Too many EM rotations? (DO)

[Pisiform]

I will be applying to AOA programs only, my score in not that hot either. I have scheduled 4 EM electives in my 4th year. And I have 2 more mandatory EM rotation at my home rotation site. Last 2 are spread apart. Would it look bad or hurt my chances in matching EM if I did that many? Would PD ask me question why I did it? Basically I am doing it to get more exposure and FaceTime at different hospitals, different places how things work. Better than doing any surgical or outpatient elective which I don't even like.

Another question, If I apply IM as a backup, would the IM PD raise an eye brow about why did I pick so many EM electives. Mind that I have done nearly 4 IM rotations in my 3rd year because it is one of the specialty I like. And I have already asked for letter from IM chair and faculty so thats not a problem.

What do you guys think? Thanks

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[daveyjwin]

I'm not a director or anything, and it's been several years, but I did 7 EM rotations, and another 5 Urgent Care type rotations in Med School. Nobody mentioned it, and it didn't seem to hurt me in the slightest.

 

[DO2016EM]

Especially for DO programs, there can never be too many rotations. Most of these places will not interview without a rotation and of those that will, some may want a rotation to rank you favorably. 4 rotations sounds like the right plan.

 

[EMDO2016]

Having successfully matched to my top program through AOA, I would tell you that it's a game. My problem was that I had SLOEs from two programs where I did not want to match. But, on the interview trail, they all had an impression that I'd rank and match to one of those two programs that wrote stellar SLOEs. My suggestion is to use common sense and think as if you were the one who's interviewing and reading at your SLOEs, etc.

 

[WalkingCorpse]

I don't think programs will see it as a negative in the slightest. On the other hand though, don't underestimate the toll it will take on you changing hospitals every 2-4 weeks, learning new EMR's, living out of your car, being away from friends/family, etc. I did a lot of away rotations too and I was sick of it by the end.


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[Swingman]

I tend to agree with the previous posters. Just realize that being on your "A-game" for that many months can be draining (mentally, physically, financially).

Best of luck!

 

[Pisiform]

Yea i know the draining part. They are split apart in between by ambulatory rotation so I am hoping that would give me a break

 

[Jlaw]

I did a total of 6 between auditions and required rotations and I don't think it was a problem. I was pretty burned out by the end of my last audition rotation, that's really the main hazard in my opinion. Auditions are exhausting because you're literally on a month long job interview where everything you do is constantly evaluated. Also you're usually treated like it's your first rotation...i.e at the end of my sixth month I had probably repaired about 150 lacs but still had to let the doc I was working with for the first time put in the first suture and then watch me do a few before he left me alone to finish up.

 

[gamerEMdoc]

I personally think doing 6 EM rotations is crazy overkill. But I understand the need to do so in the AOA world, where as many people said, many places want you to rotate there if they are going to rank you highly. Perhaps consider where you truly want to go, your top 3-4 places that link up both to where you want to match and where you'll realistically match. Then go rotate there. Rather than go to a bunch of others, ask if you can do a "second look" shift when you go out to interview, that way they can get a chance to evaluate you clinically. Or go back to a place at a later time.

Also, you may want to contact those few programs you do schedule at to make sure they still intend on being part of the AOA match in 2016. If they get ACGME accreditted this July (they should know after the RRC meets in April), they may consider matching only via the ACGME match. And if you only intend on going the AOA route, then you may wind up doing an audition at a place you won't even be applying to if you are completely discounting the ACGME match.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

one other thing is to make sure it is ok with your school. i had a couple friends who had their auditions cancelled with short notice because they could only have 16 weeks total in a single specialty. there are ways around this (ultrasound rotation vs. EM rotation) but make sure to cover yourself.

 

[asdf123g]

damn what DO schools do some of you guys goto that give you so many electives?

 

[TeamZissou]

damn what DO schools do some of you guys goto that give you so many electives?

Not Chicago

 

[daveyjwin]

damn what DO schools do some of you guys goto that give you so many electives?

For my school (8 years ago now) Emergency Medicine counted for a lot of different things, (Emergency Medicine (2), Elective (2), Medical Selective (1), Surgical Selective(1) plus I got screwed 3 days before start of another rotation, and was able to con them into allowing me to squeeze another EM rotation in on short notice) and Urgent Care for a bunch of others (Family Medicine (2), Ambulatory Medicine (1), Primary Care Selective (1), Rural/Underserved Medicine (1)).

Was a good time. I pretty much always wanted EM, and this was pretty good learning for what I eventually ended up doing...