The clinical clerkship program provides third- and fourth-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students at PCOM Georgia with the opportunity to examine, evaluate and provide care for patients.
Following the initial two years of clinically-integrated didactic training, DO students advance their knowledge and skills through supervised clinical experiences. These rotations take place in various healthcare settings, including offices, clinics and hospitals, where students work closely with physician preceptors across core medical specialties and elective opportunities. Specialties include, but are not limited to, internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pediatrics, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), psychiatry, surgery and emergency medicine.
Clinical rotations serve as a bridge between classroom learning and medical practice, offering students diverse experiences across specialties. These hands-on opportunities develop important clinical skills and prepare students for board examinations, future residencies and patient care. During rotations, students refine important clinical skills including taking a patient’s medical history, conducting physical examinations, reaching a diagnosis and developing treatment plans.
The clerkships include assigned core education clerkships as well as elective/subspecialty rotations to allow students the opportunity to pursue special interests.
During the clinical clerkship program, students will:
Training sites include hospitals as well as regional and community medical centers. Additionally, clerkships are offered at sites ranging from private practices to urban and rural health centers.
PCOM utilizes an extensive network of affiliated hospitals to ensure a high standard of education in the clinical education of PCOM's students. Clinical education programs at PCOM affiliates are guided by common educational goals. The Associate/Assistant Dean of Clinical Education monitors educational activities at the affiliated hospitals. Major teaching affiliates include Georgia and surrounding states and are subject to change based on preceptor availability.
Students are eligible for a reimbursable housing stipend for some, but not all, of the clerkships designated as "away." However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure housing arrangements and reliable transportation are in place for all clerkships.
The PCOM Department of Clinical Education, along with faculty and hospital administrators, will determine the clerkships provided at each site and the number of students assigned. Flexibility regarding assigned clerkships is limited. Students should consult their clerkship manual for changes in rotation submission deadlines and other requirements.
PCOM Georgia Department of Clinical Education
Phone: 229-668-3107
Email: gaclinicaleducation@pcom.edu
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