×

Request Information

Clinical Sciences Program

Academics

During AUA’s Clinical Sciences curriculum in academic periods 5 through 8 (years 3 and 4), students continue to develop clinical and communication skills in all areas of patient care, under the direction of the medical faculty at teaching hospitals in a patient-centered environment.

Clinical rotations are integrated educational experiences that allow students to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professionalism essential to caring for patients effectively, efficiently, and humanely.

The clinical education consists of 84 weeks of core and elective rotations. AUA holds affiliations with multiple clinical sites.

After the eight-week Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine rotation (FM1/IM1), students continue with 44 weeks of clinical core rotations (internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and psychiatry). Exposure to in-hospital patient care might be combined with outpatient experience, where permitted by state law, creating a learning environment in which clinical competence can be achieved.

During the 32 weeks of clinical elective rotations in subspecialties of the core subjects, other medical specialties, and research, students have the opportunity to enhance their medical knowledge and strengthen their clinical skills.

Curriculum overview

AUA’s MD curriculum seamlessly blends pre-clinical and clinical sciences, offering students an immersive and well-rounded educational experience. The clinical medicine MD curriculum, in particular, helps students transition into clerkship rotations, a pivotal component. These rotations provide invaluable hands-on experience across diverse medical specialties, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in authentic clinical settings. 

Thus, students of the clinical sciences curriculum emerge not only with a profound understanding of medical principles but also with practical skills, research understanding, and a global perspective that positions them as adept and compassionate leaders in the ever-evolving field of medicine.

Curriculum benefits

Some key benefits of the Clinical Sciences curriculum at AUA include:

  • An integrated curriculum that connects theoretical knowledge gained in pre-clinical sciences with real-world clinical applications, fostering a comprehensive understanding of medicine;
  • Eighty-four weeks of hands-on training through participation in clinical rotations, crucial for the development of clinical skills and competencies;
  • A patient-centered environment that ensures students acquire the skills, attitudes, and professionalism essential for effective and compassionate patient care;
  • AUA’s affiliations with multiple clinical sites provide students with a diverse range of experiences in different healthcare settings;
  • The option for clinical rotations in the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, providing valuable international exposure and diverse clinical experiences, albeit in shorter durations than core rotations;
  • Individualized feedback and guidance from experienced faculty that contribute to students’ personal and professional growth;
  • A strong emphasis on professionalism, communication, and empathy in patient care, preparing students not just as skilled clinicians but also as compassionate healthcare providers;
  • Preparation for residency through a combination of core and elective rotations, as well as exposure to diverse clinical scenarios;

FM1/IM1 Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine

This 8-week clinical rotation focuses on enhancing the skills required to perform physical examinations and to interact with patients, family, and health care providers in a U.S. medical environment and prepares students for their clinical core and elective rotations

Core Rotations

Core rotations are the foundation of clinical education and allow students to apply the knowledge obtained in Preclinical Sciences in a clinical setting. The acquisition of clinical knowledge and skills during clerkships is achieved through direct interaction with clinical faculty, patients, standardized patients, and simulation. Faculty provide individual feedback to guide each student’s growth. These rotations take place in affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States. Students also have the option to participate in clinical rotations in the United Kingdom and India.

Elective Rotations

Students enhance their medical knowledge and strengthen their clinical skills during 32 weeks of elective rotations in subspecialties of core subjects, other medical specialties, and research.

This is a list of some of the elective rotations available to AUA students at affiliated US teaching hospitals. Students also have the option to complete rotations at clinical sites in Canada, the UK, and India.

  • FM1/IM1 (8 weeks)

    The FM1/IM1 preliminary clinical training course is an integral component of a student’s fifth academic period. This course focuses on enhancing the skills required to perform physical examinations and to interact with patients, family, and healthcare providers in a U.S. medical environment. Students complete this course before beginning clinical rotations at AUA’s hospital affiliates.

  • Internal Medicine (12 weeks)

    Students gain general knowledge of internal medicine, which includes health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of men and women from adolescence through late adulthood, from times of health through all stages of acute and chronic illness. Students also develop skills in problem solving, strengthen their decision making, and foster an attitude of caring and empathy driven by humanistic and professional values.

    This rotation incorporates a consideration of human biology, behavior, and understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of disease and the mechanisms of treatment.  Students master clinical skills in interviewing; physical examination; differential diagnosis; diagnostic testing strategies; therapeutic techniques; counseling; patient safety and quality measures; and disease prevention.

  • Surgery (8 weeks)

    Students will study the specific role of surgeons in the spectrum of medical care. This clerkship introduces the principles of surgery and the rationale for surgical therapeutic intervention through many different educational modalities.  Students will be exposed to a wide breadth and depth of surgery under the guidance of a preceptor and function as a contributing member of the surgical team. Students should demonstrate an understanding of procedures for surgical admission and the elements of establishing surgical diagnoses. In addition, students in this clerkship should develop an understanding of preoperative evaluation, perioperative care and optimization, and postoperative follow-up, with documented progress in each component of care. Relevant information should be described in the brief postoperative note and there should be evidence of an understanding of the legal aspects of the medical record.

    The surgery clerkship will foster student growth in the areas of patient care; safety and quality measures; medical knowledge; interpersonal and communication skills; practice-based learning and improvement; professionalism; and systems-based practice. Students will become familiar with different members of the surgical team.

  • Family Medicine (6 weeks)

    The 6-week clerkship in family medicine will introduce students to all aspects of family medicine, with attention paid to continuity of care for patients of all ages. The curriculum will enhance the student’s ability to recognize the importance of family systems and the impact of chronic illness on patients and their families. The health of individual family members, cultural issues and their cumulative effect on health outcomes will be highlighted.  The primary care setting will allow for students to gain experience in preventative medicine.

    In addition, students will have the opportunity to engage in health education by applying concepts of health literacy.  The student will become familiar with end-of life issues and palliative care and the role of the physician in these decision-making processes. The clerkship will emphasize the importance of recognition of symptoms and medical knowledge in providing patients with the highest quality medical care. The family medicine curriculum will promote the highest standards of professional behavior; patient safety and quality measures; and clinical competence while preparing students for the practice of family medicine in diverse patient populations. The curriculum will enhance student’s knowledge and awareness of the common diagnosis and impact of cultural issues and family systems.

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)

    During this rotation, students will acquire a set of basic educational and technical skills related to the maintenance of women’s health. They will learn to take an obstetrical and gynecological history and physical, with emphasis on the breast, abdomen, and pelvis. Students will develop a basic understanding of the pathophysiology in women as they occur from menarche through the reproductive years and menopause. This will include an appreciation of specific obstetric and gynecologic issues encountered at different stages of a woman’s life.

    Inpatient obstetrical and gynecological admissions and surgical procedures, as well as ambulatory outpatient clinic or private practice experience, provide the necessary core fundamentals of the rotation. Students are required to master the understanding of the physiology of endocrinology during pregnancy, renal function, and basic anatomy.

  • Pediatrics (6 weeks)

    The pediatrics clerkship curriculum provides the students with the basic skills and knowledge required to care for the pediatric patient and their families. The focus of the pediatric rotation is to teach students about issues unique to the infant, child and adolescent with a major emphasis on the prevention of disease and the impact of disease and treatment on the pediatric patient and their family.

    During the 6-week pediatrics clerkship, students develop the communication, physical examination and problem-solving skills that are required to evaluate the health status of a pediatric patient from birth to 18 years of age. Review of all relevant basic sciences including genetics, embryology, biomedical sciences, complications during pregnancy and physiology is expected. The students will develop an understanding of the importance of the prevention of disease, in addition to treatment. A variety of learning methods will be utilized including, but not limited to, clinical encounters, reading assignments, didactics or CLIPP cases.

  • Psychiatry (6 weeks)

    The goal of the psychiatry clerkship is to prepare the student to recognize, assess, and treat a wide range of behavioral health problems as they may present throughout the life cycle. Emphasis will be placed on assessment of the patient’s mental status and personality traits as they relate to the patient’s health, to legal issues such as mental competency, dangerousness, and civil commitment, as well as their relevance to clinical management of other medical conditions. The student should be able to use the interview to obtain an in-depth history; to perform a comprehensive mental status examination; and to establish a safe, positive professional doctor-patient relationship.

    This knowledge should form the basis of the student’s ability to accurately diagnose common psychiatric disorders. The student is required to review and understand all aspects of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, and behavioral sciences. The student should also acquire knowledge of the various therapeutic modalities including pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and social interventions, and to be aware of their indications and limitations. By becoming more skilled in assessing the personal strengths and vulnerabilities of the patient, the student should become more professional in interviewing in all medical settings.

 

Elective Rotations

Elective rotations allow students to gain experience in different specialties, ultimately allowing them to confirm the field they are most passionate about and make an informed decision when applying for residencies.

Students choose elective rotations from a variety of specialties related to core rotations. This is a list of some of the elective rotations available to AUA students, most of which are available in the United States, while some are available in Canada, the UK, and India. Students complete 32 weeks worth of elective rotations. Clinical electives, in general, last four weeks each.

  • Addiction Medicine/Chemical Dependency

    The incidence of substance abuse and substance dependency is increasing all over the country. This is commonly seen in patients receiving inpatient medical services and in medical practices. Substance abuse and dependency are frequently comorbid with other medical and psychiatric disorders. In spite of public education and outreach efforts, considerable societal stigma exists towards patients with addictive disorders; healthcare providers frequently have negative attitudes toward these patients as well. Many believe that it is a social issue, not a medical one. As we are aware, the identification, assessment, and referral for treatment of patients are strongly influenced by physician attitudes and life experiences with personal, family, or prior patients’ substance use. Effective tools and strategies help clinicians recognize the physiologic and behavioral red flags of addiction and elicit a substance use history in a nonjudgmental manner, so the physician can make the appropriate diagnosis and develop a patient-specific plan for treatment and referral.

  • Adult Pain Management

    Pain management uses a multi-disciplinary approach to reduce acute and chronic pain in pediatric and adult patients. Local, regional and general anesthetic procedures are used in combination with psychological and other techniques like chiropractic manipulations, or acupuncture.

  • Ambulatory Medicine

    This rotation will provide an educational experience in primary care community practice settings. This will provide exposure to community medicine physicians and role models, different practice models and practice styles and aid in future career planning. Students will learn the management of urgent problems encountered in a Primary Care practice. Students will be able to perform problem-focused evaluations in an efficient manner.

  • Anesthesiology

    Anesthesia is an intervention which allows the performance of surgical or other painful procedures in pediatric and/or adult patients using local, regional or general anesthesia techniques. Perioperative care and acute and chronic pain management are also components of anesthesia.

  • Burn Surgery

    The treatment of burns is a time consuming and all-encompassing endeavor. During this elective rotation student are expected to meet the challenges and complexity of the burn unit.

  • Cardiology

    The goal of this rotation is for the student to develop the ability to independently evaluate, treat, and monitor ACS, atrial fibrillation, CHF, ventricular arrhythmias, HTN, hyperlipidemia, valvular heart disease and aortic dissection.

  • Child/Adolescent Psychiatry

    This elective in child and adolescent psychiatry will expose the student to a wide range of clinical problems in children and adolescents, including but not limited to, substance use disorders, emergency psychiatric interventions, consultation liaison, school problems, family disruptions and possible placement of a child on a temporary or even permanent basis. All these areas of study and patient care demand the ability to relate with patients in creative ways, to know the range of diagnostic and treatment options available and to prioritize one’s intervention in a practical and safe manner. Though family involvement is often required in the evaluation and treatment of adults, in child and adolescent psychiatry this involvement is usually required and often essential.

  • Clinical Research

    AUA clinical students may opt to take a research elective in medical research.  This is typically a 4-week experience.  Initially, the student selects a preceptor/supervising physician who will guide and supervise the research experience. The specific activities required by the student will vary depending upon the medical research topic and the stage of the research project. In some cases, the student may be completing a review of the literature including an evaluation of the methodological strengths and weaknesses of that literature.  In other cases, they may be developing a research proposal, or collecting and analyzing data.

    Students participating in this research elective will meet with their supervising physician on a regular basis.  Students are encouraged to work with faculty to guide possible submission of the research for publication. Regardless of the stage of the research study, all clinical students taking this research elective are required to submit a paper at the completion of the elective detailing their activities during the elective.  The paper might be a description of work in progress, a research proposal, or a draft of an article to be submitted for publication.

  • Colorectal Surgery

    This rotation exposes a student to a team specializing in colorectal pathologies with an emphasis on the diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of all colorectal pathologies that plague a large portion of our population. Tumors both benign and malignant along with inflammatory bowel pathologies are the mainstay of pathologies dealt with. The student will gain essential knowledge about management of colon pathology; including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and benign and malignant colonic tumors.

  • Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)

    Students are exposed to a variety of psychiatric emergencies including suicide attempts, drug overdoses, and other acute psychiatric like psychotic disorders that present in the form of an emergency.

  • Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry

    Consultation-liaison psychiatry, also known as psychosomatic medicine, is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the care of patients with comorbid psychiatric and general medical conditions. Consultation-liaison psychiatry deals with the understanding and advancement of medical science, education, and the provision of healthcare for medically ill patients. This rotation in consultation-liaison psychiatry can expose students to different psychiatric manifestations of medical illness and their treatments and about care for medically ill patients who have psychiatric disorders.

  • Critical Care

    Clinical experiences in critical care medicine are intended to assist the student’s understanding of the unique life-threatening conditions faced by the critical care patient.  These include, but are not limited to, organ failure, coma, shock, ventilatory support and end-of-life transitions.   The purpose of the elective is for the student to become familiar with, and comfortable in, critical care units servicing a diverse population of surgical, neurological, and medical patients.

  • Dermatology

    Dermatology is the specialty of medicine concerned with management of disorders of the skin, mucous membranes, and adnexal structures, including hair and nails. This elective is designed to expose the medical student to various aspects of dermatology and to gain a working knowledge of how to recognize skin signs of systemic diseases, normal findings (including benign growths of the skin) and common skin malignancies. The rotation will consist primarily of outpatient encounters, with some inpatient consultation with an attending physician and/or dermatology resident. A broad spectrum of disease entities will be seen that range in patient stage from initial diagnosis to those patients that have disease that has been refractory to treatment.

    The student will be exposed to inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, metabolic, congenital and structural disorders and will be involved in the discussion of differential diagnoses, diagnostic evaluation, and outline of treatment plans. The goal is to have the student understand how dermatologists apply an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the management of skin disorders in a professional and compassionate manner.

  • Emergency Medicine

    This rotation is typically completed in a full-service emergency room, but the student may spend some time in an urgent care center. The key in this rotation is the art of triage. Students will be exposed to determinations by their attendings to treat and admit, admit or discharge. The student will encounter patients with pediatric, psychiatric and adult medical-surgical emergencies. They will be involved in the treatment of many acute conditions, such as trauma and heart failure.

  • Emergency/Telepsychiatry

    Many psychiatric problems present as emergencies and often in places with no local psychiatric services. Significant help in diagnosis and treatment can be carried out at a distance through teleconferencing technologies.

  • Endocrinology

    The goal of the endocrinology elective is for the student to develop the ability to independently evaluate, treat and monitor common endocrine disorders (diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, lipid abnormalities, metabolic bone disease, and calcium disorders) and the be familiar enough with the less common endocrinopathies (adrenal disease, pituitary disease and gonadal dysfunction) to recognize the abnormality and initiate evaluation.

  • ENT

    This rotation will expose the student to pathology of the ears, neck and throat. These pathologies include otitis media and externa and the benign and malignant tumors of ears, salivary glands, thyroid, parathyroid, vocal cords and pharynx and hypopharynx. They will learn to evaluate these structures and to assess all neck masses.

  • Family Medicine

    The purpose of this elective is to provide the students with experience in an intern-like role in a Family Medicine training program. This advanced inpatient experience provides an opportunity for students to challenge themselves with an in-depth experience in family medicine. The objectives of this elective are an expansion of the Family Medicine core clerkship.

  • Forensic Pathology

    This rotation immerses the student into a rotation in a medical legal environment, typically in a medical examiner’s office. The student will learn how to establish the chain of evidence and time and cause of death. They will participate in the determination of the immediate and contributory cause and time of death, along with the identification of victim.

    .

  • Gastroenterology

    The gastroenterology elective is designed to provide medical students with a well-rounded learning experience in gastroenterology and hepatology that is integral to the specialty of internal medicine. The goal of this elective is for the student to develop the ability to independently evaluate, treat and monitor the broad range of diseases in general gastroenterology and hepatology, including transplant hepatology, and to understand the use of advanced endoscopy in both inpatient and outpatient settings

  • General Surgery

    The general surgery elective is an extension of the surgery core clinical clerkship. All the basic skills required in the core clinical clerkship will be developed further. The student will be exposed more to the OR, more bedside procedures, and teaching. Students typically round with the team and perform task similar to first year residents. This elective is an ideal rotation for those students who are interested in surgical specialties.

  • Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology

    The geriatric/gerontology elective rotation fosters geriatric community experiences improving the understanding of portraying persons over the age of 65 years, enhancing clinical skills assessments in geriatric areas, and increasing students’ interest in geriatric care.

  • Gynecologic Oncology

    Gynecologic oncology is a 4-week elective involving diagnosis and treatment of gyn neoplasms. The rotation will be supervised by the gynecologic oncologist in an office or clinic setting for diagnosis and medical treatment, as well as surgical procedures for invasive disease. The elective may also involve co-management with radiation oncology for radiation treatment and hematology oncology for chemotherapy options while treating gynecologic invasive neoplasms.

  • Hematology/Oncology

    The hematology and oncology elective is designed to facilitate the students understanding of common clinical presentations, evaluation and management of blood dyscrasias and neoplastic disorders.   The student will learn the proper work up and care of the oncology patient, from diagnosis and tumor staging to chemotherapy and palliation.  Simultaneously, the student will learn the proper evaluation of hematological disorders, including interpretation of diagnostic tests and initiation of treatment.

  • Infectious Disease

    The goal of the Infectious Disease elective is to assist the student in understanding the evaluation and treatment of both chronic and acute infectious illnesses.  In a supervised setting, the student will learn to isolate infectious sources and choose appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on evidence gathered from multiple sources, including patient history and physical, blood work, radiological studies, and empiric data.

  • Internal Medicine

    The goal of this internal medicine elective is for students to acquire further experience into the elements of patient care.  This elective will focus on the more detailed aspects of histories, physical examinations, the various elements used in diagnosis (imaging procedures, lab tests, invasive testing etc.) and the development and implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic plans.

  • Internal Medicine Grand Rounds

    The Internal Medicine Grand Rounds elective is a 4-week rotation designed to perfect clinical reasoning skills, with a focus on clinical examination, via simulated patient encounters and direct preceptor teaching. Students meet via teleconferencing, 5 days a week, twice a day. The morning session (10a-12p) consists of didactic sessions using online resources and direct preceptor interaction. These utilize Oasis, online MedEd, and preceptor presentations.

  • Interventional Cardiology

    The goal of the Interventional Cardiology elective is to introduce the student to a division of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter-based treatment of structural heart diseases.

  • Neonatology

    The goal of the neonatology elective is to give the student the opportunity to gain experience in learning about normal and ill newborns. In a supervised setting the student will have hands on training in managing infants and handling the equipment.

  • Nephrology

    The nephrology elective is designed to help the student understand the signs, symptoms and management of common renal syndromes including acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndrome. Additionally, the student will become familiar with the management of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, and the diagnosis and management of primary and secondary hypertension.

  • Neurology

    Neurology is a field based on knowledge of brain and peripheral nerve function that is essential for both neurologists and all clinicians. It includes many diseases of the central nervous system including illnesses like temporal lobe epilepsy that can present with prominent psychiatric symptoms that have a known organic basis and somatic treatments.

  • Neuropsychiatry

    The student will utilize his/her basic knowledge of neurology and psychiatry to become proficient in the understanding of several illnesses which present symptoms and signs which have a clear organic origin and a syndrome with primary behavioral symptoms.

  • Neurosurgery

    The neurosurgery elective allows students to become acquainted with a proper neurologic exam, rotate with the neurosurgical team and obtain exposure to wide array of neurosurgical procedures pre- and post-op care. This elective is a unique experience for any student seeking to develop their skills in the neurologic evaluation of a patient.

  • OB-GYN Grand Rounds

    The OBGYN Grand Rounds elective is delivered via a remote curriculum and expands on the fundamental information medical students acquired during their core clerkship.  The content of the daily seminars includes topics from obstetrics, gynecology, and the subspecialties (REI, oncology, MFM, MIS).  Seminars are supplemented by APGO case vignettes with guidance from teaching assistants.  An open question and answer forum is conducted daily to assist students in clarification of any information from seminars or cases presented. At the end of this 4 week elective the student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the 6 core competencies in relation to general OBGYN as well as the subspecialties.

  • Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

    The occupational and environmental health elective exposes the student to the area of family medicine dedicated to the prevention and management of occupational and environmental injury, illness, and disability, and the promotion of health and productivity of workers, their families, and communities.

  • Ophthalmology

    The goal of this elective is to provide students with a strong foundation in clinical ophthalmology, including understanding the anatomy of the eye and orbit, learning the basics of a complete eye examination (vision acuity, pupil response, intra-ocular pressure, ocular motility, visual field, anterior segment, and fundus examination), learning the basics of common eye diseases (cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.) and learning the basics of ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases (diabetes, thyroid disease, etc.).

  • Orthopedic Surgery

    This elective will emphasize the study and prevention of musculoskeletal diseases. This four week rotation with an orthopedic team will allow the student to participate in assessment of x-rays, examination of fractures and arthrosis and in orthopedic surgeries.

  • Pathology

    This elective is designed to expose the medical student to the fields of anatomic and clinical pathology, including surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology and laboratory medicine. It will also introduce the student to the practice of pathology and the role of the pathologist in diagnosis and management of disease.

  • Pediatrics

    The goal of this pediatric elective is to give the student further exposure and experience with children from birth to age 18. Under supervision, the student will be given the opportunity to examine, manage and follow patients as well as learn to perform common procedures such as venipuncture and lumbar puncture.

  • Pediatrics Grand Rounds

    The overall goal of the Pediatrics Grand Rounds elective is to educate the medical student to provide competent, effective and compassionate care of the pediatric patient by developing clinical reasoning, communication and life-long learning skills. This will be accomplished via remote learning by providing the learner with a comprehensive educational experience utilizing didactic lectures, clinical learning scenarios, case presentations, videos and podcasts.

  • Perinatology

    Perinatology, also known as maternal fetal medicine (MFM), is a 4-week elective encompassing high risk pregnancies. The rotation will be supervised by the Perinatologist along with participation by attending obstetricians and residents involved with high risk antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care. The majority of the elective will be spent in the antepartum testing unit learning high risk fetal surveillance (Non Stress Test/NST, Biophysical Profiles/BPP, ultrasound scans/USS) along with management and treatment of medical complications of high risk patients on the antepartum floor and L&D.

  • Perioperative Medicine

    During this elective the student will round with a surgical and medical team caring for surgical patients pre and post operatively. The student will observe the optimization preoperatively of patients with multiple co-morbidities. The student will be exposed to operative procedures and immediate postoperative care. The student will be exposed to both operating room and critical care units.

  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

    During this elective, student shall be exposed to the basics of rehabilitation medicine as it applies to the performance of ambulation, activities of daily living and occupational activities.

  • Plastic Surgery

    The plastic surgery elective provides an opportunity for the student to experience the workings of a plastic surgery specialty. This rotation will expose the student to reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. The student will participate in the assessment of and reconstruction of post-operative cancer patients. The student shall become familiar with preparation and planning of wound treatment and reconstructive procedures. Cosmetic procedures will also be introduced to the students.

  • Preventive & Social Medicine/Public Health

    This elective will provide students with an interest in general preventive medicine and public health a unique opportunity to gain insight into the practice of clinical and population-based preventive medicine. The student will observe and discuss Preventive Medicine/Public Health and Preventive Medicine trained physician roles in medical practice.

  • Psychiatry Grand Rounds

    Psychiatry Grand Rounds is a videoconferencing-based elective rotation designed with the goal of enhancing a student’s core knowledge and skills in psychiatry.  The use of virtual patient cases, illustrative video interviews and readings will emphasize the application of clinical knowledge. Students will participate in case presentations and discussions and structured video conferencing seminars.

  • Pulmonary ICU

    The goal of the pulmonary ICU elective is to facilitate the student’s understanding of the common clinical presentations, evaluation and management of pulmonary disorders. The student will learn the proper work-up and treatment of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases ranging from the familiar (COPD) to the infrequent (sarcoidosis).

  • Radiology

    The goal of the elective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the practice and application of modern diagnostic radiology. The role of the radiologic subspecialties in diagnosis and treatment in both outpatient and inpatient settings is emphasized.

  • Reproductive Endocrine/Infertility (REI)

    Reproductive Endocrine/Infertility (REI) is a 4 week elective with emphasis on common endocrine and infertility issues involved with reproductive and menopausal patients. The rotation will be supervised by the reproductive endocrinologist mainly in an office/clinic setting with minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures for certain diagnoses (e.g. endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, unexplained infertility, etc.).

  • Rheumatology

    The goal of this rheumatology elective is to introduce the student to the diagnostic approach, work-up, and management of the connective tissue diseases, inflammatory arthropathies, crystalline arthropathies, and vasculitis.  This rotation will form the foundation for understanding the often-complex nature of autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases.

  • Sports Medicine

    The goal of this elective rotation is to expose the student to common problems encountered in Sports Medicine, including their presentation, diagnosis and management.  The student will be given the opportunity to learn and refine musculoskeletal physical examination skills and become familiar with common procedures used in Sports Medicine (i.e. injection techniques, fracture care, splinting/casting)

  • Surgery Grand Rounds

    The Surgery Grand Rounds elective is a videoconferencing based elective rotation designed with the goal of enhancing a student’s core knowledge and skills in general surgery and surgical subspecialties. The rotation will highlight the 6 Core Competencies in relation to the surgical patient: patient care, medical knowledge, communication, Professionalism, Practice Based Learning, and Systems-Based Review.  The use of case presentations and discussions, seminars, illustrative videos and readings will emphasize the application of clinical knowledge.

  • Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

    This elective rotation will provide the student with a complete exposure to the day-to-day workings of a surgical ICU. The student will learn the management of postoperative patients. While on the SICU rotation, the student will understand the management of respirators, chest tubes, central lines, drains, and other medical apparatuses. The student will be exposed to the use of a variety of pharmacologic agents and the day-to-day evaluation of critically ill postoperative patients and possible complications, including sepsis and multiple-organ failure. These learned skills will serve the student well regardless of his/her ultimate chosen field of medicine.

  • Surgical Oncology

    During this elective the student will be involved in the care of the surgically treated oncology patients. These patients will present with some of the more common surgically treated cancers–breast, GI and colon, skin (including melanoma) and lung cancers. The student shall be exposed to and work with multidisciplinary teams including radiation oncologists and medical oncologists.

  • Trauma

    This elective provides an opportunity for the student to rotate with a trauma team and be exposed to trauma protocols and evaluation (such as, triage of the trauma patient), a variety of injuries and basic ATLS. The student’s immersion in this rotation will help them learn how to prioritize a trauma patient.

  • Urgent Care

    The student on the Urgent Care elective rotation works in the ambulatory setting. Patients are scheduled with urgent concerns and as follow-up visits after emergency department or inpatient care. Working closely with the supervising attendings, the urgent care learner is expected to develop skills necessary to provide excellent patient care in the urgent care setting.

  • Urogynecology/Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Urogynecology, also known as pelvic reconstructive surgery, is a 4-week elective involving the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. The rotation will be supervised by the urogynecologist along with gynecologists and residents who treat urogynecologic conditions medically in an office/clinic setting and surgically utilizing minimally invasive techniques (e.g. laparoscopoy, vaginal colposuspensions).

  • Urology

    During this elective the student will rotate with a vascular surgery team. He/she will be exposed to the evaluation of vascular patients, including invasive and noninvasive vascular testing, determination of claudication, tissue loss and impeding gangrene and endovascular, open vascular, medical and other appropriate therapies.

  • Vascular Surgery

    During this elective the student will rotate with a vascular surgery team. He/she will be exposed to the evaluation of vascular patients, including invasive and noninvasive vascular testing, determination of claudication, tissue loss and impeding gangrene and endovascular, open vascular, medical and other appropriate therapies.

  • Women’s Health Care & Ambulatory Gynecology

    Ambulatory gynecology, also known as women’s health care (WHC), is supervised by the gynecologist and/or family practitioner in an office/clinic setting. The student will be exposed to a variety of common ambulatory outpatient gyn conditions (e.g., abnormal bleeding, vaginitis, colposcopy for abnormal pap’s) as well as preventive care counseling (e.g. STIs).

 

Career track

The career track in the clinical sciences curriculum at AUA is designed to guide students toward successful medical careers. The exposure gained during core and elective rotations—covering essential medical specialties—serves as a crucial stepping stone towards specialization. This comprehensive approach allows students to explore different facets of medicine, confirming their interests and passions. Additionally, the curriculum’s emphasis on professionalism, communication, and a patient-centered approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared in medical expertise and equipped with the interpersonal skills necessary for thriving in diverse healthcare environments.

The career track extends beyond the academic realm, actively preparing students for the transition into residency and their subsequent professional journeys. With faculty guidance, exposure to global healthcare settings, and hands-on experience in various specialties, AUA’s clinical sciences curriculum cultivates a strong base for graduates to excel in their chosen medical fields. This career-focused approach aligns with AUA’s commitment to producing competent, compassionate, and globally aware physicians poised to make meaningful contributions to the healthcare field.

FAQ

  • What do clinical sciences include?

    Clinical sciences encompass the practical application of medical knowledge in real-world settings, particularly patient care. This phase of medical education typically involves hands-on training in clinical settings such as hospitals or clinics. It includes internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pediatrics, psychiatry, and various subspecialties.

  • What is the difference between medical science and clinical science?

    Medical science is the scientific study of medicine, encompassing theoretical and experimental aspects. It includes disciplines like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, forming the foundational knowledge base for medical practice. In contrast, clinical science specifically involves the practical application of medical knowledge in the context of patient care. It focuses on translating theoretical understanding into clinical skills, emphasizing patient diagnosis, treatment, and management.

  • What is considered a clinical rotation?

    A clinical rotation is a structured period during which medical students actively participate in clinical training within various medical specialties. This hands-on experience typically occurs in hospitals or clinics, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge to actual patient care scenarios. Clinical rotations expose students to different medical disciplines and are integral to medical education.

  • What do students do during clinical rotations?

    During clinical rotations, students engage in a range of activities, such as actively participating in the care of patients, conducting physical examinations, checking medical histories, and assisting in procedures under supervision. Alongside, clinical rotations allow students to interact with experienced clinical faculty faculty to gain insights into medical practice, thus developing professionalism, communication, and teamwork skills.

  • What are core clinical rotations?

    Core clinical rotations cover fundamental medical specialties, while elective rotations provide flexibility for students to explore specific interests within their clinical education.

Take the next step
Apply now
Admissions webinar
Register

Take the next step

apply now

Admissions webinar

Register

Ask a question

Not certain how to apply?
Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases
Cookie Preferences
Scroll to Top