UNECOM rotations.

[carn311]

A question for current students.

I'm not sure I understand how the rotation system is structured. Can you choose to stay in Maine for the majority of 3rd and 4th year and just do a few electives elsewhere? Or are sites assigned by lottery?

I'm concerned because my wife will be in the midst of a masters degree in Maine during my 3rd year. I would hate to have to separate.

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[jmarra03]

Hi
Little from column A little from column B. We do have a lottery system. The only people who do not lottery are those who are chosen for the fellowship and those who are FAME students and choose to stay in Maine ( but even then they do use the lottery spots but they are assured their spot in Maine). The rest of us had to hope our site didn't overfill and that we get our first choice. Our year was a pretty close match ( I think under 10 people out of 100 and change didn't get their first choice... maybe even less) The two years I saw the lottery run the sites that overfilled were Southern Maine ( Biddeford and a radius around it) and the Berkshires, MA. There is also an opportunity to trade after the lottery night and there is a hardship process that MIGHT allow you to go where you want to go ( even if you get accepted sometimes there isn't room though) Anyhow I am currently A 3rd year at the RI rotation site. Best of Luck!

 

[carn311]

Would there be any exception if ones spouse would HAVE to stay in Maine? One would think there would be some sort of preference for those in that situation.

 

[jmarra03]

It's hard to say who should and should not get preference so as a rule no one does. a majority of people end up where they want to go. There are 3 options in Maine ( Bangor, Augusta and southern Maine). There have been years where they thought about giving preference to people ( married with kids , etc) but someone always gets left out and that makes for cranky medical students 🙂
I seriously doubt you would get given preference for lottery because once they start giving preference to some it becomes an issue. It's stressful because you don't know where you're going until April of your 2nd year but it seems to be a fair way that makes >90% of students happy.

 

[jonb12997]

I think with the spouse thing it depends on why? Just because of a job that he/she likes and doesn't want to leave? probably not... is it because he/she has cancer and is under the care of a physician here in Maine and you don't want to leave him/her? more likely... extreme examples, I know, but i think you get my point.

I would suffice it to say that you should plan on most likely moving for 3rd/4th year and if something else works out, great!

btw, hi jmarra!

 

[olliemctuffy]

Every class makes its own rules for the lottery, so anything is possible. That being said, it's hard (some might say impossible) to make all 125 people in a class agree on something, so it usually ends up being that no one gets special treatment, except the aforementioned groups.

As an aside, I feel like we should all be doing third year at Maine Medical Center, as it is 20 minutes from campus and the largest hospital in Northern New England. Why do we have to go so far for training when we have this excellent resource in our backyard?

 

[innominata]

a few thoughts from someone who is currently on the southern maine track in year 3:

first, the hardship thing is a bit of a joke. it is nearly impossible to qualify for it, so don't think of it as some sort of 'wild card' that will get you into this site if the lottery doesn't. the lottery, with all of it's flaws, is a pretty fair system. statistics change from year to year: for this year's 3rd year class, somewhere around 90% of the people who wanted southern maine got it. last year's class (currently ms4) was a totally different ballgame: there were roughly 2 dozen people jockeying for a dozen spots, so half had to go elsewhere. 50/50 odds aren't terrible, but they also aren't great.

secondly, getting southern maine in year 3 doesn't mean all of your rotations will actually be in southern maine. my ob/gyn rotation is in allentown, PA (which is where i am now - 7 hrs from portland). since getting this track in the spring, i've also been told that my surgery rotation will likely be out of town since all of UNE's surgery rotations at maine med were cancelled at the last minute. while the school is working to find other options, their recommendation to me was to stay in allentown for an additional 6 weeks.

in the end, i'll likely be away from maine for 3 months during year 3. if you're really (REALLY) bent on staying in maine and want good odds on lottery day, i'd recommend one of the other maine sites.

best of luck.

 

[jonb12997]

As an aside, I feel like we should all be doing third year at Maine Medical Center, as it is 20 minutes from campus and the largest hospital in Northern New England. Why do we have to go so far for training when we have this excellent resource in our backyard?

You're echoing the thoughts of many UNE med students. Unfortunetly, MMC is a UVM teaching hospital and they take up the majority of the rotation spots. I think some of this comes from the days, (right or wrong is not the discussion here) of when DO's weren't allowed privaledges at MMC and they started the osteopathic hospital of maine. I agree that it would be nice to be at MMC, but with UVM students there, I don't see that happening any time soon, however I think it is starting to change, and hopefully by the time those of us in school now are "in charge" we'll be able to change some of this type of stuff... anyway, "that's my opinion, we welcome your's."

 

[rgerwin]

What about the Newark rotations? For family reasons that would be my first choice. Is that competitive?

 

[jmarra03]

Hi JonB! Hope all is well! Fancy seeing you on here🙂

I definitly agree with the other posters on here about lottery and rules.

As for Newark it's got the most spots ( usually in the 20's) and it's not usually not too competitve for a variety of reasons. That being said it depends on your class. There is always shuffling until the night of the lottery too so sometimes you may get nervous for no reason.

I also reiterate that a majority ( I'd say over 90%) of people end up where they want to be. It's only for 3rd year then you can go wherever you want pretty much for year 4.

 

[innominata]

the newark site usually is on the cusp of going to lottery or is just over: 20ish spots available, and even if it goes to lotto your odds are extremely good. i've heard from several friends who've gone thru the program there that it's a bit of a mixed bag: certain rotations are ok while other's are miserable. also, the housing is a complete nightmare... explore the newark option closely before committing to it was the advice i was given by friends who did their ms3 year there.

in the past 3 UNE lotteries that i've seen, the 2 sites that always go to lotto (meaning you're running the risk of not getting your first choice) are So. maine and the berkshires sites. the 2 that occasionally go to lotto are newark and providence; these vary from year to year.

regardless, there is a fairly finite amount of learning that can occur in your 3rd year--you're not going to be a surgeon after 6 weeks of surgery--so each site/rotation is what you make of it. best bet is to pick a location that you will be moderately happy at and to run with it from there.

 

[beachbunny]

Are you allowed to set up your own rotations and sites? I have worked in a hospital for years and some physicians have offered to mentor me for clinical rotations. One is actually a UNECOM alum (so I'm hoping that will help!). I would be so fortunate to learn from some of these doctors whom I work with, they're just great. So bascially, I'm asking how much flexibility does UNECOM give in terms of rotations in 3rd and 4th year?

 

[olliemctuffy]

In third year you have one elective rotation, and you can do whatever you want. Other than that, you must do one the UNECOM rotation sites for 3rd year, unless you are a fellow and all of your spots are elective (there are 4 fellows selected from every class). Fourth year, you can do rotations wherever you want, but must do certain rotations (IM, PEDS, OMM, etc). You can also do elective preceptorships as much as you want in 1st and 2nd years.

 

[fullefect1]

In third year you have one elective rotation, and you can do whatever you want. Other than that, you must do one the UNECOM rotation sites for 3rd year, unless you are a fellow and all of your spots are elective (there are 4 fellows selected from every class). Fourth year, you can do rotations wherever you want, but must do certain rotations (IM, PEDS, OMM, etc). You can also do elective preceptorships as much as you want in 1st and 2nd years.

Unless you are a fellow? Who is a fellow and how do u qualify?

 

[wook]

Unless you are a fellow? Who is a fellow and how do u qualify?

This is an OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine) fellow. They are teaching assistants for the 1st and 2nd year students for anatomy and OMM. Additionally, they get more training/experience with OMM clinically as part of their training. They get a stipend (someone else may know the amount of $$) for their time and effort. For the one year they do the fellowship, they get the stipend. It also adds a year to their training (ie medical school takes 5 years instead of 4). It is a position that is selective. People go through an application process which includes an interview.


Wook

 

[NMH2001]

4th year UNE'er here-

I was one of the 20+ people in my class jockeying for one of the few coveted Southern Maine spots and didn't get it. I ended up going up to Central Maine (Augusta) which is about an hour north of Portland. I was originally upset and pretty cranky about the situation, but I have to say that my 3rd year ended up being really awesome. Some points to consider: (I'm assuming you're married?)- It's only an hour drive, and you can stay in the (very nice) student housing and commute on weekends-like I did, or commute every day it you feel like it. All of your rotations are in Augusta-you do not have to leave the state for anything which is really a plus. The teaching and opportunities available are great-they really take an interest in students.

So if you want to stay in Maine, consider just going for Central Maine and bypassing the ulcer inducing lottery for a Southern Maine spot.

Good luck!

 

[beachbunny]

So, more about that "very nice" student housing...during your clinical rotations, how is housing set up? Do the hospitals provide it? I'm assuming it's not free, but do they offer it at a reasonable price? And, what do you do with your significant other? Are they permitted to stay with you or is it only for students? Sorry for the 20 questions.....🙂

 

[wook]

So, more about that "very nice" student housing...during your clinical rotations, how is housing set up? Do the hospitals provide it? I'm assuming it's not free, but do they offer it at a reasonable price? And, what do you do with your significant other? Are they permitted to stay with you or is it only for students? Sorry for the 20 questions.....🙂

3rd year housing is provided by the site at no cost to the student. As far as a significant other, that would be site dependent. Some of the housing may be with another med student, so that could be awkward. If you have family, some sites take that into consideration (eg Watertown, at least 2 years ago, had housing for families).


Wook

 

[hcrunner]

sorry to kind of shift direction from the OP's original question, but would any current/former UNE students like to comment on the Upstate NY rotation, ie Basset and St E's in utica? I'm in the process now of applying to DO schools and since I'm from the upstate NY area, it would be a nice perk to be able to come home to do my rotations if they are good sites. Thanks for any info

 

[innominata]

as a sidebar to the southern maine site discussion, so. maine is the only UNECOM site that does NOT offer any housing whatsoever. if you plan on trying for this site, be prepared to take out additional money for housing expenses. also, there is no discount in tuition to compensate for the lack of housing. go figure...

 

[wook]

as a sidebar to the southern maine site discussion, so. maine is the only UNECOM site that does NOT offer any housing whatsoever. if you plan on trying for this site, be prepared to take out additional money for housing expenses

Thanks for bringing that up, as it had slipped my mind!



Wook

 

[Shodddy18]

Would there be any exception if ones spouse would HAVE to stay in Maine? One would think there would be some sort of preference for those in that situation.

Unfortunately no! I know a few people who are away from spouses because of the lottery. Luckily my wife was able to find a job in her field where we ended up! But if she hadnt she would be staying in biddeford while I'm up here in bangor!

 

[ajdDO]

I am currently a 3rd year student doing my rotations at Bassett Hospital. I am currently doing IM and loving it! I would recommend this site to any UNECOM students. There are two different Upstate NY rotations... Cooperstown at Bassett, which you would do most of your rotations except maybe surgery, psych, and family practice. I did surgery at Wilson Memorial in Johnson City w/out many complaints. I will be doing psych at St. E's in Utica.

Or you could chose just to go to St. E's in Utica for all of your rotations. The last couple years every one who wanted one of those sites got it... but like always it depends on your class.

 

[rgerwin]

Could anyone comment on the NJ sites?

Thanks!