CLINICAL EXCELLENCE The Foundation for Residency Success
At a glance:
THE CLINICAL YEARS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL Ross University School of Medicine students spend the majority of their medical education (third and fourth years of study) in the United States. Once they’ve completed their basic sciences on our internationally located campus, they move on to complete their core and elective clinical rotations at our affiliated teaching hospitals in the US. Read on to learn more about the Ross clinical student experience, and how it can position our graduates to attain quality residencies. After completing the Foundations of Medicine (preclinical study in Dominica) curriculum and passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) Step 1, Ross students enter their clinical phase of medical school, where their learning experience becomes even more hands-on. Over the course of 90 weeks, students go through core and elective rotations at Ross-affiliated US teaching hospitals where they: examine and treat assigned patients, conduct procedures, review lab results, shadow attending physicians and residents, and perform daily tasks of a practicing physician— including the long full-time hours — some clerkships require on-call weekend shifts, or evening hours.
CONTENTS Preparing You for Success: Internal Medicine Foundations....................................4 The Internal Medicine Foundations clerkship prepares students to excel on their subsequent clinical rotations in a small group learning environment. Single-Location Clinical Tracks..................................8 Students can complete rotations at Ross-affiliated clinical tracks in a single location. Clinical Support: The ROSS Model............................10 Each student is assigned a team of advisors for clinical and academic support. Clinical Excellence to Residency Success................14 Ross’s clinical program is designed to prepare graduates for residency match.
2 | ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
ROSS CLINICAL STUDENTS St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Pontiac, MI
CLINICAL E XCELLENCE | 3
Preparing you for clinical success:
INTERNAL MEDICINE FOUNDATIONS The Internal Medicine Foundations six-week clinical clerkship, offered through the Center for Haitian Studies in Miami, Florida, allows students to progress from preclinical to clinical studies. Within this first clerkship, students prepare to excel on their subsequent clinical rotations in a small group learning environment—laying the foundation for them to be residency-ready. The transition from the basic sciences campus in Dominica to the US for clinicals can be a drastic change for Ross students. During IMF, students build on their basic science knowledge where they hone physical examination and diagnostic skills, sharpen critical-thinking and communication skills, and develop a thorough knowledge of mechanisms of disease processes. Students also make written and oral presentations in a patient-care setting.
SMALL GROUP LEARNING Institutionally reported data 2012-2015.
4 | ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Residency match preparation also begins during this clerkship, as students meet with their advising team to discuss clinical tracks and future residency. Most Ross students are placed in a clinical track within a single geographical location, allowing them to have a more tailored educational experience. Students have the option to choose a clerkship location that best suits their current and future needs—whether that’s remaining close to home, or moving to an entirely different location.
Internal Medicine Foundations is offered through the Center for Haitian Studies in Miami, FL, six times a year with an average class size between 100-150 students. This group is then further divided into two groups within the IMF Clerkship.
ROSS SIMULATION LAB When not with patients, IMF students learn clinical skills using life-like patient simulators in small groups
The group in clinical skills and simulation training is split in half into morning and afternoon schedules.
The group training in standardized patient care and simulation training is divided into smaller subgroups that provides individualized instruction.
CLINICAL E XCELLENCE | 5
SMALL GROUP LEARNING 6 | ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
JUSTIN OSSMAN Ross Clinical Student St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Pontiac, MI
CLINICAL E XCELLENCE | 7
A focus on quality:
THE ‘TRACK’ TO TRAINING BETTER DOCTORS After completing their IMF clerkship, Ross students move on to complete their core and elective rotations. When it comes to the clinical experience at Ross, it’s about quality, consistency, and choice. It’s about providing our students a well-rounded clinical experience that can help them earn a residency. We work toward that with our focused single-location clinical tracks — Ross-affiliated hospitals that are grouped in geographic proximity to one another — minimizing students moving to various locations. This gives students a centralized location in which to participate in mock interviews, and prepare for the USMLE Step 2 CS with fellow students. Ross aims to maintain a geographically diverse clinical network, and has affiliated teaching hospitals in the following locations: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. We select our affiliated hospitals based on a variety of criteria— a strong record of quality patient care, community service, US-standard medical education—but ultimately, we choose to partner with institutions that focus on giving our students a reliable and streamlined learning experience and educational support designed to prepare them for residency, and beyond.
CORE ROTATIONS Internal Medicine (12 weeks): Where students learn how to take complete medical, personal, and family histories; to perform diagnostic “work-ups”; and to develop a plan for managing a patient’s care. Students also participate in clinical conferences to refine their reporting skills.
8 | ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Surgery (12 weeks): Students explore conditions that require surgical intervention, can observe how surgical patients are managed, and get familiar with the policies and procedures that are followed in the operating room. Pediatrics (6 weeks): Students acquire special skills and knowledge required for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of infants, adolescents, and children. Family Medicine (6 weeks): Emphasis is placed on continuous and comprehensive healthcare for people of both genders and all ages within the context of their families, social groups, and communities. Obstetrics/Gynecology (6 weeks): Focusing on the changes that take place in a woman during pregnancy, labor, delivery and the postpartum period, students learn about the diagnosis and treatment of major gynecological diseases and various methods of family planning. Psychiatry (6 weeks): This rotation concentrates on the understanding of the major categories of mental disorder, including diagnosis and some methods of therapy.
CLINICAL TRACK OPTIONS CALIFORNIA
MICHIGAN
Bakersfield, Los Angeles California Hospital Medical Center Kern Medical Center
Pontiac St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
CONNECTICUT
BQNJ Track: Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, Hoboken Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Hoboken University Medical Center St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
WCHN Track: Danbury, Norwalk Danbury Hospital Norwalk Hospital
Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, Jamaica Jamaica Hospital Medical Center St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
FLORIDA
Miami, Weston Center for Haitian Studies Cleveland Clinic Florida
JFK Track: Far Rockaway, Oceanside South Nassau Communities Hospital St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
GEORGIA
Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta
Paramus, Hoboken, Old Bridge Bergen Regional Medical Center Hoboken University Medical Center Raritan Bay Medical Center
ILLINOIS
Chicago Mount Sinai Hospital Saint Anthony Hospital West Suburban Medical Center
OHIO
Youngstown, Warren Western Reserve Health Education
MARYLAND
Prince George’s Hospital Center Beltway Track: Baltimore, Cheverly, Silver Spring; Washington, DC Holy Cross Hospital Prince George’s Hospital Center Saint Agnes Hospital St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
CORE ROTATIONS: A TOTAL OF 48 WEEKS
Internal Medicine 12 weeks
Surgery 12 weeks
Pediatrics 6 weeks
Family Medicine 6 weeks
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks
Psychiatry 6 weeks
CLINICAL E XCELLENCE | 9
Support during clinicals:
THE ROSS MODEL At Ross, we believe student excellence in clinicals sets the stage for success in residency, and a vital part of that is the ability to stay connected when they need help or guidance. That’s why we have established the Rely On Student Services (ROSS) Model to provide clinical students with the support they need—from week one to week 90, they are never alone. The clinical phase of education is where students begin to transform into physicians, and to help turn them into quality healthcare leaders of the future, we assign a coordinated team of advisors to each clinical student, creating a centralized hub for individual support.
To better serve their needs, advisory teams are available to students six days a week. Advisor team members proactively check in with students to see how their clinical training is progressing, and to offer support as needed.
ROSS MODEL “POD” Consisting of a core team of people, your support team is just a phone call away and ready to help.
10 | R O S S U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F M E D I C I N E
FROM STUDENT TO MD, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
We believe student excellence sets the stage for success in residency, and a rewarding career in medicine—and we want to help get you there. A key part of how we help to ensure our students are performing at their greatest potential is by staying connected to each and every one of them throughout their medical education. When you need help or guidance, we support you in every way we can.
PROFESSIONAL WRITER
CAREER & CLINICAL ADVISORS The Office of Clinical Clerkships supports and assists with students’ core and elective clerkship schedule, and guides students through scheduling and taking the USMLE® Step 2 CS and CK, and provides tier 1 licensure and accreditation information. The Office of Student and Professional Development (OSPD)— Career Development helps students prepare to enter the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and/or specialty matches through mock interviews, guidance, and more.
The Office of Student and Professional Development (OSPD) writers prepare and guide students on residency documents that must be completed to move forward with the interview process. The OSPD writer utilizes the strengths and interests of each assigned student, and assists with drafting Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)/ Medical Student Performance Record (MSPR), and provides CV and personal statement feedback.
FINANCIAL AID & STUDENT ACCOUNTS ADVISORS The Office of Student Finance provides information about the financial resources to eligible students that can allow them to pursue their educational goals, assesses and collects tuition and fees, and administers the student health insurance plan. The student account advisors provide advice to students regarding Bursar issues. Bursars are responsible for the billing of student tuition accounts, and ensuring all accounts are brought to “paid off” status. Act as a liaison between students and the health insurance provider.
STUDENT SERVICE ADVISOR
REGISTRAR ADVISOR
The Office of Student Services provides students and their families assistance with housing, immigration, and general inquiries.
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for fulfilling student requests such as: evaluation processing, enrollment verification, immigration letters, transcript requests, OSAP forms, and letters of good standing.
C L I N I C A L E X C E L L E N C E | 11
U.S. EDUCATION THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS’ EDUCATION TAKES PLACE RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AT OUR AFFILIATED TEACHING HOSPITALS, ALONGSIDE ATTENDINGS, RESIDENTS, AND OTHER U.S. MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS.
12 | R O S S U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F M E D I C I N E
ROSS CLINICAL STUDENTS Kateri Disilva (left), Ryan Basquez (middle), Kyle Burton (right); St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac, MI
C L I N I C A L E X C E L L E N C E | 13
What does an excellent clinical program mean?
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENCY PLACEMENT “Ross provided me with strong basic sciences curriculum, as well as excellent clinical rotations, the combination of which led me to obtaining a residency near my hometown in California.” — Paolo Jorge, MD ’13
A strong, educationally balanced clinical program lays the foundation for students to become versatile and talented physicians. Ross’s single-location clinical sites enable students to gain invaluable hands-on experience while simultaneously building essential relationships with residents, program directors, and other colleagues. The result? Successful residency outcomes—the hard work and dedication of our graduates coming to fruition.
Ross is proud of the consistent residency success of our graduates, and we strive to continue to raise the bar when it comes to our clinical program. We work hard for our students so that they can not only reach their goals, but surpass them.
RESIDENCY: BY THE NUMBERS
96.4
%
OR 738 out of 765 2014-15 Ross graduates eligible for a 2015 residency attained a residency by 2016.1
93
%
USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate in 2016.
660
Current and former Ross graduates attained residencies in 2017.
According to the National Residency Matching Program and institutionally reported data. For the complete 2017 Ross residency attainment rates and specialties visit http://medical.rossu.edu/medical-school/2017residencyappointments.cfm
1
14 | R O S S U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F M E D I C I N E
FROM CLINICALS TO RESIDENCY What started on the island of Dominica in 2011 at Ross’s basic sciences campus, ended right back at home in New Jersey for Michael McEntee, MD. After finishing his Foundations of Medicine coursework, Dr. McEntee left Dominica and flew back to the United States for clinical rotations, completing all his cores, except pediatrics, at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in New York.
MICHAEL MCENTEE, MD ‘14 Internal Medicine Resident
UNDERGRADUATE Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ
CORE CLINICALS St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
RESIDENCY Overlook Medical Center Summit, NJ
“They were absolutely great to me,” said Dr. McEntee of the hospital. “If you’re spending a lot of face-time with the residents there and are showing the drive to learn, they’ll let you help in simple surgical procedures, hold tools, help close surgical sites, place central lines, teach you how to intubate—you name it, I’ve probably done it.”
“ Ever since I enrolled, I knew that I was trying to match to a residency in New Jersey, to be close to home.”
Dr. McEntee credits Ross’s clinical team, particularly Associate Dean, Gary Belotzerkovsky, for supporting him every step of the way. “They went above and beyond to try and make everyone get exactly what they wanted,” he said of the team. “In fact, Gary personally helped me schedule one of my elective rotations. There was never a time that I felt someone wasn’t there either actively trying to address an issue or working on that issue and keeping us updated.” What McEntee wanted, was to come back home to practice medicine. His first choice match: Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ—just 30 miles from his hometown in North Brunswick, NJ. “Ever since I enrolled, I knew that I was trying to match to a residency in New Jersey, to be close to home,” he said. McEntee got what he wanted, and attributes his success to Ross. “Ross provides you with an opportunity that a lot of other places may not give you,” he says. “And you can go as far as you’re willing to take yourself. As long as you’re willing to put in the work, there’s nothing you’ll need that Ross can’t provide [to prepare you for the residency match].”
C L I N I C A L E X C E L L E N C E | 15
2300 SW 145th Avenue Suite 200 Miramar, FL 33027 rossu.edu/med
Š2017 Ross University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.