Favorite Electives

[Tazmaniac]

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I have some elective time I need to fill and wanted to see if people had opinions on things they enjoyed, or wished they could have done before residency.

I figure I'd like to do rotations in specialties that I'd never ever get to do once I'm in residency so I'm looking all over for random good stuff.

International, coast-to-coast, or local.

-Todd USC

 

[md03]

I wish I could have done an international elective. Our school only allows 3 electives, though, and I had to use them to get letters of recommendation.

Do something fun if you don't have to use the elective for letters.

 

[anonymousEM]

I have friends who did rotations in Alaska and on Indian Reservations...both were funded except for thier travel there. Competitive though.

Another friend did an elective with the county coroner which was interesting.

 

[MBK2003]

The things that I consider fun others might not see that way, but my two favorite electives in fourth year were

1) Outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic - tons of bizarre pathology, really learned to read EKG's, and LOTS of murmurs that were easy to hear because kids tend to have BMI's less than 35 (although this is changing).

2) Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery - got to play with saws, screw drivers and drills, really learned the musculoskeletal exam in clinic, and got to sew on every case.

Keep in mind I am going into psychiatry, so I enjoyed the rotations I would never get to do again.

Good luck! Fourth year is definitely the best year of medical school, hope you enjoy it!

MBK2003