ms4 electives for FP residency bound?

[larryj]

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not much response to this on the FP forum, thought I would try it here:

I am currently planning my 4th year schedule, and trying to decide which electives I should/need to take. I am planning on doing an FP residency, hopefully one strong in OB and procedural training.

I am already planning to do:
Cardiology
ER
OB (a second rotation)
FP Sub-I Inpatient

Here are some rotations I am considering adding, although time constraints will not allow me to do them all:
Dermatology
Radiology
Anesthesiology
Orthopedics
Pulmonology
ICU

I have had none of the above as a 3rd year. I had also thought about another surgical rotation? Maybe some additional Peds? Peds subspecialty? Even more OB (a third month total?)?

Any tips you may have would be great.

 

[Brewster]

I know little about FP residencies, so you can choose to ignore this reply if you like.

My personally opinion is that fourth year of medicals school is about three things:
1) Rotations in the specialty you are going into. Or, alternatively rotations in multiple specialties if you are still undecided.
2) Strong LOR from the rotations in #1.
3) Being exposed to and learning stuff you may never have formal education in again.

To that extent, obviously the FP sub-I is good. What about an away rotation in FP? Strong letters from those rotations fullfills #2. Then (again, this is merely my opinion), other rotations should be used to fullfill #3. Take anything you are interested in learning more about. Any of the specialties look good. I wouldn't do a third ob rotation (I might not even do a second, but that is just me). Anything you need to know for being an FP you will learn in residency. Take the time to learn anything else that interests you (derm, ortho, anesthesia...all good choices).

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

I'm not a FP resident, but have a good grasp of what FPs see on a daily basis. This is what I'd recommend:

1. Ortho or sports medicine: There is a big chunk of FP practice that is musculoskeletal complaints. Taking on of these would help give you a basis in doing a MSK exam and knowing when to refer and when to treat.

2. Radiology: This rotation is useful in most clinical specialties. Try to concentrate on chest radiology and bone radiology. It will be useful on inpatient rotations during residency. Also the FPs in my city have x-rays facilities in their clinics and the residents and staff are asked to make a preliminary read of the studies before they are officially read the next day. I am sure this is the case in many practices.

3. Derm: Again, a lot of rashes and skin lesions in FP. Would be good to learn about them.

I think the rest depends on what you're interested in. ICU would be useful in residency, but probably not as important afterwards. Peds would be obviously useful. Anesthesia would be good to learn intubation and lines, which is needed in residency. Good luck.

 

[meg28]

I will just be starting at PCOM in the fall - so keep in mind that I cetainly am not speaking from experience. But my dad is a FP DO and he is always telling me how important derm is in his practice. He usually fills some of his CEUs in some kind of derm thing each year - and he has told me several times to pay lots of attention to the derm stuff I will learn because you see a lot of it in FP. So if I were you, I might choose a derm rotation.

 

[Doc101]

larry:

The ones you've mentioned that you are planning on taking are very good choices (Cardio, ER, FP, OB....all FP rotations). The amount of derm cases that you will see as an FP are unbelievable. So if you're lucky enough to have this option, I would take it. Radiology is also very helpful for FP. But some important rotations for FP residency are not on your list....like IM and Peds. But if I had to go with 1 more from your list, I'd go with Pulm....not b/c I like it (I actually don't), but because you will see lots of cases that you will run into during residency. Good luck.