THE OPTIONS
CORE ROTATIONS:
THIS IS LIKE YOUR HOME BASE. YOU WILL HAVE A MAJORITY OF YOUR ROTATIONS AT THIS LOCATION AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AT YOUR HOME INSTITUTION. FOR EXAMPLE, AT OUR SCHOOL, THERE ARE OUTSIDE CORE LOCATIONS LIKE SALT LAKE CITY, SEATTLE, AND ALBAQUERQUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN OPTION TO STAY IN THE BAY AREA FOR CORE ROTATIONS. THESE ROTATIONS NOT ONLY INCLUED PODIATRY MONTHS, BUT ALSO OFF-SERVICE ROTATIONS LIKE; VASCULAR SURGERY, GENERAL SURGERY, AND GENERAL MEDICINE.
EXTERNSHIPS/CLERKSHIPS/AUDITIONS:
ON MONTHS THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR CORE ROTATIONS, YOU WILL BE COMPLETING EXTERNSHIPS AT A RESIDENCY PROGRAM OF YOUR CHOICE*. THIS GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THE PROGRAM AND FOR THE PROGRAM TO GET TO KNOW YOU. IT IS ENTIRELY YOUR CHOICE TO DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO COMPLETE YOUR EXTERNSHIP. SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE PLACES IN THE SAME AREA TO MINIMIZE COSTS AND EXPENSES. OTHERS CHOOSE TO ROAD TRIP ACROSS AMERICA AND BEN IN A DIFFERENT STATE EACH MONTH.
*KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS LISTED IN THE CLERKSHIP DIRECTORY THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
The Checklist
#1
Research Programs
#2
Complete Application
#3
Prepare for Externships
#4
Narrow Down Programs
THE BREAKDOWN
#1
RESEARCHING PROGRAMS CAN SOUND LIKE A DAUNTING TASK, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU CAN CONSIDER TO NARROW DOWN A LIST THAT IS BEST FOR YOU. READ MORE ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DR. ZIMMERMAN ABOUT HOW HE NARROWED DOWN HIS LIST.
Research Programs
#2
Complete Application
THERE ARE VARIOUS PIECES OF THE APPLICATION THAT YOU CAN BEGIN GATHERING: A PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT (WHITE COAT PHOTO WORKS GREAT), AN UPDATED CV/RESUME, 2 ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (SOME DECIDE TO SUBMIT A PERSONAL STATEMENT, OTHERS DO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS - THE CHOICE IS YOURS). THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE ROUNDS ONCE YOUR APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED. YOU CONTINUE APPLYING FOR VARIOUS CLERKSHIPS UNTIL ALL OF YOUR MONTHS ARE FILLED.
#3
Prepare for Externships
THERE IS MUCH TO PLAN FOR PRIOR TO STARTING YOUR EXTERNSHIPS. FIRST IS DETERMINING START AND END TIMES FOR YOUR GIVEN MONTH (DATES FOUND ON THE NATIONAL CLERKSHIP CALENDER). HOUSING IS ANOTHER PIECE: REACH OUT TO CURRENT RESIDENTS, AIR B&Bs, ROTATING ROOMS, FURNISHED FINDER, CRAIGSLIST. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, MAKE SURE YOU START STUDYING SO YOU IMPRESS PROGRAMS WITH GOOD FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
CREATE A SPREADSHEET OF ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU WENT TO AND AS YOU SPEND TIME THERE, BEGIN TO FORMULATE A LIST OF PROs AND CONs THAT YOU CAN USE WHEN APPLYING FOR INTERVIEWS FOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. WHILE YOU ARE AT PROGRAMS, WATCH VIDEOS TO PREPARE FOR SURGERIES YOU WILL BE SCRUBBING INTO.