Clinical Rotations

[shutterbugmd]

Hi!

What's the deal with Ross Clinical Rotations?

Can you get Cores in one place? Should I look for ACGME accredited if I want to shoot for California?

What's the Green list? (book)

Can you set up your own Core rotations as long as you do the paperwork?

thanks!!!!!!!

[MitchDC]

Medical student rotations, also known as clerkships, are a great experience. However, its important that you focus on the basic sciences first.

Can you get cores in one place from Ross? The answer is yes. You can get all your cores done in Chicago, in Bakersfield (limited # of spots), and in New York (although it may be at different hospitals).

You are also more than welcome to set up your own rotations -- it doesn't even take a ton of paperwork. You arrange them with the hospital, it is approved by the Clinical Dean, the hospital fills out some paperwork and you are all set.

Califorinia is actually not very strict (well, not the most strict) in terms of clerkships and licensure. Your school needs to be CA approved and your clerkships need to be at a program where they at least have an ACGME accredited Family Medicine residency. There are a few more details, but really its not tough to go to CA as a graduate of Ross. Consult the California Medical Board website for the details.

Hope that helps!

M

Hi!

What's the deal with Ross Clinical Rotations?

Can you get Cores in one place? Should I look for ACGME accredited if I want to shoot for California?

What's the Green list? (book)

Can you set up your own Core rotations as long as you do the paperwork?

thanks!!!!!!!

[singer]

Mitchdc:

You indicate that a Ross student can set up their own Core Clinicals. Can this be done at Ross affiliated sites. Somehow I remember reading that You can't approach the Ross affiiated sites to set up core clinicals. If I am wrong please clarify how one goes about setting up their own core clinicals.

Also you might be able to share some of the pros and cons of your own clinical experience.

Thanks

[MitchDC]

You're right Singer. I guess I wasn't clear on that. If the site is already affiliated with RUSM then they will set up the rotations. That is part of the contract Ross has with the hospitals -- that Ross will do the scheduling, etc. Students are not allowed to contact the affiliated hospitals directly to set up rotations. They have a clinical advisor who does that already.

What most students mean by setting up rotations on their own is contacting a non-affiliated hospital and establishing a teaching agreement between the hospital and Ross. Ross then financially reimburses the hospital for your time there as long as you set up the clerkship correctly and all the paperwork is signed.

M

Mitchdc:

You indicate that a Ross student can set up their own Core Clinicals. Can this be done at Ross affiliated sites. Somehow I remember reading that You can't approach the Ross affiiated sites to set up core clinicals. If I am wrong please clarify how one goes about setting up their own core clinicals.

Also you might be able to share some of the pros and cons of your own clinical experience.

Thanks

[Dru]

Excellent posts. I've linked this thread to the Ross US Clinical info thread.

[microphage]

Just to be safe, set up ALL ACGME hospital core rotations.

[alpathmd]

What most students mean by setting up rotations on their own is contacting a non-affiliated hospital and establishing a teaching agreement between the hospital and Ross. Ross then financially reimburses the hospital for your time there as long as you set up the clerkship correctly and all the paperwork is signed.M

This can get tricky...alll hospitals are different. Here are some issues you'll
face:

-Some hospitals require paperwork that both you and the school must fill out, which can be a torturous process due to the current Ross administration (i.e follow up of paperwork)
-Some need you to apply/schedule the rotation 6 months in advance.
-Some require you to pay for the rotation yourself ($3000/month at Hopkins)
-Some have extensive applications requiring transcripts, status letters...too much hassle if you ask me...

But if you have time and patience for the above, then i'd recommend that you do this. I sure didn't have time with the Step 2 exams, and ERAS applications etc....

Good luck,

[homerbrave]

You are also more than welcome to set up your own rotations -- it doesn't even take a ton of paperwork. You arrange them with the hospital, it is approved by the Clinical Dean, the hospital fills out some paperwork and you are all set.


M

Setting up either elective or core rotations outside the Ross umbrella is not this easy. Many hospitals don't take IMGs to begin with and the ones that do require ridiculous paperwork. The hospitals I looked into wanted me to fwd. them a letter of good standing from the clinical office, LORs, school transcrips, along with $200-$500 application fees. Some places, like Dr. A stated, required me to pay them directly (thousands of dollars). Once this is done, I would have to wait for the NJ office to get their act together which can take months. No thanks.....

And all this just for an elective!!!! I never even tried to set up my own core. When I was starting 3rd year, a fellow classmate received approval at a university hospital to do her IM and FP core outside the Ross network. 2 weeks into the rotation, Mr. YOU KNOW WHO at the NJ office called her and said Ross doesn't recognize this hospital and won't send them reimbursement.

the NJ office needs to stop scheduling students at DO/AOA rotations.

[singer]

Homebrave:

Your correct. Not only should they have all ACGME rotations they should also have more clinical centers where a student can do all their rotations. Even in New York if you get one rotation in the Bronx and one in Queens and one in Brooklyn the only convient place to live would be Manhattan and you would have to spend $1500 to $2000 for rent in a lousy place. Unless I am wrong it becomes difficult to find a place to live for a six week rotation in Ohio or Connecticut when you get a short notice that you are scheduled there. I would also appreciate some insight in scheduling electives. If going outside the network is vigorus and almost impossible then how does one go about scheduling electives at Ross hospital sites?

Thanks

[homerbrave]

Homebrave:

Your correct. Not only should they have all ACGME rotations they should also have more clinical centers where a student can do all their rotations. Even in New York if you get one rotation in the Bronx and one in Queens and one in Brooklyn the only convient place to live would be Manhattan and you would have to spend $1500 to $2000 for rent in a lousy place. Unless I am wrong it becomes difficult to find a place to live for a six week rotation in Ohio or Connecticut when you get a short notice that you are scheduled there. I would also appreciate some insight in scheduling electives. If going outside the network is vigorus and almost impossible then how does one go about scheduling electives at Ross hospital sites?

Thanks

Mr.Singer,

Scheduling electives w/i the Ross network is much easier. Your son can apply directly thru the graduate medical education office at the hospital of his choosing by either email request or paper/pdf forms downloadable from their websites. No application fee and minimal paperwork are required.

[alpathmd]

Setting up either elective or core rotations outside the Ross umbrella is not this easy. Many hospitals don't take IMGs to begin with and the ones that do require ridiculous paperwork. The hospitals I looked into wanted me to fwd. them a letter of good standing from the clinical office, LORs, school transcrips, along with $200-$500 application fees. Some places, like Dr. A stated, required me to pay them directly (thousands of dollars). Once this is done, I would have to wait for the NJ office to get their act together which can take months. No thanks.....

Yes this was my experience as well, so i just didn't bother. Instead I went through reliable sources and tried to pick the electives which had 1-2 students per attending and were convenient for both me and my rotation schedule.

I know a couple of people who went through NIH, so if you are in Maryland, this wouldn't hurt. It does take a bit of time to apply etc, but since a few Ross students have been there, it shouldn't be too much trouble for them.

[alpathmd]

Homebrave:
Even in New York if you get one rotation in the Bronx and one in Queens and one in Brooklyn the only convient place to live would be Manhattan.......

I lived in Queens (near Jamaica Hosp) and did rotations at Wyckoff (brooklyn), Queens (QHC) and the Bronx (St.Barnabas). The E train was convenient and I also had access to other trains which worked out well. Of course it took me the longest 2 hrs on the train to get to St. Barnabas hospital, but it was only for 6 weeks, so I managed.


Unless I am wrong it becomes difficult to find a place to live for a six week rotation in Ohio or Connecticut when you get a short notice that you are scheduled there.

It just seems harder than it sounds....

First, contact the clinical advisor at Ross (email/phone) and ask for a housing list for that area/city. Then spend a couple of hours to call all the numbers and ask the landlords if they know anyone else who has a place etc etc.

Next, ask the medical education co-ordinator if they have a list of landlords who have places for students to rent (i.e. housing list).

Then, look on a map. Do you see any universities in the area? Try going to the university website and look for any housing links. You might be surprised to see what awaits...

Finally, keep in contact with students doing electives/cores, they usually have been to different areas and know different landlords. Don't be afraid to give out cell phone numbers cause they'll come out handy one day!

I would also appreciate some insight in scheduling electives.
If going outside the network is vigorus and almost impossible then how does one go about scheduling electives at Ross hospital sites?

Wherever your son is doing his core rotations, tell him to speak to the Medical Education co-ordinator and he/she will have the scheduling book/calendar. He can simply communicate with this person and with his clinical advisor at Ross to set it up. It's really pretty easy.

good luck, hope this helps,