Good places to do away rotations

[luckystar]

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Hi everybody,

Long time reader of this most intriguing forum here. I tried searching for this topic, but didn't get very far. In fact, I started reading random threads for about 20 minutes before I realized that I have a respiratory final tomorrow. Well anyway, I am wondering which programs give interviews preferentially to rotators, and which programs are "good" (i.e. good learning experience) to do a rotation at. We are limited to doing 3 months of rotations in any one specialty (in the 3rd and 4th years combined) so I'm thinking it would be wisest to do them at places with a residency program, and where I would get to see and do a variety of things.

Thanks for your much appreciated input!! 🙂

 

[Doctor B.]

I'd do them at places you think you might want to do residency. People at the program will remember you more when you rotate there and that could definately help you land an interview.

 

[luckystar]

Good point, Doctor B.

I'm thinking of sticking around in the midwest, and there seems to be quite a few good programs in the area. I'll have to do a little more research into what part of pathology I'd like more focus on, I guess.

Thanks!

 

[yaah]

I'm not sure if there are specific places that are "better" to do away rotations at. As said above, if there is a certain place you really like, or you want to see if you like, those are the places to go. I did an away at Mayo, which is nice because you can apply for that earlier in the year than you can other places. Many med schools wait until late in the year to decide if they are going to allow visiting students, as they want to see if they will fill their rotation with home students. But Mayo is a small school so they accept outside applicants early.

Most away path rotations are user-driven, from what I have seen. You will get a bit of structure and options as to how to fill your day, but a lot of it is up to you. A large academic center is nice for a 4th year rotation because of all the conferences, expert faculty, and specimen volume, but I have no doubt that a lot could be gained from a smaller facility as well, if that is your interest.

 

[luckystar]

Thanks for the advice, yaah.

I am very much looking forward to doing some rotations in path. I don't have much hands-on experience with the field, but the pathology course and all the pathology sections in each of our systems review classes this year have been my favorite. My faculty advisor is encouraging me to consider pathology and I like what I've read about the field. The hospital that I'll be doing my 3rd year rotations in does offer a path rotation and I'm so tempted to sign up for it because a few of the pathologists have lectured here and were great, but I think I should save my path rotations for larger academic centers since there is no path residency program at that particular hospital.

So that's my story. I guess I should focus on boards before jumping ahead and fantasizing about 4th year 😀

 

[LADoc00]

Good place for away electives: Brigham/Boston Childrens, derm, neuro or some other reasonable service where you have time to visit different sections. Do it in Nov/Dec (yeah the weather sucks) so you can twofer with an interview, which they should "auto" give you assuming you arent complete basketcase.
UCSF would be high on my list, as well as UPenn.

 

[luckystar]

Thanks for your input, LADoc00. I have yet to hear myself classified as a complete basketcase, but who knows 😀 Sounds like timing is quite important in this whole process, huh?

I was able to contact a couple of pathologists who graduated from my school, and am meeting with one this Friday. That should give me the chance to learn more about path residencies and all that jazz.