As of February 2010, the approximate wait time for clinical rotations is 6 months (with a range of 3 months to 9 months).
The reason for this fluctuation is that students may have requested to only have rotations in a particular region or only GREENBOOK certified.
So what can you do during this time gap?
Several Options:
· Polish your practical skill set, history taking, and note writing using this SITE. I did about 2-3 sections a day and finished it in a about 10 days. Having gone through this will prepare you for you rotations. It also has sections for oral presentations and write-up protocols.
· Set up your own Elective (sometimes called a Clerkship) rotations at non AUA-affiliated hospitals. These electives must be greenbook certified which means they have a residency program of that elective’s specialty that is accredited by ACGME or AOA. Furthermore, for non AUA-affiliated hospitals you can only do certain electives which are:
1. Diagnostic Radiology
2. Opthalmology
3. Emergency Medicine
4. Neurology
5. Pathology
Once you have a hospital that is interested in taking you in for any of those electives, you must then submit an request form to AUA to officially arrange this. It involves the Dean of clinical sciences to overlook the request and get in touch with the program director at your hospital. Ask your coordinator to send you an email attachment of the official form or email me at shivasherolike@gmail.com for it.
National Area Health Education Organization (NAO) helps students and hospitals get in contact for educational purposes. You can use their DATABASE to browse through NAO-affiliated hospitals and apply directly for an elective or observership.
Alternatively, the On-Line Extramural Electives Compendium website can be used to access IMG-friendly electives. It is sponsored by the Association of American Colleges (AAMC).
Alternatively, the On-Line Extramural Electives Compendium website can be used to access IMG-friendly electives. It is sponsored by the Association of American Colleges (AAMC).
· Set up your own Observerships (sometimes called a Preceptorship) at any hospital or clinic. With Observerships you do not get credit for it, nor are you allowed to perform medical procedures and exams. In most cases you are attending morning rounds, seminars, and case presentations. Although less applicative than Clerkships, this is a good opportunity to develop contacts with physicians which will help for when you apply to residency. This also gives you a preliminary exposure to a hospital environment so that you’re not totally lost on your first rotation. Also, you can include observerships in your curriculum vitae to help enhance your residency application. Because you will not get any credit for it, you do not need to formally apply to AUA like you would have for setting up an Elective.
Sample email to apply for Electives or Oberverships at hospitals:
Hello,
I came across your contact information from the “name of website”
I am currently a 3rd year medical school student at American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUACOM). It is IMED-recognized with clinical clerkships based in affiliated hospitals throughout the United States. I have some time before beginning my clerkships so I’d like to use this break as an opportunity to explore further hospital clerkships or observerships around my area of residence.
Please guide me accordingly as I'm interested in setting up a short elective clerkship or observership.
In addition, kindly find my CV attached to this email as a word document.
Awaiting your reply,
Thank You
