Fourth Year Clerkship

Description

This is a one-month elective for qualified fourth-year medical students designed to provide an intense clinical experience at Boston Medical Center, a busy emergency department and trauma center that serves as the safety-net hospital for the Boston metropolitan area. Students will function at the level of a sub-intern and work closely with attending physicians and senior emergency medicine residents. They see patients independently (unless the patient is critically ill), and are primarily responsible for their patients while in the ED, including creating and implementing appropriate patient care plans, following and re-evaluating their patients through to disposition, and all appropriate procedures on their patients.

Shift Schedule

Students work approximately 14 eight-hour shifts per month in the Emergency Department. This includes approximately 3 “procedure shifts” during which students refine their procedure and resuscitation skills under the supervision of a PGY2 resident.

Didactics

In addition to the clinical experience, this rotation includes a student lecture series, resident didactic sessions/grand rounds, pre-hospital paramedic/EMT observation, independent reading and participation in simulations and practical laboratories focusing on skills such as intubation, airway management, splinting techniques, and suturing.

Requirements and Availability

Completion of all major third-year core clerkships (Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics) is required. For Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine students, completing the third year selective is not a prerequisite for the fourth-year clerkship. For more information please visit the Boston University Office of the Registrar website or call them at 617-358-7466.

Schedule

For non-Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine students, inquiries and applications are accepted after March 1st for the following academic year. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with positions filled at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Medical Education. Applications will be reviewed beginning March 1st and decisions will be communicated by early to mid-April. 

All rotations are four weeks long. We are unable to accommodate alternative start dates or rotation lengths.

US Applicants

Students not from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine must be currently enrolled in a U.S. medical school.  Please register for the course using the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) when the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Programs open. Click here for a guide to applying for away rotations at Boston Medical Center.

Please read the VSAS application carefully and be sure to meet all requirements. Pay particular attention to the insurance requirements. Malpractice/Liability and Commercial General Public Liability documents must be approved by the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Registrar’s Office before your application will be considered complete.

Diversity

We also offer a Subsidized Visiting Elective Program for medical students from ethnicities that are underrepresented in medicine.

The Subsidized Visiting Elective Program allows qualified 4th year under-represented minority medical students that are considering applying to one of Boston Medical Center’s residency programs the opportunity to get hands-on experience and exposure to our clinical services and diverse patient population during a month long elective.

If you have questions or need more information regarding the Subsidized Visiting Elective Program contact Shawnda Walker, Manager Office of Minority Physician Recruitment Shawnda.Walker@bmc.org.

International Students

Unfortunately, at this time we are not accepting international rotators.

Contact Information

For questions about the rotation as well as dates and availability, please contact:

Liz Traina
Administrative Clerkship Coordinator
Boston Medical Center
1 Boston Medical Center Place
BCD Building
Boston, MA 02118
elizabeth.traina@bmc.org
617-414-7198

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Kelly Mayo, MD
Clerkship Director
Kelly.Mayo@bmc.org

Zayir Malik, MD
Associate Clerkship Director
Zayir.Malik@bmc.org

Vonzella Bryant, MD
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
Vonzella.Bryant@bmc.org