Clinical rotations: Our guide for international medical students

What are clinical rotations? 

In the United States, clinical rotations take place during the final two years of medical school and provide an opportunity for students to learn in a real clinical setting. Also referred to as clerkships, clinical rotations allow students to interact directly with patients in all parts of the hospital or healthcare clinic as part of their training.

Students rotate through different specialities such as surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and family medicine. In the United States, clinical rotations typically last between four to 12 weeks, depending on the school and the field of medicine. 

Benefits of clinical rotations 

Students learn from senior doctors and consultants and acquire skills during clinical rotations. The experience helps them to increase their confidence and competency while collaborating with a medical team. Patient interviews, examinations and interpreting lab data are some of the tasks they will perform. 

Clinical rotations also help medical students deal with variables and nuances that their academic studies may not have prepared them for. This is because real-life medical cases often don’t follow textbook definitions. To make an accurate diagnosis, students need to take into consideration the specific factors that apply to a patient and their situation. 

Students will interact with a diverse range of patients with varying medical conditions, backgrounds and cultural perspectives which will help prepare them for real-world situations. Clinical rotations also help students decide which field of expertise they want to pursue. 

See also: Studying medicine abroad – a guide for international students

Exposure to a wider variety of medical conditions 

South African students studying abroad are likely to encounter a variety of medical conditions which will help to enhance their diagnostic and treatment skills. The rotations also offer useful insights into various healthcare systems and the latest medical interventions which are important for residency preparation.

Types of clinical rotations

Most medical schools offer two types of clinical rotations: core and elective. All students must complete core clinical rotation to graduate while the elective rotation is optional and can be chosen by the student.

• strong>Core rotation typically includes rotations in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry.
• During the fourth year, students can select from various electives in specialties like emergency medicine, radiology, anaesthesiology, pathology and urology.

Requirements to do clinical rotations for international students 

International medical students must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) exams. This determines whether the clinical rotations will be accepted by American residency programmes.

In Europe and the UK, students must have completed the necessary exams to be eligible for clinical rotations. Students may also need to pass an English proficiency test such as IELTS/TOEFL.

St. George’s University School of Medicine

St. George’s University School of Medicine in the Caribbean, which draws students from more than 140 countries including South Africa, offers extensive clinical rotation opportunities, not only in the Caribbean but also in the US, UK and Canada.

SGU has a network of 75+ affiliated hospitals and health centers so their rotations offer insights into different healthcare systems and provide essential networking opportunities with doctors and programme directors.

Are you interested in studying medicine abroad? Our study advisers are qualified to help you with applying to various programmes and will assist you along the journey. Get in touch with us at study@sableinternational.com.