Core clinical rotations are required and include assessment by both preceptor evaluations and post-rotation exams. Core rotations include family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, osteopathic manipulative medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and emergency medicine. Additionally, students are required to participate in a selective rotation. This is an opportunity to participate in a specialty rotation that is not part of the core OMS III curriculum and may be difficult to obtain as an elective as a third-year medical student. These rotations may not be done at out-of-system sites.

Students must also complete elective rotations in recognized fields of medicine. Examples of rotations include anesthesiology, cardiology, cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, dermatology, endocrinology/metabolism, family medicine, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, nuclear medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, pathology, radiology, rheumatology/immunology, urology and research.

Students may pursue elective clinical rotations at preapproved institutions where an additional agreement to send CCOM students has been established. Elective rotations may also be taken in any of the required core rotation disciplines. Other elective choices are subject to review and approval by the Associate Dean of Clinical Education. Elective options are also subject to the limitations as noted in the Clinical Rotations Policy Manual. 

Breaks/Vacation

Third- and fourth-year students have a holiday break at the end of each calendar year. Additionally, students are allowed eight weeks of vacation total. Students may not take more than four weeks of vacation per quarter. For more information, reference the Clinical Rotations Policy Manual. 

Remedial Course for COMLEX-USA Exam Retakes

Directed Study is a mandatory Pass/Fail four-week course which affords a student time for focused study to prepare to retake the COMLEX-USA Level 1 or Level 2 CE exam following a failure. A student is enrolled in Directed Study upon the recommendation of a representative of the Office of the Dean and/or the Promotions Committee. At the initiation of the course, the student is required to meet with a representative of the Office of the Dean to review their study strategy. Faculty COMCoach is assigned to work with the student for the duration of the Directed Study period. The student is expected to communicate with their COMCoach on a weekly basis to establish a study plan and then to assess progress so alterations to the approach can be made if necessary. Completion of a timed COMSAE examination is a course requirement. Enrollment in Directed Study does not contribute to the minimum number of Elective Rotation weeks required for graduation, nor does it replace any other graduation requirement.

CLIND 1710 and CLIND 1710A – Directed Study (for OMSIII; 6 credits)

CLIND 1810 and CLIND 1810A– Directed Study (for OMSIV; 6 credits)