Getting the Most Out of Clinical Rotations

Clinical rotations are a vital part of medical education. Clinicals are your first encounter both with patients and the complexities of a doctor’s responsibilities. As the Princeton Review explains, “During this time, you’ll probably feel like a cross between a mindless grunt and a skilled apprentice. You'll interact with patients and perform basic medical procedures along with any tasks the resident doesn't want to do.”

Clinical rotations, the Princeton Review continues, “will not give you enough expertise to practice in any specialty (that's what a residency is for). They will give you a breadth of knowledge and help you consider potential career paths.”

The UMHS Pulse examines what U.S. and Caribbean medical school  students can do to get the most out of clinical rotations in order to obtain a residency and ultimately become a great doctor. Understanding the process, taking your time and choosing electives wisely are three areas we’ll explore.

Fundamentals of Clinical Rotations 

At UMHS, students take 48 weeks of mandatory clinical core rotations and 30 weeks of electives. The core rotations represent the primary areas of medical practice and the elective rotations provide students with an understanding of the various specialties in medicine.

For those unfamiliar with clinical rotations, StudentDoctor.net explains the process: “In Year 3 of med school, you become part of a medical team. A medical team typically consists of an attending (senior doctor), residents (doctors-in-training) and interns (first-year residents). You will rotate through the many clinical specialties of medicine, such as Internal Medicine (adult medicine), pediatrics, ob/gyn, psychiatry, surgery, etc. Here, you will get a taste of what kind of doctor you wish to become. Your [preceptor] will grade you on your performance during your rotation. As with any work environment, this can be a bit subjective. However, a nationally offered final subject exam [NBME] is administered at the end of your core rotations in order to determine a final grade.”

In Year 4 of med school, things become more specialized as you choose electives. “You can delve into the specialties of medicine even more,” StudentDoctor.net explains. “For example, if you liked internal medicine, you can elect to do a gastroenterology, cardiology or  rheumatology rotation.”

At UMHS, after passing Step 1 of the USMLE, students take 12 weeks of Internal Medicine; 12 weeks of Surgery; 6 weeks of Pediatrics; 6 weeks of Obstetrics and Gynecology; 6 weeks of Pediatrics; 6 weeks of Psychiatry; and 6 weeks of Family Practice, followed by 30 weeks of electives.

Why Choosing Electives is Important

The UMHS Pulse spoke with Nelly Alvarez, UMHS Clinical Coordinator, and Jeffrey Peralte, Director of Clinical Placement, and both discussed the benefits of choosing electives in clinical rotations. Electives can be in a number of specialties, from rheumatology and radiation oncology to pathology. There are many things to consider when choosing electives:

Electives are the Stepping Stone to Becoming a Resident: In electives, you are given more responsibility and get to work directly with patients. In turn, there are higher expectations involved because you’re working on specific areas.

You are More Likely to Get a Letter of Recommendation from an Elective: There are fewer students in elective rotations, and doctors see you more as a colleague than a student. Some hospitals even use electives to determine if you’re qualified for a residency slot.

Be Open & Honest in Communicating with Clinical Coordinators: When speaking to clinical coordinators at medical schools, it’s important to be honest. Don’t tell coordinators what you think they want to hear when you’re on the phone with them. For example, if finances are an issue, tell your coordinator and she/he will try her/his best to keep you in one area for a longer time period.

Take Your Time During Clinical Rotations

The UMHS Clinical Department gave us several reasons why it’s best to avoid “rushing” rotations. Not rushing the process makes it possible to take time off to study for your Step 2 exams. Taking your time during clinical rotations also allows you time to study for the mandatory MBME core exams for UMHS students. Note that this may vary from medical school to medical school.

"In medical education, knowledge is rewarded more often than speed,” says Mr. Peralte.

(Photo, inset right) FROM ROTATIONS TO RESIDENCY: Choosing electives wisely is one way to make you a better candidate for residency interviews. Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Following are three benefits to taking your time during rotations:

Stronger USMLE Step 2 Score Results: You have time to study for USMLE Step 2 when you’re in a break between doing rotations. This way, you can allocate undivided attention to studying.

You Become a More Competitive Candidate: You’re more competitive. You have more on your transcripts than others, and you’re less burned out. For example, at UMHS, students can complete clinical rotations in a year and a half, but it’s advised to take two years for completion.

“Taking an additional six months can save you a year in the long run,” says Ms. Alvarez.

You are Likely to Obtain More Residency Interviews: Your transcript will show that you have completed all your cores and some electives.

About UMHS:

Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciences focuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.