Unique residency electives

[st2205]

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Any recommendations for residency electives besides more routine stuff? I'm considering doing a bit more neuro stuff and perhaps do behavioral neurology or neuropsychology or perhaps a TBI clinic. We're a small program so we don't have any specific psychiatry clinics (early psychosis, eating disorders, clozapine, etc.) but could venture off into some other related specialties. What have other people found interesting? Being rather burned out, I like the though of setting up some pretty easy stuff but would like to pick up a few tidbits along the way.

 

[notdeadyet]

We're a small program so we don't have any specific psychiatry clinics (early psychosis, eating disorders, clozapine, etc.) but could venture off into some other related specialties.

Not having the specialty psych clinics limits the options. Neurology-related rotations would interest me, but I realize that will leave a lot of folks cold. Do you have a palliative care or hospice rotation? Those tend to be meaningful work.

Being rather burned out, I like the though of setting up some pretty easy stuff but would like to pick up a few tidbits along the way.

For easy stuff that is soothing to burn out, consider rotations in which you do not see patients and do not have direct supervision. Most programs have "medical education" time where you do curriculum development and the like. Alternately, if there is option for low-level "research" time to do a case review or lit review, that might be good.

For burn out, choosing electives in which you manage your own time tend to be best. That way, you can go for a run, lift, meditate, or hit a movie in the middle of the day if you need it and do the work later at night or whenever it feels right. That can go a long way.

 

[FlowRate]

I did a couple of electives that I think were useful. I'm sure I've forgotten everything at this point, but it will be easier to re-learn down the road.

Neurology: The specific elective I chose was really great, because I spent about 1/3 of my time in sleep clinic, 1/3 in headache, and 1/3 in general neurology, in addition to being the first contact for any consults in the hospital. Lots of opportunity to do independent eval of outpatient neuro complaints and bread+butter ED + inpatient consults.

Cardiology: Did consult cards and it was great. Allowed a lot of time to think + read about my patients and plenty of exposure to patients with a wide range of problems, from acute TCA overdose in the ED to several patients with cardiac amyloidosis to reassuring Sub-I's that the EKG is just PVC's. Learned to read EKG's really well during this rotation.

EM maybe less useful but good for overview of treatment of acute presentations. Also did a medicine Sub-I, so if you're not required to do that, I think it's good training.