Going out during 3rd year

[psg7y]

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I'm from one of those big states with a few people. You know, the type where the university football stadium has the third largest population in the state on game day, and it's less than 80,000

My question is this: for third year, we get sent out into the middle of nowhere to do some of our roataions. For example, I am going 6 hours away for my family practice rotation. Is this common in schools - to send students out into the state for required rotations even when there is a good, well respected university hospital and network right in the city?

 

[thesauce]

I'm from one of those big states with a few people. You know, the type where the university football stadium has the third largest population in the state on game day, and it's less than 80,000

My question is this: for third year, we get sent out into the middle of nowhere to do some of our roataions. For example, I am going 6 hours away for my family practice rotation. Is this common in schools - to send students out into the state for required rotations even when there is a good, well respected university hospital and network right in the city?

Sounds like UW. Your school is probably trying to prep students to go into practice in rural medicine. So having people go out and do rotations in rural communities will probably prep people for that lifestyle nicely. Just my opinion.

 

[signomi]

They required it at my med school as part of "Community Medicine." The ridiculous part was that they "randomly" assigned people to rural areas versus getting to stay locally. Seemed like all the butt kissers got to stay local. I refused to go on my rotation and sweet weeping jesus it was as if I killed someone. I said I would go (4 months in advance) if they would help find me housing there that would take my cat. I offered to pay the difference if it was more expensive. They dragged their feet and refused to help me. I refused to go. People I didn't even know would slap me five in the halls of the med school! I won against the power! I got to stay locally. Theoretically, the point was learning about rural primary care...but again why did some people get to stay in the town/city then?

So you don't think I'm an idiot: My cat is a barn cat that is afraid of strangers and has a genetic disease as well as a mild seizure disorder. Leaving her in a kennel for a month would have killed her.

 

[psg7y]

Here, we got to look at a database of the places based on lots of criteria, one of which was if pets/spouses were allowed, and request our top 3. They were then assigned based on who knows what. Housing is taken care of, as are meals. I also have heard rumors that some of the places that are far away will give you money for gas and some may give a small stipend. Maybe the stipend is if there isn't a way they can provide food - I don't really know. It could all be a big lie.

 

[Sammich81]

UVA sends their students all over to the most bufu parts of the state. I hated it and we had no choice. They gave some preference to people with kids staying locally, but none for pets. It was miserable at times...my worst was living in a trailer for a month full of bugs with no cell phone service and a mooing bull/cow/something loud outside my window every morning. Also the barn cats went mousing at night in the field I had to drive through to get to my trailer, and I was always afraid I'd kill one. So you're not alone. Frickin' rural primary care, talk about a way to motivate people NOT to pursue it.

 

[trudub]

It is all what you make it though. I am definitely not interested in rural medicine. But, I have done one of the two required rural rotations in the curriculum and it was one of the best experiences I have had during medical school. You get to be really hands on, you get more autonomy than at the university hospital, and you really get to know the doctor and the medical staff on more than just a professional level. While it isn't the most fun living in BFE, it can be a really good experience where you can learn a lot.

 

[nebrfan]

I'm from one of those big states with a few people. You know, the type where the university football stadium has the third largest population in the state on game day, and it's less than 80,000

Nebraska?

 

[psg7y]

Nebraska does this? Or Creighton?

 

[nebrfan]

Nebraska does this? Or Creighton?

I know Nebraska sends students out west - I was just wondering if you were talking about being in the state of Nebraska - where Memorial Stadium DOES become the third largest city in the state on game day.