INTRODUCTIONto the

THIRD YEAR

CLASS OF 2017February 9, 2015

Office of Student AffairsStritch School of Medicine

CLERKSHIP TRACK SYSTEM (CTS)

Third year course requirements and options

MEETING’S GOALS

To de-mystify the process of clinical scheduling

To build positive anticipation

To allow you to plan

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical calendarTo explain the CTS and year 3

requirements and optionsTo review the track assignment processTo give you some guidance on ranking

tracksTo provide an overview of the site

assignment process

Today’s Meeting

NOT intended to prepare you for your role and responsibilities as a junior clerk

NOT intended to tell you what to expect on the floor

Handout Contents

Calendar of Important Events/DatesCTS General InfoLottery NumbersChart of Clerkship TracksThird Year CalendarM3 Elective Options SpreadsheetElective Opening Registration Dates

Third Year Calendar

Two semesters/12 months totalOne week vacation in each semester +

winter breakWinter break is Thursday, December 24th

through Sunday, January 3rd (Both Tracks A & B)

Participation in clerkships on day 1 and final exam date mandatory (plan travel accordingly)

First Week of Year Three

Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 23rd Year Orientation/Clinical Skills Workshops

• Attendance required• You must sit for Step 1 no later than

Sunday, June 28, 2015Monday, July 6: Clerkships start

• Attendance required

Friday, July 3 is a holiday/free day

CTS General Information

Third Yr CTS governs the order students take their required clerkships

Tracks assigned via a lottery processChanges possible but very limited CTS does NOT include site placement

CTS Chart: Schedule A

CTS Chart: Schedule B

CTS FEATURES

Starts with orientation & a clinical skills workshop course prior to clerkship start

Two semester schedules (A & B), 24 tracks per schedule permit randomized sequence across clerkships

3-4 Students per track: permits enrollment to be distributed evenly

Third Yr Core Clerkship Requirements

One of the semesters:Medicine (8 wks)Surgery (8 wks)Neurology(4 wks)Elective (4 wks)*

Other semester:Family Med (6

wks)OB/Gyn (6 wks)Pediatrics (6 wks)Psychiatry (6

wks)*In the Schedule A tracks with the elective block in May or June, the elective has been replaced by Sub-I Wards (May) or Emergency Medicine (June).

Required Clerkship Sequencing

Any core clerkship may occur firstNone are prerequisite to any otherSequencing not directed toward

specific career pathsEach track guarantees all core

clerkships

Third Year Elective Option

Limited to certain clinical specialties or a research experience

Details later in program

Other Yr 3 Requirements

PCM-3 Seminars (Approx 8 offered/ dates TBA)

Representative Topics (subject to change): Business, Professionalism & Justice I & II Inter-professional teamwork Challenging physician/patient relationships Disaster Preparedness Global Health End of Life Care I & II

Other 3rd Yr Requirements (Continued)

TCM-3 (Topics in Clinical Medicine – aka vertical curriculum) Attendance for ED Triage Attendance for Decontamination drill PCM3 Session attendance Comprehensive year end exam

Medical Humanities Ethics Grand Rounds (four required for

graduation) Ethics Case Paper (due in spring of 3rd yr)

CTS Lottery Rules and Process

Lottery numbers are computer generated at random

You cannot sell or trade your number!Track ranking form will be on myLUMENLottery numbers are in your handout and

Track Rank Form is due Wednesday, March 11th.

Lottery process (continued)

Once the track assignment is completed, trading of complete tracks or individual clerkships is allowed for a limited time - see “CTS General Info” for rules

Changes in sequence also may be possible by petition to Reg. & Records

Ranking Tracks... Different tracks fit different individuals’ needs

You can do well in any track

Every core Dept. is prepared for rookies

All trainees are new in July (UG and Grad)

Clinical skills & knowledge are evaluated on sliding scale during the year

Ranking… (continued)

Summer: You’re learning the ropes You can do well in any track

Fall & Winter: Work well for interest areas

Spring: Planning for fourth year electives starts; performance should show solid growth & ability

You might consider

The ebb and flow of rigor & type of work

More challenging/more inspiring sequencing

With whom do you study/share study resources

Personal issues (partner’s schedule, commitments)

Avoiding crowd mentality about “perfect” tracks

Talking to your advisor

Myth: There are easier/ harder rotations

Reality: It differs by season (everything may be

difficult in the summer) It differs by site, patient load, acuity

level It differs because of team work ethic &

style It differs by your own motivation & what

you put in to each clerkship

Good advice

Be prepared to make the most of every rotation - even those that seem sub-optimal

Plan to stay focused and involved every month - you can’t turn commitment and enthusiasm on/off during 3rd yr and be successful

Don’t pick a track around your ski trip dates or good weather activities

Focus on “big picture”

The track sequence is NOT critical

Don’t get hung up about when every clerkship falls

Pick one or two key points relevant and important to your own needs and work those features into your top track picks

Special Situations to consider in Yr 3 scheduling

Touch base with Dean Mendez or Dean Sonntag if you are in the military scholarship program anticipating a yr 2 remediation schedule dealing with other significant academic

commitments or concerns attempting to juggle personal priorities and

school seeking to transfer to another school

Faculty advisors and SAS advisors are good resources for advice

Site Assignment Process

Clerkships must be taken at sites specified by SSOM

Sites assigned by lottery, with one Wild Card option: Peds, Psych, Fam Med, OB-Gyn and Medicine (for 1 of the months)

Assignments done by placement: Surgery & 1 of the 2 Medicine months

TRACK LOTTERY NUMBER DOES NOT APPLY TO SITE LOTTERIES

Site Assignments...

July assignments tentatively made in MayStudents submit site preference; once

made, assignments are BINDINGSubsequent lotteries occur about 5 - 6

weeks prior to start of each clerkshipFollow policies governing site placements

(provided in late March)

Site Assignments...

You will need good, reliable personal transportation. Your daily schedule may not permit car pooling.

Your decrepit, rusted-out, 2004 car with four bald tires will not exempt you from being assigned to more distant sites.

Site Requirements...

Your immunizations must be current This includes Heptavax completed and titer

drawn TB must be current Other requirements per site

Drug screening will be required for each of you before the start of M3 rotations (additional information to follow)

Criminal Background Check may be required (student pays)

Third Year Elective Option

Purpose: to offer exposure to certain specialties or subspecialties for students considering these disciplines as a career

You can take one 4-week elective or two 2-week electives within your one month elective block

Pay attention to elective prerequisites when selecting your preferred track and elective (e.g., if you plan to take the Orthopaedic Surgery elective, you should take your Surgery clerkship before your elective block)

See list of elective options in packet; course descriptions online in SSOM Elective Catalog

Timetable for when to register in packet; and how to register to follow

Third Year Elective Option (cont.)

Several tracks (27 students) REPLACE the 3rd-year elective with Sub-I Wards in May or EM in June of M3 year

Anyone considering EM should consider EM at end of 3rd year

You will be prepared for Sub-I Wards in May

Will open up interview and elective options in M4 year

OTHER IMPORTANT INFO

Don’t say you weren’t told…

Please Note:

Day one on each clerkship is crucial

Exams must be taken at their assigned time No exceptions (Christmas cheap airfare dates included!)

Exam times float – may be in A.M. or P.M. Sat/Sun attendance may be expected on some services at some

sites (i.e. 6-day work week)

On-Call every 4th night, very often less frequently

Please Note (cont.):

Daily attendance in year 3 & 4 is MANDATORY

Unexpected/Emergency Absences from Required Activities During years three and four, any unexpected absence due to illness or

other serious emergency requires prompt notification by the student to the clerkship/elective director and to the Associate Dean or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. This notification constitutes a request for an excused absence due to a legitimate extenuating reason. Student Affairs will alert the clerkship or elective department of the absence if the student is unable to do so.

Non-Emergent Absences from Required Activities Petitions for approved absences for non-emergent reasons are

reviewed by the course director and Associate Dean or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and a decision is made to approve the request or not. A student must have a serious reason for an excused absence in years three and four (e.g., wedding of a sibling, research presentation, etc.). Should a student have a serious reason for wishing to take a day or two off, a written petition must be submitted at least one month prior to elective in which the absence would occur.

Other Important Info

Booklist will be published

Third year clerks will need both long and short white coats worn according to the service assignment

E-documents to follow

Electronic copy of today’s handout and powerpoint

Site assignment procedures & wild card process

List of course directors and staff, sites, specialty services

Important Dates March 11: Track Ranking Due (instructions for

submitting will be emailed to you)

Late March: Tracks assigned

Early April: First elective registration date (for July electives only)

Mid May: Submit site choices for July assignment (stay connected with SSOM email!)

Important Dates (cont.

Monday, June 29th – Thursday, July 2nd: 3rd Year Orientation/Clinical Tools Workshops

(Attendance required) Homework will be required to be done in

advance

Monday, July 6th:

Clerkships start (Attendance required)

Please Note: You are required to sit for Step 1 no later than Sunday, June 28, 2015

Questions?

Advice/suggestions: Faculty Advisors

Best wishes as you plan for Year Three!

Office of Student Affairs