rotation abroad

[mrfunnyman]

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How do students feel about doing one of their clinical rotations abroad? Do students even get the time to enjoy the area around them, or do they do it because actually want to see how eye care is over there. Also, is it worth it to even do a rotation abroad, or would it be better to do all your rotations in places you think you will end up working, to get a chance to network around the area?

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

I have actually wondered the same thing as well. Would someone who has done a rotation abroad care to share their experience with us?

 

[362.04]

Only a few schools have rotations abroad.

I know that UC Berkeley has a rotation in Mainland China (http://bci.berkeley.edu/BCI-AdvBoardProfile.asp?Profile=StephenR.Chun) and Indiana has one in Guanajuato Mexico (see http://www.opt.indiana.edu/clinics/centers/mexico/index.htm).

It is helpful to get a notion of completely different patient settings. I've been to Mexico on a month long rotation myself that I privately arranged and it was eye opening.

For Mexico, it is especially helpful if you are going to practice where there are any significant number of Spanish speaking patients.

 

[4Eyes]

I have no personal experience with overseas rotations, but UMSL offers one in Australia. It's a contact lens specialty practice. I think not a lot of people go simply because airfare is NOT cheap. A student in my class also arranged one privately in Albania.

 

[cunikki]

suny has one rotation in china, and scco has some in japan- but they are not guaranteed sites and you can sign up thinking you will be going- and then end up having to pick another site at the last minute.
in terms of quality of education- they are military sites so you are seeing young healthy soldiers- and live on a base- not really getting immersed into the country- but everyone goes for the ability to travel and stuff on the weekends- i would say that it is definitely not a site where you will learn/see a lot of cool stuff but you get the opportunity to see another country. in general the sites are usually really high pick sites meaning you will have to live somewhere crappy for 3 months to equal out the good pick

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Pacific has one in China, two in Germany, one in Guam, and (possibly) one in Japan, if I'm remembering correctly. I've heard rave reviews from those who did them. I'm not doing one personally, so I'm of little help in that department. If your school offers one, see if you can get in touch with a few upperclassmen who went there before you. They should have the best idea of what to expect, and whether they would do it again.

 

[eyepoker]

any SUNY ppl want to share their experience in China??

from what i've hear it's mostly a low vision center (?)

anyone know??

 

[alferec]

My classmate told me that you would get one week off if you go to Japan for your rotation so you can do some sightseeing (this is for SCCO).

 

[Eye-Spy]

ICO has one in Australia for sure, and possibly one in China.