, derm and rads are EXTREMELY important, is that what you want me to say? Because I've said it, twice. I'm sorry if I confused or offended anyone.

😕
I'm on your side here, so I'm not sure why you're directing this at me.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I hope you don't feel that that was what I was asking. I am fully prepared to work hard and learn as much as possible. I was curious about whether or not DO schools let you take on a slightly lighter, fewer 100hr weeks, schedule by giving you the opportunity to pick your rotation spots. This does not mean that I don't want to work or slack off in medical school. I just don't want to be forced to do so much scut work that I no longer see my family.

Alright. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[dtn3t]

😕
I'm on your side here, so I'm not sure why you're directing this at me.

Sorry, I just hit the first reply button I saw and didn't read the entire post. My bad. Funny, I think we're all on at the same time.

 

[dtn3t]

😕
I'm on your side here, so I'm not sure why you're directing this at me.

Man, I was ass there. I think it warrants another apology. I became everything I hate about this board.

 

[Dr Alo]

I just wanted to pose two questions to all you D.O. students out there. Having enough time to spend with my family is very important to me. I noticed that DO schools require much more time in primary care rotations than allopathic schools, as well as less required surgery rotations. From what I've gathered, the worst rotations in terms of time are surgery and OB/GYN. Does this mean that on the whole there are less required killer rotations for DO students than MD?

DO schools require the same amount of time in surgery, ob/gyn, im, and difficult rotations. The AOA and ACGME are very similar in their requirements.

While on rotations here in Chicago, we all had rotations at the same hospitals as the MD students. I would routinely run into students from Loyola, Rush, UIC, and CMS. We did the same exact rotations and were on the same teams. We are all known as "the medical students" no one really cared where you were from, you were all expected to perform up to par.

I can't speak for other DO schools, but I can't imagine that they'd be that different. I know the Michigan one also has many shared hospitals with MD students.

Also, being that most DO schools don't have a teaching hospital for their students to rotate through, can students concerned with lifestyle choose to go to rotation sights that are slightly less intense? Like say a somewhat more relaxed OB/GYN?

Our school does have a huge academic teaching hospital. Several of them, actually. One main hospital, and a few others. Plus we do plenty of rotations at MD hospitals as well, especially Cook County (ER the show).

 

[sophiejane]

Very unscientific way to assess this, but at least here on SDN, the majority of disgruntled 3rd years appear to NOT be from osteopathic schools.

All of my rotations have been at community hospitals. I have had excellent exposure to pathology, and have not been crowded out of procedures by a massive hierarchy of residents. Attendings have been interested in teaching, not humiliating. Didactics have been excellent. Patient load has been manageable enough that I can actually read about their cases and not just write my note as fast as possible. I have had very little scutwork.

I think the university hospital environment has its advantages, but from what I hear talking to students from other schools, I think they are better for interns or residents who want to subspecialize than they are for 3rd year students who just need to get as much exposure and hands-on experience as possible.

 

[MacGyver]

Not necessarily. I know at a few schools, including mine, you set up your own.

Thats absolutely ridiculous. Any program, whether its DO or MD should be CLOSED if they dont have the simple decency to set up clinical rotations for you.

I mean come on. WTF are you paying them all these thousands of dollars for if they cant even give you the clinical rotations you need?

That sounds a LOT like chiropractic schools, where they dont set up anything for you and you have to bring in your own patients.

This is unacceptable and I find it hard to believe that the AOA would accredit any DO school who operates this way.

And if the DO school is in such a bad location that they dont have enough preceptors for rotations, then they should be closed anyways.

 

[BMW19]

Although I just finished round 12 in the "chiro-bashing" thread. As a chiro who is now in DO school I can attest that that was the most humiliating part of chiro school. I could not stand the desperation of not knowing where my next patient was going to come from. I sure hope there are not DO schools FORCING students to set up there own rotations. If it is an option then that is cool

BMW-

Thats absolutely ridiculous. Any program, whether its DO or MD should be CLOSED if they dont have the simple decency to set up clinical rotations for you.

I mean come on. WTF are you paying them all these thousands of dollars for if they cant even give you the clinical rotations you need?

That sounds a LOT like chiropractic schools, where they dont set up anything for you and you have to bring in your own patients.

This is unacceptable and I find it hard to believe that the AOA would accredit any DO school who operates this way.

And if the DO school is in such a bad location that they dont have enough preceptors for rotations, then they should be closed anyways.

 

[Plinko]

A couple of quick comments I don't think have been mentioned.

Not all DO schools don't t have teaching hospitals. Some of them, like mine, will set up your entire third year core rotations for you, without any input from the students. Some schools, albeit few, like AZCOM I believe, allow you to set up your third year on your own with certain restrictions (must be on the school's prececptor list, have an AOA or ACGME residency program in that specialty). My third year schedule at TCOM was entirely based, with the exception of OBGYN, at our teaching hospitals in Fort Worth. OBGYN was outsourced to Texas Tech because one of our hospitals just closed.

Any rotation is what you make of it. I did Radiolgy in Jan. at SLU and they basically told me I could come in for a few hours in the morning and look over the resident's shoulder all AM or go to the golf course and relax before my Internship started because it would be one of the last times I would have the chance for some R&R. I went in about three or four mornings a week. Of course, I could have stayed all day and been more proactive. It's all what you want for yourself. You just have to decide what that is, research where can do it by talking to students who have already been there, and then schedule it.

My last bit of advice is to schedule the more cush rotations that you will be doing in the latter part of your fourth year. I chose to do Trauma Surgery now in my last month of medical school and I am regretting it. I matched Surgery so this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, but in retrospect I would have preferred "to start my life" July 1st instead of now. It has been damn hard taking calls from classmates who are on a beach somewhere at 3PM while I am in the middle of a thirty hour overnight call shift (which is q3 days btw). Eighty to ninety hours a week is no fun when you are three weeks from graduation. Just my two cents. Good luck.

 

[OSUdoc08]

A couple of quick comments I don't think have been mentioned.

Not all DO schools don't t have teaching hospitals. Some of them, like mine, will set up your entire third year core rotations for you, without any input from the students. Some schools, albeit few, like AZCOM I believe, allow you to set up your third year on your own with certain restrictions (must be on the school's prececptor list, have an AOA or ACGME residency program in that specialty). My third year schedule at TCOM was entirely based, with the exception of OBGYN, at our teaching hospitals in Fort Worth. OBGYN was outsourced to Texas Tech because one of our hospitals just closed.

Any rotation is what you make of it. I did Radiolgy in Jan. at SLU and they basically told me I could come in for a few hours in the morning and look over the resident's shoulder all AM or go to the golf course and relax before my Internship started because it would be one of the last times I would have the chance for some R&R. I went in about three or four mornings a week. Of course, I could have stayed all day and been more proactive. It's all what you want for yourself. You just have to decide what that is, research where can do it by talking to students who have already been there, and then schedule it.

My last bit of advice is to schedule the more cush rotations that you will be doing in the latter part of your fourth year. I chose to do Trauma Surgery now in my last month of medical school and I am regretting it. I matched Surgery so this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, but in retrospect I would have preferred "to start my life" July 1st instead of now. It has been damn hard taking calls from classmates who are on a beach somewhere at 3PM while I am in the middle of a thirty hour overnight call shift (which is q3 days btw). Eighty to ninety hours a week is no fun when you are three weeks from graduation. Just my two cents. Good luck.

OSU-COM

You can do all of your rotations at our core teaching hospitals with the exception of a couple of rural rotations you must do. All of these rotations are set up for you, and the electives can be done with a simple phone call to one of our affiliated facilities.