1. INTRODUCTION to the THIRD YEAR
CLASS OF 2019
February 8, 2017
Office of Student Affairs
Stritch School of Medicine

2. CLERKSHIP TRACK SYSTEM (CTS)
Third year course requirements and options

3. MEETING’S GOALS To de-mystify the process of clinical scheduling
To build positive anticipation
To allow you to plan

4. OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical calendar
To explain the CTS and year 3 requirements and options
To review the track assignment process
To give you some guidance on ranking tracks
To provide an overview of the site assignment process

5. 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

6. Handout Contents Calendar of Important Events/Dates CTS General Info
Lottery Numbers
Chart of Clerkship Tracks
Third Year Calendar
M3 Elective Options Spreadsheet
Elective Opening Registration Dates

7. Third Year Calendar Two semesters/12 months total
One week vacation in each semester + winter break
Winter break is Friday, December 22nd through Monday, January 1st (Both Tracks A & B)
Participation in clerkships on day 1 and final exam date mandatory (plan travel accordingly)

8. First Week of Year Three
Monday, June 26 – Friday, June 30
3rd Year Orientation/Clinical Skills Workshops
Attendance required
You must have sat for Step 1 no later than Sunday, June 25, 2017
Wednesday, July 5: Clerkships start
Monday & Tuesday, July 3-4 are school holidays.

9. CTS General Information
Third Yr CTS governs the order students take their required clerkships
Tracks assigned via a lottery process
Changes possible but very limited
CTS does NOT include site placement

10. CTS Chart: Schedule A

11. CTS Chart: Schedule B

12. 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

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*In the Schedule A tracks with the elective block in May or June, the elective has been replaced by Sub-I Wards (May) or Emergency Medicine (June).

14. Required Clerkship Sequencing
Any core clerkship may occur first
None are prerequisite to any other
Sequencing not directed toward specific career paths
Each track guarantees all core clerkships

15. Third Year Elective Option
Limited to certain clinical specialties or a research experience
Details later in program

16. Other Yr 3 Requirements
PCM-3 Seminars (8 sessions throughout year, dates on academic calendar)
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

17. Other 3rd Yr Requirements (Continued)
TCM-3 (Topics in Clinical Medicine – aka vertical curriculum)
End of Life
Nutrition
Prevention and Screening
Quality and Patient Safety
Radiology
Comprehensive year end exam (tentatively scheduled for June 13, 2018)
Medical Humanities
Ethics Grand Rounds (four required for graduation)
Ethics Case Paper (due in spring of 3rd yr)

18. 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 myLUMEN
Lottery numbers are in your handout and Track Rank Form is due Wednesday, March 15th.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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, and Medicine (for 1 of the months)
Assignments done by placement:
OB/Gyn, Surgery & 1 of the 2 Medicine months
TRACK LOTTERY NUMBER DOES NOT APPLY TO SITE LOTTERIES

28. Site Assignments... July assignments tentatively made in May
Students submit site preference; once made, assignments are BINDING
Subsequent lotteries occur about weeks prior to start of each clerkship
Follow policies governing site placements (provided in late March)

29. Site Assignments...
You will need good, reliable personal transportation. Your daily schedule may not permit car pooling.
Your decrepit, rusted-out, 2007 car with four bald tires will not exempt you from being assigned to more distant sites.

30. Site Requirements... Your immunizations must be current
This includes Heptavax completed and titer drawn
TB must be current
Other requirements per site
Drug screening is required before the start of the M3 year. This is MANDATORY! You will receive additional information about this from Dean Nakae.
Criminal Background Check may be required (student pays) 30

31. 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

32. Third Year Elective Option (cont.)
Several tracks (30 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

33. OTHER IMPORTANT INFO
Don’t say you weren’t told…

34. 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

35. 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 the start of the elective in which the absence would occur.

36. Other Important Info Booklist will be published
Third-year clerks will need both long and short white coats worn according to the service assignment

37. 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

38. Important Dates
March 15: Track Ranking Due (instructions for submitting will be ed 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 !)

39. Important Dates (cont. Monday, June 26th – Friday, June 30th:
3rd Year Orientation/Clinical Tools Workshops
(Attendance required)
Homework will be required to be done in advance
Wednesday, July 5th:
Clerkships start (Attendance required)
Please Note: You are required to sit for Step 1 no later than Sunday, June 25, 2017

40. Questions? Best wishes as you plan for Year Three!
Advice/suggestions: Faculty Advisors
Best wishes as you plan for Year Three!
Office of Student Affairs