I am a 5th year student of medicine in Australia (the course here is 6
years long). Early next year, we are offered the opportunity to do an
elective rotation wherever we please. I am currently hoping to
organise an elective in the United States, and was wondering if any of
you had any advice as to locations, requirements or anything else. A
few background things:

- In Australia we do not sit the USMLE, and thus I do not have a USMLE
step 1 pass. I was actually looking to sit this exam after I graduate
and maybe do a year or two as an intern. I know that many places
require USMLE step 1 to be considered for a clerkship.

- My funds are not unlimited. I was looking at doing the elective at
one of the hospitals associated with Harvard Medical School, and they
require tuition of about $2500 US for the 4 week block. As I am hoping
to do as much as I can whilst overseas, their maximum of doing two
rotations would cost $5000, not including accomodation or food. This
is not impossible (I could take out a student loan, and ask relatives
for some help), but I was wondering if it is worth the cost.

- My medical interests are wide and varied, and I would not mind doing
most rotations. I think that I would benefit most as a final year
medical student to do rotations in general medicine or general
surgery, but I would also like to see trauma medicine (as we do not
have a lot of that here in Melbourne, Australia). I am also fond of
cardiology and cardiac surgery although I understand that these
rotations are probably very difficult to get into.

- My background: Australian medical student. Took a year off medical
school to complete a Bachelor of Medical Science degree (kind of like
a science degree with Honours), research project was clinical
echocardiography.

Can anyone here on this newsgroup please comment? I'm looking for
specific hospitals and comments on the feasibility of doing an
elective overseas like this. Do you know anyone doing an overseas
elective? Contact details for particular hospitals and institutions

on this group.

Thanks everyone!

Cheers,
Justin

My advice is:

- Consider going to 'third world' countries.  They are screaming for
doctors, and as a fifth year you'll be close enough to a doctor for them.
Try some of the innumerable third-world-medical charities.  My colleagues
who have gone to places like Africa have had more experience during their
elective than during their entire previous student life.

- Alternatively, try going into regional/rural Australia.

- If you want trauma surgery, try East Timor.

- I express caution about the US.  You will need indemnity insurance, plus
your own health insurance, plus living costs, etc, etc...