Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, CA

[Gator98MD]

I thought I would post on my experience doing electives at Kern Medical Center:

ER: I worked during december, so I did 14- 12 hours shifts (all other months you do 8 hour shifts). Excellent rotation. Residents are extremely cool and helpful, willing to teach. Basically you pick up patients like the residents do. You see the patient, do the H&P, and then present to the resident or attending. When traumas come in you can help, although this is mostly the realm of the trauma team. All the psychiatric nutjobs come in to Kern also, so you will get to practice doing histories on people that are floridly psychotic. Fun stuff!! One caveat, I would say that 50% of the patients were spanish speaking only. So you will be practicing your spanglish frequently.

Hem/Onc: This rotation was one of the bigger disappointents. You alternate between doing consults and clinic (one day a week and damn busy). Here is the rub: there isnt really an attending there everyday. He only comes in to the hospital one day a week and that is wednesday's. So when you do your consults, you never really get an opportunity to discuss them with a hem/onc doctor. Actually, once you have seen the patient your supposed to contact the resident who called in the consult and tell them to call the Hem/onc doctor directly, affectively bypassing you. So, really there is no purpose to even doing the consult in the first place, except for your own edification. You are paged by the medicine office when there is a new consult. Most of your upper level interaction is with the Pharm D. who runs the chemo area, but he is busy and not really that interested in you. Unless it has changed I would not recommend it.

Urology: Biggest surprise!! This rotation was amazing!! The attending was phenomenal. He is totally old school. He teaches like its his job!! Get it. Basically you alternate between the OR and clinic. The OR days are fun because he lets you scrub-in and really get your hands dirty. There is also a PA whom you work with who is very cool too. There is an oral presentation (powerpoint) required that you present in front of the gen surg students as well as any other uro students rotating. No big deal. Overall, this was one my most favorite medical school rotations and it also happened to be my last. What away to go out! I highly recommend it as a great way to get your surgical elective requirements satified.

[Dru]

Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, CA

[Dru]

For discussion re. Kern please see:
http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/43615-california-clinical-sites.html

[MedChe]

anyone know how hard and the max. amount of electives one can get here?:D

[MedChe]

anyone know about electives at kern? i just asked ..but yeah. hopefully someone notices. also, has anyone tried to do at least on core rotation here? or do you have to be signed up for all of them? of course, iam missing peds.:eek: :confused:

[newB]

Hey, not interested in cores.... Electives, does anyone know if there is a min step score req and min gpa for doing electives at Kern? I heard 210 was the min, but is that only for cores or is that for everything, and how firm is that number? Any input would be great....

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Hey, not interested in cores.... Electives, does anyone know if there is a min step score req and min gpa for doing electives at Kern? I heard 210 was the min, but is that only for cores or is that for everything, and how firm is that number? Any input would be great....

1 year ago it was highly comepetitive.....multiple students I knew had 240+ Step 1 and GPA of 4.0

But at the same time...I also hear that if you know the coordinator/secretaty at Kern....its easy to get in...

and of course...if you are a CA resident and know how to speak spanish....that will help as well!

[badnewsbearer]

New B....210 must be for electives, strictly. I wrote a fairly comprehensive review of Kerns core + elective program if you search under my username where you will learn that speaking spanish and being from CA doesnt matter for nuts. Step score is qualifier there.
Getting back to the electives, a friend did an elective there trying to get in through the backdoor for the rest of the cores. This person is back in NY now, and had a score of 230. Tough program to get into, anyway you try for Rossies.

[Hypnotiq1121]

I'm a little confused about this peds situation at kern. I understand that all of the other core rotations at Kern are ACGME approved and also that kern is under the FM "umbrella". Will states like PA or Tx give me a problem if i do all my rotations at kern (including peds)? Also, i've heard that kern makes you do ALL the core rotations at their hospital Is this true? Is it even an option to do all the other core rotations at kern and then do peds somewhere else? If so..what are the risks/benefits of doing all the rotations at kern? Thanks

[butters]

New B....210 must be for electives, strictly. I wrote a fairly comprehensive review of Kerns core + elective program if you search under my username where you will learn that speaking spanish and being from CA doesnt matter for nuts. Step score is qualifier there.
Getting back to the electives, a friend did an elective there trying to get in through the backdoor for the rest of the cores. This person is back in NY now, and had a score of 230. Tough program to get into, anyway you try for Rossies.


I thought it was 210 for cores and 200 for electives.

I understand that many hospitals are requiring cutoff board scores...I think Harbor in Maryland requires 80 percentile or something like that, but honestly, Kern seems to be taking things to a different level. Not letting in students with 230's?? That seems a little bit ridiculous! Who are they letting in???

[anencephalic]

Kern seems to be taking things to a different level. Not letting in students with 230's?? That seems a little bit ridiculous! Who are they letting in???

I think AUC has the majority of students there now, followed by SGU, Rossies, and DO's froum Touro.

[microphage]

Who are they letting in???

useless and brainless members of Valuemd.

[anencephalic]

useless and brainless members of Valuemd.

Actually, we're soon to be let out...more room for the masses.

[MedChe]

anyone know of good places to live(temp. housing) while at kern??? any info would help

[Kat]

Hello
I have a 2bdrm home available that is pretty close by. PM me if you are interested. Current tenant is nearly finished at Kern and is a very nice guy.

[Captainwada]

Hi,
I'm applying to KMC for cores, and I'm a little stumped on the application form question, "REASONS FOR REQUESTING CLINICAL SERVICE AT KERN MEDICAL CENTER (PLEASE SET FORTH ABOVE)"...what exactly do they mean?
I just recieved my step1 score and have no clinical experience. I have no real knowledge of the clinical world other than 5th semester. DO they want to just be like...I want to learn, and it's a nice program and i like it..blahblah? or what?
Also what do I put under "CLINICAL SERVICES DESIRED"???
thanks for helping!

[Dru]

Kern boasts that their program is committed to the continued development of an ideal educational environment for resident physicians, medical students, and attending physicians; with the goals of providing quality cost-effective healthcare, educating the practitioners of tomorrow, and forming community partnerships to further the educational mission.

You could probably stroke the KMC statement by saying your want to take cores in a facility that promotes community partnership and cost-effective health care. The fact that they boast that 7 of their programs are ACGME-approved could also hold up as a viable excuse for seeking entrance to their facility, too.

[popozao]

the problem is that ross doesn't have as many slots at kern as the other big carib schools. ross sucks in this regard.
so, ross has to impose this stupid step1 score cutoff to keep you from trying to get into kern.

[rokshana]

the problem is that ross doesn't have as many slots at kern as the other big carib schools. ross sucks in this regard.
so, ross has to impose this stupid step1 score cutoff to keep you from trying to get into kern.

i don't know- the spots for sgu students have step I and GPA cutoffs and the admin tells us its imposed by Kern.

[tno77]

i don't know- the spots for sgu students have step I and GPA cutoffs and the admin tells us its imposed by Kern.

Ross says Kern only accepts 2-3 students per year. Does SGU have a fixed number too?

[rokshana]

Ross says Kern only accepts 2-3 students per year. Does SGU have a fixed number too?

well a couple of years a go it was ~6 per term (for us, 2 terms), but the start time for the fall class was difficult to meet (July when we finish in May), so now they only take from the Jan class- whether they increased the number of students to 12 i din't know. This is for someone coming into to do all cores there. People are able to feed in there for one or two rotations ( heard pysch is pretty easy to get.

[Gigi25]

I thought I would post on my experience doing electives at Kern Medical Center:

ER: I worked during december, so I did 14- 12 hours shifts (all other months you do 8 hour shifts). Excellent rotation. Residents are extremely cool and helpful, willing to teach. Basically you pick up patients like the residents do. You see the patient, do the H&P, and then present to the resident or attending. When traumas come in you can help, although this is mostly the realm of the trauma team. All the psychiatric nutjobs come in to Kern also, so you will get to practice doing histories on people that are floridly psychotic. Fun stuff!! One caveat, I would say that 50% of the patients were spanish speaking only. So you will be practicing your spanglish frequentl

Hey there :)

Did you get to see a lot of surgical cases (trauma surg) while you were at Kern? Just curious cause I may look into Kern for an ER elective. Not sure if they take Saba students, but it's worth a try :cool:
thanx

[anencephalic]

Hey there :)

Did you get to see a lot of surgical cases (trauma surg) while you were at Kern? Just curious cause I may look into Kern for an ER elective. Not sure if they take Saba students, but it's worth a try :cool:
thanx


I did both my trauma surgery and ER at Kern. You'll see alot of trauma come through on your ER elective, however, as Gator mentioned, if it's anything heavy duty, it gets admitted to Trauma.

No Saba students at KMC, but no harm in trying.

[john-doe]

anencephalic, u went to ross how did u like it there? also how hard was it for u to get a rotation in CA? i am a cali native and applyin to ross.

[anencephalic]

anencephalic, u went to ross how did u like it there? also how hard was it for u to get a rotation in CA? i am a cali native and applyin to ross.

No, I didn't attend Ross. I'm an AUC grad (in less than 5 days) and rotated at Kern. AUC has close to 45 student there now, followed by SGU with approx 30 and even fewer Rossies and Touro students.

As for how hard it was...I was in the right place at the right time.;)

[Hypnotiq1121]

I need a bit of an update on this site. It has all ACGME approved core rotations except for peds. Is that dangerous to do all the cores there knowing that peds isnt approved? Why is this hospital so competitive to get into if this is an obvious problem with it? Has anyone done all their cores there and did you have any problems afterwards? Thanks.

[anencephalic]

I need a bit of an update on this site. It has all ACGME approved core rotations except for peds. Is that dangerous to do all the cores there knowing that peds isnt approved? Why is this hospital so competitive to get into if this is an obvious problem with it? Has anyone done all their cores there and did you have any problems afterwards? Thanks.

According to the people in Med Ed at Kern, the peds program somehow falls into a loophole of being covered under their Family Practice program, which is ACGME approved.

Scores of Rossies, AUCers, and SGUers have rotated through Kern with no ill effect as a result of it.

(And yes, I've done all my cores and electives there, so I shared your concern at one point in time...)

[cavalletti]

Ross says Kern only accepts 2-3 students per year. Does SGU have a fixed number too?

Is that per core rotation or 2-3 total for all cores and electives.?

[shutterbugmd]

I think is 2-3 students per semester. not per core, but i could be wrong..

[tno77]

Is that per core rotation or 2-3 total for all cores and electives.?

Ross Clinical Dept's exact quote to me "pretend like the Kern rotation doesn't exist and don't count on it happening"

[vombomb]

I'm going to be starting my cores at Kern in a month. Just curious if there are any other Ross students who are going to be starting. So far I haven't heard of anyone.

[Dr Mcsurfy]

Hey everyone, I just found out that I am going to be attending Kern to do my cores and electives, starting Feb 11,2008. Any pointers in any of the core rotations? Also does any know about the housing there or needs a another roommate. Thanks for the help!

[Dr Mcsurfy]

I just found out I got accepted to Kern as well, late decision I am going to start off with a pathology elective for two weeks then start with psychiatry core.

[medicinssansfrontieres]

I just found out I got accepted to Kern as well, late decision I am going to start off with a pathology elective for two weeks then start with psychiatry core.

can you update on your experience so far? thanks.

[Dr Mcsurfy]

I just got done with OB/GYN this past Friday, and finished psychiatry and pathology. OB/GYN has really long hours from 5:30 am till 5:00 pm plus your on call q3-5, depending on how much students are in your team. Rotation was really cool got to deliver a lot of babies, pap smears, assist in surgery, etc.. majority of the residents and attending are there for teaching, and again the more attentive you are the more they are willing to teach. For psychiatry hours were really good 9am-2pm, sometimes earlier and some times later with on call q7. You see every type of psychiatry issues in bakersfield, and again residents and attendings are really geared towards students from my experience anyway. And path elective was chill. Hope this helps. If you need anything else just holla.

[noodles7]

Can current students tell us how many current students are at Kern, from Ross? Also, for those who are at Kern, what were your stats.. I can imagine the criteria to be the same as before (as in 2005) but who knows... Thanks!

[tno77]

So Ross is sending kids here again? They told us for a year that it "doesnt exist"

[Dr Mcsurfy]

There are three students who got accepted to do there cores in Jan, and for this June I heard they accepted 4. Stats from the Jan class were STEP 1 scores >235 and close to 4.0 GPA.

[bcks]

i applied for electives and the lady has not gotten back to me. I mailed in my application 9 wks ago. does anyone know how long it usually takes? the website says 6 wks. is she a slacker????? or what???

[mike_ross]

Just started the Kern core program in Psychiatry yesterday. There are 4 other Ross students that were at orientation but I think one of them is just here for an elective.

If you're interested in stats, 4.0 on the island and Step 1>240.

My other good buddy who got in I believe had around a 3.7 and above a 240 as well.

[canal]

I've had a series of personal struggles that made it difficult for me to maintain a decent gpa during basic sciences...as you can see: 2.0gpa. My step 1 score is ok 218/90 I guess. I would really like to do my cores/electives at Kern...am I dreaming???? If anyone can give me any guidance...or advice...would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[tno77]

I've had a series of personal struggles that made it difficult for me to maintain a decent gpa during basic sciences...as you can see: 2.0gpa. My step 1 score is ok 218/90 I guess. I would really like to do my cores/electives at Kern...am I dreaming???? If anyone can give me any guidance...or advice...would really appreciate it. Thanks!

I had a 4.0 and a 250 on Step 1, and Phil Perri told me this rotation "doesn't exist"

so i dunno

[noodles7]

HOw this rotation not exist if 5 other students have started here this past mid-year? Can anyone clarify on this .

[RVCA1981]

[QUOTE=noodles7;871102]HOw this rotation not exist if 5 other students have started here this past mid-year? Can anyone clarify on this .[/QUOT

its kinda a figure of speech. They accept so little students, have their own process of accepting students and only do it twice a year. So thats basically what that means. if you know someone there you should ask them.

[vombomb]

I had a 4.0 and a 250 on Step 1, and Phil Perri told me this rotation "doesn't exist"

so i dunno


I'm going to be blunt here, Phil Perri is a moron. I'm on my last core rotation (Surgery) at Kern. Started January 2008. You don't have to deal with Ross to apply to Kern.


3 students started in Jan/Feb. Another joined in June. And 3 more in July. All for Cores.

That's 7 students this year so far.

[bengay]

first of all congrats to everyone at kmc! i'm a resident of bakersfield (still am lol), startin ross soon n am hopin to come back to bako for rotations. i volunteered at kmc a couple years back, i know a lot of the doctors there through my parents n the person who's on the advisory board for the rotations or whatever (i forget what they call them) is my personal doctor n she told me that they really didn't decipher btw ross or other schools, it was more based on whether they were a cali resident n their scores of course. (thats why they ask that question as to y u want to do rotations in bako) o! n if u guys have any old books or things ur tryin to get rid of that i can still use at ross i'm only a drive away! let me know thx!! n gl!!

[bengay]

o! n did any of u hit up the great kern county fair? i went last night...it's def the most fun u'll ever have in bako so make sure u go! it's still here until tom so try to make some time...i look forward to it every year!! just go west on ming all the way down. o n if any of u need any info abt bako i'm ur man!! i pretty much know everything an everyone here i've lived here for o long time haha ok take care!

[callemurcia1]

Obviously you don't get out much if you think the Kern County Fair is the coolest event in Bakersfield. A little heads up for those that don't know. Unless of course you're game for the inevitable knife fight you're bound 2 see at the fair. What's ur next piece of advice? You gonna tell me to the best apartments are on the East side??

[Wajaro]

Has anybody done forensic pathology and if so can you tell me a little about your experience as well as any advise you may have.

[neets]

Does anyone know anything about ICU or ID in terms of schedule? Thanks!

[AFGHAN_MD]

Can someone tell me about the EM rotatation at KERN? What time do we usually meet and how long the day lasts. I am starting there in March and need some time to study for Step so it would be nice to know the hours in case i need to switch into another rotation. Thanks for the help.