Intern Year Electives

[Smpco02]

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So I matched into a preliminary gen. surg. program for my PGY-1 year. What sealed the deal for me was that this program will give me 5 months of electives since I have an advanced position, unlike the other preliminary residents that might apply for categorical spots. I'm getting emails about what electives I would like, and I was hoping others can chime in and give me ideas and critique my choices.

These are my mandatory rotations.
Night Float / Emergency Medicine
Trauma / Critical Care
General Surgery / Laparoscopic
General Surgery / Oncology / Colorectal / Endocrine
Vascular / Thoracic
MICU

Then I have to pick two from below, I was thinking plastics and surgical path.
Plastics
Surgical Pathology
Neurosurgery
Orthopedics
Pediatric Surgery

And for my other five, I was thinking neuro-radiology, away ophthalmology at the program I matched in June so I can move, ENT, research, and maybe a micro surgical course somewhere. I would also like to do a medicine rotation so I can get some exposure to diseases with ophthalmic manifestations, so endocrinology/internal med/family med are options. Any advice will be a huge help, thanks to those that reply in advance😀.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

So I matched into a preliminary gen. surg. program for my PGY-1 year. What sealed the deal for me was that this program will give me 5 months of electives since I have an advanced position, unlike the other preliminary residents that might apply for categorical spots. I'm getting emails about what electives I would like, and I was hoping others can chime in and give me ideas and critique my choices.

These are my mandatory rotations.
Night Float / Emergency Medicine
Trauma / Critical Care
General Surgery / Laparoscopic
General Surgery / Oncology / Colorectal / Endocrine
Vascular / Thoracic
MICU

Then I have to pick two from below, I was thinking plastics and surgical path.
Plastics
Surgical Pathology
Neurosurgery
Orthopedics
Pediatric Surgery

And for my other five, I was thinking neuro-radiology, away ophthalmology at the program I matched in June so I can move, ENT, research, and maybe a micro surgical course somewhere. I would also like to do a medicine rotation so I can get some exposure to diseases with ophthalmic manifestations, so endocrinology/internal med/family med are options. Any advice will be a huge help, thanks to those that reply in advance😀.

Definitely plastics. As for the others, whatever you like.

 

[Mirror Form]

Intern year and your pgy2 ophtho residency year are both going to be tough. I'd take surgical path just to have a chance to keep up with your friends and relatives.

I did ortho as an intern. I got in the OR a ton, which was nice. But I'm not sure how helpful it was. In retrospect, I probably should have done something that didn't require working 14 hours per day for a month.

 

[MullerCell]

I would choose rotations that allow you as much free time as possible. Very little of what you do/learn during intern year will be relevant for the rest of your life. How many H&Ps, SOAP notes, discharge summaries, ect. do you need to do? You learn ophthalmology during residency and fellowship (if you do one). Spend time with family and friends, exercise, read books that have nothing to do with medicine. You will have plenty of time to work your butt off in the coming years. You don't want to be burnt out before you start residency.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Mullers advice is excellent.

Could you do an ocular path elective somewhere? That would be a good one actually. Esp if your residency program doesn't have in house ocular path.

 

[JMK2005]

A dermatology rotation would be helpful.

 

[MstaKing10]

Rotations I would recommend:

- Plastics
- Derm
- Neurology
- Endocrine
- Radiology
- ENT
- Ophtho

I guess those are the most useful that I can think of. As others have mentioned, try to enjoy this year cuz you'll be busting your hump the next few years. Most of those I mentioned though tend to be more laid back anyways. Good luck.

 

[Smpco02]

Thanks everyone, glad to see that your suggestions matched closely to what I was thinking.😀

 

[speyeder]

I would choose:

- Plastics: for suturing & O.R. experience
- ENT: because some ENT diseases can affect the eyes
- Neurology: because it will help with neuro-ophthalmology
- Radiology: to familiarize yourself with orbital/ocular imaging