Rotations & Tracks

Rotations 

Clerkship rotations are comparable to the "blocks" students completed during their preclerkship years. Medical rotations (e.g., family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) are each 8 weeks, and surgical rotations, psychiatry, and electives are each 6 weeks. Students must complete an assortment of "Core Rotations" and "Elective Rotations."

• Core Rotations: These are mandatory rotations for all medical students. Year 3 students must complete OB/GYN, Peds, Psych, Family Medicine, Gen Surg, and Internal Med. Year 4 students must complete Geriatrics, Internal Med, Emerg, and Specialty Surg. 

• Elective Rotations: The student chooses these rotations, which should be tailored to their interests.

Tracks

All tracks consist of the same core rotations but vary in order. There are two main track structures:

• Track A: Students complete medical rotations, followed by surgical rotations. For example, a student might complete the required rotations/blocks in the following order: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry then their electives in their third year.

• Track B: Students complete surgical rotations, followed by medical rotations. For example, a student might complete the required rotations/blocks in the following order: general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, electives, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics in their third year.

In the winter term of the second year, students will receive a presentation from the UME on track ranking. Following this presentation, students will rank their preferred track order. There are 24 tracks in total, and students rank all tracks. All students will have the opportunity to meet with career advisors in OAW for 1:1 guidance and assistance with track selection/career exploration and advising as needed.

Students can also complete their third year in a rural Alberta community through the Integrated Community Clerkship and their fourth year in Grande Prairie. However, these are separate streams for which students must apply.

Below are two rotations and track example schedules for years 3 and 4. 

Tips for Ranking Tracks

During clerkship, most students are not concerned about their track order. That said, there are a few things students can consider when ranking tracks:

• Personal Schedule: Students should consider times when they might have personal commitments, such as family events or travel limitations, especially since some rotations are in rural communities and some are busier than others.

• Career Goals: 

  • • Core Rotations: If students are fairly clear on career choice within one of the core rotations, you may choose to have that rotation later in the year when you have gained more experience and will be a stronger clerk. Or if you are interested in a core rotation but still exploring options, you may want to choose to gain experience in that core rotation earlier in the year to rule in/out. 

    • Electives: Students still determining their field of interest might consider starting with electives to rule options in/out. Students with a clear career path might consider completing those rotations later in the third year or early in the fourth year to have better clinical skills during the rotation. 

Remember, most clerkship students are not concerned about their track order once rotations begin. 

The vast majority of second-year students meet with an OAW in the winter to discuss track selection and career exploration. Contact the OAW for help..