Rotations

[SkiMonkey]

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I was hoping that some third and fourth years could shed some light on their rotations for these specific schools...VCOM, KCOM, and DMU.

I know that DMU is changing their third year rotations so that most students will stay in-state. Will this affect the quality of these rotations? Will it require more traveling than previously?

For KCOM, once you are at your regional site, do you travel a lot, or do you only travel for a few specific rotations and stay at a major hospital the rest of the time?

Any insight on VCOM rotations (quality of teaching, amount of traveling, other pluses and minuses) would be greatly appreciated.

I have a wife and would like to be away from her the least amount of time as possible, but I know that traveling for some rotations will be a necessity no matter where I end up. Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.

 

[RoyalFB]

I answered your question with respect to KCOM yesterday. There is a high degree of variability in each region. This may help, this a book (PDF) that describes each rotation site in great detail. Login to the ATSU portal, click on "KCOM," then "Students," then "Clinical Education Affairs," then "KCOM Regional Site Selection Guide Summer 2007." 👍

 

[SkiMonkey]

Thanks a ton for all the info Royal. This should help out a lot. Anyone else want to chime in about VCOM or DMU rotation?

 

[Amy B]

I will speak about my VCOM experience. When I was a 3rd year they set up the rotations by geographical areas. If you had special circumstances you could request local rotations. I did that due to having children. Although for 4th year I have done a few out of the area where I stayed in VCOM housing (Bluefield WV for EM elective).

I have some classmates across the country for both 3rd and 4th year. They also got special permission to go away from VA. We also have folks in NC and NJ.

I have been quite pleased at the degree of learning I have experienced at 99% of my rotations. I think they have picked a great bunch of docs for us to work with. I have learned a whole bunch. I know though that some places havent been as good as other places. Some people in OB delivered alot of babies and some places they never got any deliveries. Hit and miss on that one. Some places have had residents to work with (I have been with residents from UVA and WVCOM to name a few), and some places dont have any residents. Some places have daily or weekly lectures and some places never have lectures. Some preceptors require presentations by the students or papers to be written and other dont.. It all depends. But I will say I have learned from all my sites.

For 4th year, I got a list of surgical, medical and electives of which I could pick where I wanted to go. It was pretty much wide open as where you can go. Some of my classmates are doing the central America electives, some are in Penn, NJ, NC, Chicago, Miss, Ga, Cali, etc.,.,......... it's your pick to stay local or go far away.

Everywhere I have been we have been given either totally free food, or a 4 or 5$ food ticket that will cover teh majority of the food cost. This helps when you are at the hospital every day and have to buy food. Some of my classmates have been places that didnt give any free food or discounts but I believe all the local area hospitals do.

I have been quite pleased at the degree of learning I have had.

 

[Boner]

I know that DMU is changing their third year rotations so that most students will stay in-state. Will this affect the quality of these rotations? Will it require more traveling than previously?

The whole idea behind moving rotations closer to Des Moines is to reduce travel and increase quality. With rotations being closer, the clinical affairs department can keep a closer eye on things to make sure students get the best clinical experience possible. As of now, you would generally have a home base you can come home to every night. By the time you would be on clinicals, the system will be much different; you'll probably be in one spot for the entire third year. Fourth year you can pretty much do whatever you want, as its all elective.