Clinical Rotations in Chicago

What are clinical rotations and why they’re necessary?

Medical students spend the last two years in school undergoing clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, these aspiring doctors spend time as part of a medical team that treats and diagnoses patients. For most, this period of their careers would mark their first interactions with patients. It highlights the importance of having hands-on, real-world experience that cannot be compared to literary study, despite the abundant amount of time spent in the classroom. Encountering and understanding the human element through these interactions with real patients and their afflictions are crucial to the development of successful future medical professionals.

What are the benefits of completing your clinical rotations at Loretto?

Loretto’s clinical rotations in Chicago produce new graduates each year. Students experience a wide variety of specialties under the guidance of seasoned residents and attending physicians. Each day students will interact with patients and be faced with difficult real-world situations. Clinical Rotations are a great way to gain experience but can also function as informal interviews for future doctors. Each day spent in clinical rotations allows medical personnel to vet potential candidates for positions at Loretto or other practices and hospitals.

What challenges will you expect to face?

Clinical rotations are a change of pace from how you learn in the classroom. In clinical rotations at Loretto, you will experience real-world situations and learn by doing. In many of these clinical rotations, students become exposed to the vast use of acronyms, the struggles with time management, and developing resilience and emotional intelligence for difficult situations.

How can I succeed in my clinical rotation?

Here are five tips that will help you during your time in clinical rotations.

1. Understand your patients - Knowing your patient’s medical history and understanding their symptoms will give you a better idea of what treatments will work best.


2. Go the extra mile - Students who have seen the most success dedicate time outside of the rotation in supplemental studies for their patients. Knowing your patient and your desire to learn all about their health history will help you get a more accurate and proper diagnosis.


3. Use the resources provided - The best resource you have is your medical professionals and fellow students around you. Whenever you come across a situation or any concerns you have about your patient, present the following to other staff members. Chances are they have seen a case similar and would be able to guide you in the proper direction. Never be afraid to ask!


4. Make sure you are constantly studying - Schedule your study sessions. You’ll be juggling more and more tasks each day. Having a schedule and a growth mindset is important in any medical field.


5. Be open to constructive criticism - Seek out feedback routinely from all your fellow staff members. During your clinical rotations, you will be faced with many new situations and feedback from other medical professionals will only help your overall growth.

What makes clinical rotations at Loretto different from other clinical rotations in Chicago?

Loretto hospital serves more than 33,000 patients each year in a wide spectrum of departments. From primary care, geriatric medicine, vision care, behavioral health services to pediatrics, women’s health, podiatric medicine, family planning, and dental services, you’ll be exposed to a wide range of disciplines and patients. Loretto’s clinical rotations in Chicago puts a large emphasis on the focus our top physicians give to each student. Equipping you with the right tools for your future as a medical professional is detrimental to our program.