AUC Clinical Sites
When Do We Do Clinical Rotations?
Third and Fourth years of med school. After we complete our first five semesters of Basic Science training on the island, we go back to the states (or Canada) and take the USMLE Step 1 board exam within a semester’s worth of time. Once we pass the exam, we work with our clinical advisors and schedule our clinical rotations (aka “clerkships”) for our third and fourth years of med school. Rotations are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. Your advisor will let you know which rotation spots are available and let you choose among the spots available. You can schedule all your rotations at once, or schedule a few now and the rest later. If you are flexible, there is always a clinical spot available somewhere among AUC’s affiliated hospitals at any point of time. You will never have to delay your education just because there is no spot available.
How Many Weeks are Clinical Rotations?
In total, we do 72 weeks of rotations during our third and fourth years of medical school. We do 42 weeks of Core clinical rotations and 30 weeks of Elective clinical rotations.
What Are The Core Clinical Rotations?
The five core rotations that all med students must do are Internal Medicine (12 weeks), General Surgery (12 weeks), Pediatrics (6 weeks), OB/GYN (6 weeks), and Psychiatry (6 weeks).
Are There Any Recommended Elective Rotations?
AUC highly recommends us completing Family Medicine (can be 4 or 6 weeks, depending on the site) and Neurology (4 weeks) electives. Many states such as California (Code 2089.5) require Family Medicine for licensure. Neurology used to be required for Texas, but is no longer a requirement for licensure in any state (but double-check with AUC, because laws may change). However, because many (if not most) US medical schools require it as a core clerkship, it would look better on your part if you have it done when it comes time for applying to residency programs. It’s also important to note that many residency programs may require that you complete certain electives in order to be considered for their program (i.e. Emergency Medicine rotation for some Family Medicine residency programs). To be on the safe side, I would recommend everyone taking Family Medicine and Neurology electives. And obviously, take an elective of the specialty you want to pursue (i.e. Pathology rotation for Pathology residency, Pediatric sub-internship for Pediatrics residency).
Can We Do Elective Rotations Before Core Rotations?
Generally, we do core rotations before elective rotations, mainly because core rotations are more fundamental and elective rotations are usually sub-specialties of those fundamental core fields. There are four elective rotations that we are allowed to do before starting core rotations: Family Medicine, Neurology, Pathology, and Radiology. For all other sub-specialty electives, one must first complete the core rotation in which it is a sub-specialty. For example, you must first complete your internal medicine core rotation before you can do an elective rotation in endocrinology, since endocrinology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine.
Where Can We Do Our Clinical Rotations?
We are required to do all of our core rotations at AUC’s affiliated teaching hospitals, most of which are located in the US, but also the UK. For elective rotations, we generally also complete them at AUC’s affiliated hospitals, but we also have the flexibility to complete some electives at non-affiliated hospitals as well. According to a newly-passed nation-wide law, we are allowed 8 weeks of our rotations at each institution/hospital not affiliated with our school.
What Does It Mean For A Rotation To Be “Greenbook”?
It means that the rotation is at a teaching hospital that has an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residency or fellowship program in the specialty you want to do the rotation in.
Are All of AUC’s Clinical Sites Greenbook?
All of AUC’s clinical core rotations are greenbook except Pediatrics at Kern (in California), which is bluebook because it falls under the umbrella of Family Medicine at this site. This rotations satisfies the requirements for California and almost all the other states for licensure, but may cause issues in Texas. If you decide to go this route, you can still get a residency in Texas, but your licensing in Texas would be delayed until after you are board certified. To ensure you’ll have no issue with licensing in Texas, I personally would just do pediatrics at another one of AUC’s many affiliated teaching hospitals.
I Don’t See Pediatrics or Psych rotations at Providence Hospital Being Listed on the ACGME Site. Is It Really Greenbook?
The Pediatrics rotation at Providence is actually done via Providence’s sister hospital of St. John’s Hospital, which is listed on ACGME, and therefore is greenbook. The Psych rotation at Providence is administered via University of Michigan, which is also listed separately on the ACGME site, and is therefore also Greenbook. There’s a couple more examples of these types of listings. Yes, the way the approved clinical rotations are listed on the site can be a little confusing sometimes, but you can be sure that all of AUC’s clinical rotation sites (except Peds at Kern) are greenbook.
Is There Only One Hospital We Rotate at Each Clinical Rotation Site?
Not always. For example, if you decide to rotate at Center for Haitian Studies (CHS), you’ll actually be rotating at any one of CHS’s affiliated hospitals: Miami Children’s Hospital, University of Miami Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Aventura Hospital, or Mt. Sinai Hospitals, all of which are major teaching hospitals for several medical programs in the south Florida area. We’re not just limited to that one hospital.
When are the start dates for clinical rotations?
It depends on the clinical site. Some sites like Providence only have 2 or 3 start dates per year. Other sites, like Miami, have new start dates every 6 weeks. In the UK, you can generally start your rotations any week.
Which Hospitals Can I Do All 5 Core Rotations?
In the US: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, Providence Hospital, Nassau University Medical Center, Kern (but keep in mind the Pediatrics here fall under “Family Medicine” and therefore can be an issue for licensure in some states).
In the UK: Ealing Hospital, Epsom General Hospital, and Royal Blackburn Hospital. If you choose to go to a hospital that does not offer all the cores, as a third or fourth semester student, you may have to do some traveling, but some people may like to experience different hospitals and make useful connections.
Will I Have Issues With Licensure If I Do Rotations in the UK?
No. All of AUC’s affiliated teaching hospitals in the UK are considered “Greenbook” and completely meet the requirements. Personally, I feel it would be an awesome experience to get trained in the UK for at least one of my core rotations and then return to the US to complete my third and fourth year of medical school.. I hear from several students and alumni that clinical training in England is more hands-on, and trains you well to impress your attendings once you come back to the states. Not to mention, being trained by two healthcare systems is an invaluable opportunity.
**UPDATE 2/2014** I have gone to the UK for my Psychiatry and Surgery core rotations, and I have finished my residency interviews. Many programs I interviewed with were actually very fascinated about my experience in the UK. It is an experience that many of their other applicants may not have had and made me stand out in a good way.
Are There Exams We Take After Each Rotation?
For each clinical rotation, we take the NBME Shelf Exam for that rotation. It counts towards our clinical grades at AUC, which is pass/fail. These exams are nationally administered and can be taken at various testing centers in the states. More importantly, after finishing our core rotations, we’ll have to take the second part of our board exams: the USMLE Step II. The Step II exam consist of a Clinical Knowledge portion (USMLE Step II ck) and a Clinical Skills portion (USMLE Step II cs). These exams are also administered at various hospitals around the country.
Where Can I Learn More About AUC’s Clinical Rotations?
Every semester, AUC’s Office of Clinical Student Affairs (OCSA) come down to the island to give a presentation/workshop about clinicals. It is open to the entire school and is a great way to get more information and get your questions answered about clinicals, as well as meet your clinical advisors. In addition, every May, AUC holds a Clinical Symposium in which representatives from most of AUC’s affiliated clinical teaching hospitals in the US and UK come to the island to talk to Basic Science students about their hospitals. You meet and talk to the people directly running the show and get a much better sense of what the sites and rotations are like. You can also contact the Office of Clinical Student Affairs directly to get any questions answered.
What are AUC’s Affiliated Teaching Hospitals?
For a complete and updated list of AUC’s clinical teaching hospitals, please visit here. Here is a list that I have compiled (updated January 22, 2013):
| CLINICAL SITES IN US | LOCATION | CORE ROTATIONS | ||||
| Med | Surg | Ped | Ob/G | Psych | ||
| Baton Rouge General Hospital | Baton Rouge, LA | X | X | |||
| Bayfront Medical Center | St. Petersburg, FL | Electives only | ||||
| Brentwood Hospital | Shreveport, LA | X | ||||
| Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center | Bronx, NY | X | X | X | X | X |
| Brooklyn Hospital Center | Brooklyn, NY | X | X | X | X | |
| Center for Haitian Studies | Miami, FL | X | X | X | X | |
| Cleveland Clinic | Weston, FL | Electives only | ||||
| Crittenton Hospital Medical Center | Rochester Hills, MI | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Flushing Hospital | Queens, NY | X | X | X | X | |
| Griffin Hospital | Derby, CT | X | X | |||
| Kaiser Permanente LA | Fontana, CA | Electives only | ||||
| Kern Medical Center | Bakersfield, CA | X | X | X | X | X |
| Mount Sinai Medical Center | Chicago, IL | Electives only | ||||
| Mount Vernon Hospital | Mount Vernon, NY | X | ||||
| Nassau University Medical Center | East Meadow, NY | X | X | X | X | X |
| Orlando Regional Hospital | Orlando, FL | Electives only | ||||
| Providence Hospital | Southfield, MI | X | X | X | X | X |
| Shands at the University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | Electives only | ||||
| Spring Grove Hospital Center | Catonsville, MD | X | ||||
| St. Agnes Hospital | Baltimore, MD | X | X | |||
| St. John Hospital and Medical Center | Detroit, MI | X | ||||
| St. John’s Episcopal Hospital | Queens, NY | X | ||||
| St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center | New York, NY | Electives only | ||||
| St. Mary’s Hospital | Waterbury, CT | X | ||||
| Staten Island University Hospital | Staten Island, NY | X | X | X | X | |
| Tallahasee Memorial Hospital | Tallahassee, FL | Electives only | ||||
| Union Memorial Hospital | Baltimore, MD | X | X | |||
| Washington Adventist | Takoma Park, DC | X | ||||
| CLINICAL SITES IN UK | LOCATION | CORE ROTATIONS | ||||
| Med | Surg | Ped | Ob/G | Psych | ||
| Ealing Hospital | London, UK | X | X | X | X | X |
| Epsom General Hospital | Epsom, UK | X | X | X | X | X |
| Queen’s Hospital | Romford, UK | X | X | X | X | |
| Royal Blackburn Hospital | Blackburn, UK | X | X | X | X | X |
| Stepping Hill Hospital | Stockport, UK | X | X | X | X | X |
| Wexham Park Hospital | Slough, UK | X | X | X | X | X |
| Worthing District Hospital | Worthing, UK | X | X | X | X | |
I know that there are 2-3 clinical centers in which you can do all your clinical rotations (both core and electives). I’m sure the number of spots are pretty limited and I was wondering how hard it is to get all the rotations in one hospital. I would like to stay in place during 3rd and 4th years and I was wondering how difficult it is to get the opportunity to do instead of shuffling between different hospitals and having to move from one apartment to another. Also I just wanted to let you know that your website is pretty amazing and has helped me to get all the information about AUC. Thank you!
Thanks for visiting Samantha! As for doing all your cores in one area, it is definitely possible, especially if you go to New York or the UK. You can also do all your cores in Michigan and California, but since spaces are limited at these sites and demand is usually high, it is more difficult to get these sites. You could always try taking the step early in order to have an earlier choice as to where to rotate, but be sure you are ready to take the step before you take it. Good luck Samantha!
Hey Benji,
We are planning on moving to the UK come Aug/Sept. I noticed on your list of hospitals you don’t have Kingston?
Thanks for posting all this great information, a girlfriend of mine at AUC told me about it!
Hi Helen,
Thanks for visiting my site. AUC no longer has Kingston as a site. This happened pretty recently, so I updated my information accordingly.
Good luck in everything!
Benji
Hey benji!
Thanks so much for your blog. It really has made more comfortable about the idea of going to school at AUC. Two questions. We’re you able to choose where you sis your rotations. I want to do mine in california. I see though the hospital that interests me, MSH in Norwalk only does psychiatry. Does that mean that I will do most of my others at a place like kern? Second do you feel the acquiring of AUC by DeVry is going to change the experience at AUC. I’m mostly likely going to start in fall 13. Thanks for your help.
Hi Tanner,
Thanks for visiting my blog. In terms of rotation, usually your clinical advisor will let you know which spots are available at the time of clinical registration, and from those that are available, you choose where you want to do your rotations. As of now, only Psych is offered at MSH in Norwalk, and therefore with the rest of your rotations, you will have to do them at the other affiliated hospitals, like Kern.
As for how the recent acquisition is going to change the experience at AUC, no one’s really sure. DeVry has said that AUC will continue to be its own institution, and that most likely we won’t notice any difference for a while. The AUC community certainly has a unique identity and intimate atmosphere and many current students worry that the school might lose this with the new owners. One thing is certain: there’s a lot more money available to be invested in AUC now… let’s just hope it’s for the better.
Best of luck Tanner!
Benji
Hi Benji,
I noticed you got into Michigan sites in your reply earlier in this thread and taking the step early. i was wondering, do you know how many spots are there in the July cycle at providence? And how early in the 6th semester is “early enough” to have a decent chance at making it into providence?
Thanks so much for sharing all your wisdom!
Hey Savreet,
Thanks for the message. The sites I talked about above are for clinical rotations during third and fourth years of medical school, not residencies. Sorry if there was any confusion. In terms of rotation assignments, the availability of sites is based on first come first serve principle. If you’re the first person in your class to get your score back, then you’re the first person in your class to choose where you want to go for rotations. Providence is a very popular spot for rotations among AUC students, so it tends to fill up quickly. Here’s some more info on what happens after you complete your second year on the island: http://www.caribbeanmedstudent.com/2012/01/clinical-registration-checklist/
Best of luck!
Benji
Hey Benji,
Do you know for which states even the electives have to be green-book? I went on the NYState licensing website and it has no mention of ‘green book’. Thanks for your help!
Hi Izabella, from what I understand, most states will require most of your electives to be green-book, especially for foreign medical graduates. It is also a school requirement that we complete most of our electives at ACGME-approved sites to ensure that all AUC graduates are eligible to get licensed in all 50 states. Any elective rotation that you decide to schedule will have to first be approved by the school, and the school definitely doesn’t encourage doing any non-green-book sites, even for electives.
Hi Benji
Is it possible to do the core rotations and electives in South Africa? If you dont have any hospitals that are affiliated in South Africa with AUC then is there any way that you can become affiliated with them? I live in South Africa and would love to do the rotations here as the exposure is very hands on!!!
Hi Saz,
As of now, AUC has no affiliated hospitals in South Africa, and therefore students are not able to do core rotations there. With electives, students are allowed to do them outside of affiliated hospitals, but they must be greenbook to be approved by AUC and counted for credit, and be OK with the medical board of the states in which you want to apply for residency. I’m not sure if the teaching hospitals in South Africa would be recognized as greenbook or approved in the US, and that’s something I’d recommend you looking into. It would be a fascinating experience if you could do some rotations there though.
Benji
Dear Benji: Is it possible to do elective rotations for hospitals not affiliated with AUC (Texas for example)?
Thank you!
Hi Tariq,
You are allowed to do elective rotations at hospitals not affiliated with AUC as long as they are greenbook. You’d have to contact the hospital you’re interested in and see if they take Caribbean medical students as visiting students. Some hospitals do while others may not. AUC would also have to approve the rotation. Many non-affiliated hospitals may require you to pay up front for the rotation, and often it can be very costly (i.e. $800/week or so). AUC may be able to reimburse some of the money, but you’d have to see with them. Otherwise, rotations at affiliated hospitals would already be included in your AUC tuition.
Benji
hello Benji,
I have few questions, if I may please?
(1) After giving step-1 exam in USA, how long it takes before scores are declared?
(2) After scores are declared, what is paper work need to be filled to give to AUC? to apply for clinical rotation? is it to be mailed to AUC or can it be E-mailed to AUC?
(3) After paper work is submitted to AUC , how long ( how many days) one has to wait before Auc will tell you where you will do clinical rotation? and lastly
(4) where could I find , (sites), which places other AUC student lives (apartments etc.,) when they do clinical rotations in usa at AUC affliated hospitals.
thanks in advance.
Hi Damini,
Thanks for writing. The answers to questions 1-3 can be found here: http://www.caribbeanmedstudent.com/2012/01/clinical-registration-checklist/
As for places to live, after you schedule your rotation sites, the site coordinators will email you an orientation package that will often tell you places that students have stayed at in the past. I’ve written a few clinical site guides as well about the sites that I’ve rotated at that has some places that I know students have stayed as well. Feel free to check them out.
Benji
Thank you so much Benji, your help is so much appreciated. you have a blessing day!!
please continue the good work!!
HI Benji,
I heard that you should do your elective rotations in the state that you would like to acquire a residency in. Is this true or can you do your electives anywhere and still be matched in the state that you want?
While it may help to do electives at hospitals you want to get a residency in, it is not required. Most people probably match into places they’ve never done rotations at.
Hello Benji, I’m from Chennai, India. I just wanted to know, are indian students admitted in? I mean, some Caribbean schools are just for North Americans. And also after doing clinical rotations in London, can I get a residency position and later on practice and settle in the UK?
Hi Sean,
While most students at AUC are from the US and Canada, we do have a handful of students who are citizens of other countries, such as Pakistan, Brazil, Congo, UK to name a few that I know. However, most (if not all) of these students went to college in the US, and desire to practice in the US or Canada, and AUC’s curriculum is geared toward this. Going to the UK for residency is very difficult. Not only is it more competitive than the US, but the system of education there is different. The doctors in the UK have an MBBS degree rather than an MD or DO. Their medical school is also an “undergraduate” degree that they start after high school, and it lasts 5 years. Because of this, their level of education is different by the time they start residency, compared with AUC and US-based curriculum medical graduates. If you are a UK citizen, it may be easier for UK residencies to accept you, but I personally haven’t heard of any AUC graduates who have done so. Best of luck!
Benji
Congratulations on your very helpful blog and website.
I notice a big reduction in affiliated hospitals in the US on the latest AUC website compared to your list from January 22, 2013.
1)What does this mean and what are the reasons for this?
2) If such a drastic reduction:
A) what implications does it have for students seeking clinical rotations? Will they be at a considerable disadvantage compared to previous years?
B) can students still be guaranteed their geographical location of preference for rotations?
C) are you aware of any plans by AUC to bring back up the number of sites?
D) how does this situation compare with other schools, like SGU and Ross?
3) what was your experience of how well are students supported by AUC at various rotation sites, compared to the situation with a US med school?
Apologies for these detailed questions and thanks in advance for your response.
Hi Oma,
The affiliations that AUC (and other Caribbean schools) have with hospitals may change from time to time. While most contracts are renewed, some are changed, others gained, and others may end without renewal for whatever reason. Some hospitals that were once just available for electives are now available for core rotations, and vice versa. The number of spots available for students may also change. Comparing the number of US core sites on my list (22 hospitals) to the current one on the AUC website (17 hospitals), it seems like Aultman Hospital, Center for Haitian Studies, Lutheran Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospitals are missing from AUC’s US core site list. However, most of these hospitals are still on the elective clinical sites list where we can do elective rotations. I’m not sure why Center for Haitian Studies is not on the website, since as of today (December 2013), there are still AUC students rotating there. Perhaps the contract renewal status after the end of this year is uncertain. I don’t know, since I’ve graduated and am not always in the loop of things at school anymore. I would contact the school for more information on this.
AUC is constantly seeking new clinical sites for students to do rotations in the US and UK (and apparently now Canada too). For example, Stepping Hill Hospital and Saskatchewan are both new affiliations that are not on my list of options available when I was setting up rotations. I’m not sure how AUC’s situation compares with Ross and SGU, but I’d imagine it’d be very similar, since Caribbean medical schools have to go through the same process in securing sites, and often different Caribbean schools may even compete for the same hospital spots.
I can’t speak for a US med student, but I felt there was support at the clinical sites I’ve rotated at when I needed it. Of course, there are different types and amounts of support depending on the hospital. I would imagine this variation to be true for US med schools too, as we often rotate alongside US medical students at our affiliated hospitals.
I hope this helped. All the best,
Benji
This is a commendable job from you, Benji. I have learned much from what I think is a reliable source of information about AUC.
I am applying for September 2014 admissions. I am not a US citizen or a permanent resident. I have U.S. Bachelors degree though.
I want to know how successful have non-US resident AUC students, who need visa for clinical rotations and residency, been?
Would you know what visa is issued for Clinical Rotations in the U.S.? I heard mixed things from AUC Admission folks and Clinical Services folks. One said F-1 visa, the other said B-1 visa. I would appreciate if you can shed some light.
Also, is there a way to get in touch with current medical students in the island?
Thanks a lot, dude!
Hi Trinka,
I am not familiar with what visa you would need for Basic Sciences on St. Maarten vs. clinical rotations in the US. I don’t think you’ll need to worry about visas for clinicals until you get closer to starting clinicals. I’d say it is more difficult to get residency as a non-US IMG, given the NRMP statistics. However, if you do well in your grades, rotations, and get high step scores, then the doors are open for you and I know several Canadians and other non-US IMGs at AUC who have done quite well and gotten many residency interviews. To get in contact with current students, you could consider joining the Facebook group of your class (https://www.facebook.com/groups/262180720604687/). You could also join the AUC International Students Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AUC.International.Students/ . Perhaps there are students there who could answer some of your questions.
Benji
Hey Benji,
Thanks for the information. I appreciate your quick response. I am even surprised how you find the time and organization skills to reply to many of your questions.
I will get on Facebook and find students and residents from AUC. I must admit, however, that I am having very tough time finding a current or past student of AUC who is an international non-US IMG category. I would appreciate if at anytime or through any source you may come across someone, then perhaps you could pass them my email: vmtrinka@gmail.com
But if not, no problem. I will update you when I find more information. Thanks.
Hi Benji,
Your site is amazing! Congrats on matching. I was just curious what the living situation is for the different rotations if you are moving from place to place. Do you find your own lodging or does AUC help. Also, is it usually hotels or apartments? You pay out of pocket for all these right? Thanks so much
Thanks Paige. During rotations you look for your own housing and pay out of pocket for them (not included in tuition). Most people rent apartments, short term leases. Some hospitals have on-site housing as well that you can stay but you would have to pay for them as well but they are usually cheaper than your average apartment. A site I used a lot was airbnb.com.
Hello Benji,
Yes, it’s me again! I just wanted to make sure I understood your answer to Paige Fir’s question above. When you said students pay out of pocket for housing during their clinical rotations, do you mean that AUC third and fourth year students do not receive federal aid to cover their living expenses during their clinical rotations?
When I say out-of-pocket, I mean it is not already included in your tuition. You get federal student loans during years 3&4 and use that to cover for living expenses.
Hello Benji,
Thank you so much for putting up such useful information. I just recently got my admission offer for AUC and was wondering about the clinical rotations. Are all students that pass their Step 1 guaranteed spots?
And I’m debating between Ross University and AUC. In terms of clinical rotations, is their a difference as to which school would be better?
Hi Kevin,
Congratulations on your acceptance to AUC! Yes, since clinical rotations at AUC’s affiliated hospitals are part of the med school curriculum and required for graduation, you are most definitely guaranteed spots. I don’t think there is much of a difference between rotations at Ross and at AUC. Many AUC and Ross students rotate at the same hospitals. AUC and Ross students also often rotate at the same hospitals as US medical students and British medical students if you rotate in the UK. At AUC, if you are flexible as to which hospital you want to rotate at, you can generally start within a few weeks after getting your Step 1 scores back.
In terms of obtaining residency, the two schools should also give you similar opportunities.
Benji
hi Benji,
With regards to Family Med and Neurology, is it important to have these done by the time you submit your app on Sept 15?
I know doing an elective in your field of interest is important before Sept 15 but about these two “recommended” rotations. I’m currently in my third year at AUC and won’t finish cores until late June 2015. I was planning to take July off for step 2 ck/cs and then Aug for my elective in my field of interest which would leave me really no time to finish neuro and family in time for when I submit my app on Sep 15. Thanks!
Hi Don,
I don’t think it’s important unless you are planning to be applying to either of these two fields. Family medicine and Neurology are recommended mainly because some states may require them for licensure, not for getting interviews for residencies. Best of luck!
Benji
Hi Dr. Benji,
How do I know if a UK rotation is greenbook? From what I have read, UK does not have residencies like US/Canada. Their system is different, which is throwing me off. I am being offered a Peds rotation at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, but I am not sure if I will have residency or licensing issues in Texas or California because of that.
I would really appreciate if you can shed some light on this, and also some tips on how I can improve my research of these topics.
Thanks,
Hi Taha,
According to the school, all the UK rotations are considered greenbook. Although the UK medical degree system is a little different than the US, AUC students who rotate at the affiliated teaching hospitals in the UK do work with a team of residents, much like in the US. There should be no problem with Texas and California. I don’t know the exact legal details, but you could contact the school if you want to know more.
Benji
Hi Benji!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this blog and answering questions!!!
I start at AUC in september! Im 29
Now, and as I am doing the math i will be about 33y/o when I start residency. This is kind of embarrassing, but have you ever seen anyone getting pregnant during residency years? (I mean, is it possible?)
Thank you!!!
Of course! There are more than a few people I know in residency who are pregnant or who had kids during residency. It is not easy, but it is not impossible either. If it’s time to have kids, it’s time to have kids. No one can stop you from it. And definitely nothing to be embarrassed about. Be sure to find a residency program that is family-friendly though. Some residencies would be friendly and give you some time off, or schedule you for lighter rotations during your first few months post-partum. Also, congratulations on getting into AUC! So excited to hear from new AUCers! 🙂
Benji
Hi benji.
I am from Pakistan. I dont know if my questions are relevant to this blog or not but i would like to know about the electives in uk , blackburn.The kind of visa i would require, and is ielts necessary for it.if yes, what score would i need? And what are other requirements? Anything u can tell me from your knowledge 😛
and how many chances are there that i would get a residency in surgery.
Hi Zara,
Unfortunately, these are questions I am not able to answer. There is just so much I don’t know about you. Are you a med student? If you are, you will have to get electives through your med school. What score are you referring to? I’m not able to tell you your chances of getting into a surgery residency without knowing your exam scores, GPA, your curriculum vitae, or your personal statement.
Benji
Hey Benji,
I am also a new student starting in September 2015. I have a family of 5 and am wondering what rotation locations are family friendly, safe, and affordable? Are you given a preference when you have a family or is it still truly first come first serve? Are there typical areas that families will tend to go?
I realize rotations are a while into the future, but any explanations on the topic would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your time and by the way your blog is fantastic.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Rotation choices are first-come first-serve for all students, regardless of your age, sex, marital status, family situation, etc. If you have a family that you plan to bring with you to school, including rotations, I would recommend going to one of the sites where you can do all your core (and possibly elective) rotations. Kern Medical Center, Providence Hospital, and Nassau University Medical Center are your best bets, but like all rotation sites, spots are limited. I don’t recommend going to the UK with your family, as visas will be hard to get. Best of luck!
Benji
Hi Benji,
There was a fair today at AUC. just to correct you, the providence representative told me that they only have 1 start date per year…in July. Apparently, the used to also have a september start date but that ended. Which really sucks, because it only caters to students starting in the Summer semesters!
Thanks for the update. That’s too bad. It’s important to keep an open mind about rotating at other hospitals.
Benji
Hey there,
This is amazingly helpful to all IMGs. I don’t see Brentwood as greenbook based on the ACGME website and its partnership with LSU doesnt seem to be listed when searching by sponsor
https://www.acgme.org/ads/public
is it still green book? Thanks so much in advance
Hi Jig,
LSU Psych residency’s website states Brentwood as one of the medical facilities that their residents rotate through, so therefore, it should be greenbook through association with LSU Shreveport psychiatry residency program.
Benji
Hi Benji!,
Thank you so much for your invaluable resource. I have been using this site since before I started AUC and I am about to begin my fifth semester.
I attended an info session on the UK yesterday and it all seems great-international experience, more hands-on, etc. What have you heard from your colleagues with regard to doing all of your cores in the UK? I’d prefer not to move around too much but since I started in Jan, there are no US locations available where I can complete all of my cores.
Will doing all of my cores in the UK negatively impact my chances of getting a U.S. residency?
Hi Angie,
Congrats on making it to fifth semester, and thanks for reading. Personally, I would do the specialty you plan on matching in, in the US, so you can get an LOR from a US physician and get US experience in that specialty. However, several of my classmates have done all their cores in England, and from what I know of them, they have been able to match in the specialties they want in the US. I think the UK is a great experience, and gives you a story to tell when interviewing for residency spots. If you were to do all your cores in the UK, at least do all your electives in the US and get some LORs from those US electives as well.
Benji
Hi Benji,
Thank you very much for making this blog! I am going to start AUC in May 2015. I was wondering if you could update the clinical sites in the US and the following core rotations each hospital offers? It seems that you have not updated it since January 2013, so it’s been a couple of years. Is it because the hospital sites and core rotations it offers are still the same? Let me know if you have any information
Thanks
Rehan
Hi Rehan,
Thanks for visiting my blog and congratulations on getting into AUC! You are right in that it has been a few years since I updated the list. I just don’t find that much free time anymore to blog, now that I am working full-time in residency, and raising a family. Please refer to the link I have provided on this post to AUC’s list of affiliated hospitals. If I were to update my post, that is where I would be pulling my info from anyway.
Best of luck in med school and safe journey to the island!
Benji
hey benji
your blog is awesome I really appreciate your time.
i was wondering if you could share your opinion on pro/con of doing all the rotation at one site?
thanks in advance
Hi Benji,
where are students accomodated when doing rotations in USA?
Students find their own housing while rotating in the US.