Western vs. AZCOM (3/4 yrs)

[elektroshok]

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So I am drawn between these schools completely. I have to pick one soon and send in a deposit.

It has really come down to me liking AZCOM's first two years better, and being from new mexico, I would be closer to home.

What I am worried about is 3/4 yr the rotations. Can any current students comment on the rotations at either school? I have heard great things about Western's rotations and mixed things about AZCOMS.

Is it worth it to go to Western just based on the quality of 3rd and 4th year? Or is the difference between these two programs marginal enough to not really matter?

Thanks.

 

[Flushot]

If you look in the AZCOM 09-10 attached files list and the AZCOM 2014 page, you can find several pdfs and presenations on 3rd and 4th year. It was tough getting them, but you're far from the first to ask these questions and I'm hoping they have been answered with these documents.

I can't speak for Western but hopefully you can find some information along those same lines.

 

[DocWahwee]

Hi there,
AZCOM MS 2 here.

Here's the presentation given to the MS2's a few weeks ago about rotations. It will likely reflect how 2014's 3rd/4th years will look, but don't be suprised if it gets tweaked over the next 2 years. Also I would recommend checking out the 2014 and even the 2013 fourms for FAQ's regarding rotations.

Overall, AZCOM is in a transition phase. A few years ago (under the previous dean), AZCOM's roatations were almost purely preceptorships. A preceptorship basically when a student follows a single physician. A ward based rotation is associated with a residency program and medical students work on a team of physicians/residents. Residency programs want students to have ward based experiences, so they are prepared for the residency team environment. Therefore, to better standardize the 3rd year experience and, for lack of a better phrase, to "boost resumes" of 3rd students, AZCOM has begun switiching to more hospital and ward based rotation system.


On a similar note, the feedback I have heard from physicians in the community is that, in general, they have been highly impressed by the preformance of AZCOM students.

 

[igcgnerd]

Holy crap their sending kids to the hospital in my old home town of Turlock, CA. That's kinda funny.