DrMike24 said:
I'm trying to decide between UM and USF... It just doesnt feel right to withdraw from UM, especially after the partial tution scholarship...
What do you all know about the clinical experience at USF? Thats really the main thing pulling me toward UM... I have heard that they offer lots and lots of clinical experience... any comments?
My understanding is both are on equal ground and have equally good clinical opportunities. The only thing about Miami that you might find an advantage is that you won't have to travel far to get to the hospital since it is closeby the main campus of the medical school.
USF First years start with a preceptorship and clinical longitudinal experience course from year one where they get assigned a preceptor to work with. They also have a course they take where they learn to take histories and do that sort of stuff from year one right away.
The longitudinal experience course will allow you to go to one of many different kinds of facilities, whether it is rural clinics in ruskin, working with treating migrant workers, or whether it is somewhere like Tampa General Hospital, etc.
I believe, but don't quote me on this, that this part of the curricula continues into year 2 as well. REL would need to respond to this since he's the expert.
There are good sides and bad sides to USF. The good thing is there is an abundant diversity of clinical facilities. There is Tampa General Hospital which is a typical teaching hospital with a trauma 1 level emergency center and various other really good program. There is the USF medical center at 17 Davis right next door. This is mainly pediatrics, neonatology, and a few derm and other fields. Then they have the main USF medical clinic on campus. Beyond that they send students to outreach clinics in places like Ruskin as well as have the USF Health Park outreach clinics on Busch Blvd as well. Other facilities include the busiest VA hospital in the nation right across from campus (James A Haley) as well as the BayPines VA hospital. Then there's the only Shriners in Florida and also All Children's Hospital in St. Pete. Oh almost forgot, there's Moffitt and the Eye clinic on campus. There's also FMHI as well for mental health. Moffitt happens to be one of the only comprehensive cancer institutes in Florida.
There are other facilities too. So you'll get a great diversity of clinical experience by going to USF. The only draw back is that most of the sites are off the campus and at opposite ends of town. This is why someone commented on your page about it being called suitcase city. But that can have its advantages too because you'll get to experience different types of medical facilities and the way they do things and the different population types there.
For instance, going to a hospital that is all pediatric related only would have a much different feel from a VA hospital that is all mostly retired veterans with a few active duty people thrown in.
And going to a VA would be different then what you'd expect at the typical teaching hospital like the TGH where there are both children wards and adult wards.
So you can see what I'm getting at. Oh and REL always says Tampa is 5th most diverse city in the nation, so I think that can be a plus too.
I'd PM him or see if he would be willing to comment on here more about the curricula and clinical experiences.
). and you know what? when i finally told my boss i was going to med school, (and boy was i terrified to tell her!), i was most surprised by her reaction- she was incredibly supportive and proud... and i think your boss will probably have the same reaction and will understand your need for some down time. point being, get the part-time and ENJOY yourself b4 school. after all, haven't you earned a little down time so you get to miami feeling refreshed and happy!?
