Who can take an elective in emergency medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center?
Any medical student who has completed his/her core clerkships in Surgery, OB/Gyne, Pediatrics, Medicine and Psychiatry, and has passed USMLE or COMLEX Step 1 may rotate. Typically, rotations are open to students in their entire 4th year. The rotations are open to all Allopathic and Osteopathic students in accredited US medical schools. At this time, foreign medical students are not accepted. All applications are extensively reviewed for the appropriate prerequisites, and an email confirmation with rotation dates will then be sent to you.
When should I apply?
Applications become available in late February or early March for the following academic year, and you may apply any time after that. Elective spots go fast, especially for the July-through-January timeframe. Only 5 students are accepted per block. While we do not primarily operate on the "first come, first accepted" basis, we do selectively populate our schedule, and the sooner you apply, the more likely you are to get your first choice. Please contact Ann Nestor, Department of Emergency Medicine Secretary at (708) 684-1277 if you have specific questions about availability.
What kind of patient's will I see and care for?
Students who rotate through the Department of Emergency Medicine are involved in the care of all patients. They are part of a team of physicians caring for all patients from ankle sprains to lacerations to acute MI and trauma patients.
Do I get to participate in resuscitations?
Yes. Again, rotating students are part of the physician team and fully participate in patient resuscitations. Supervised procedures and assisting in critical patient management are cornerstones of the EM rotation.
How do I apply for an elective?
Application downloads are available on the main homepage. Completed applications may be emailed, mailed or faxed in, as directed. If you have any questions or problems, please contact our secretary, Ann Nestor, in the Department of Emergency Medicine at phone number (708) 684-1277.
What courses are required before my emergency medicine rotation?
The core clerkships are required before rotating in the emergency department. ACLS, PALS, or ATLS are not required, but definitely helpful. Due to the fast pace of the emergency department, students who have not had core rotations are not able to learn from all the available experiences, or get the most from the rotation.
Why should I rotate at Christ?
Quite simply, we offer one of the best elective experiences in the country. We have a very busy, high-acuity department, with a very diverse patient population. We have an excellent teaching staff, with nationally recognized attendings, and the most intelligent residents in the country. Our elective is organized, comprehensive, and with only five students per block, personally attentive. Combine this with hands-on teaching and simulation labs, lectures, and conferences, and you can consider yourself immersed in emergency medicine.