Medical student clerkships and externships

The Department of Orthopaedics offers two course options for orthopaedic medical student clerkships, an elective and a DOC5/sub-internship. The department also offers podiatric student externships.

Orthopaedic medical student clerkships

The Department of Orthopaedics offers two courses for fourth year medical students who wish to do a one-month rotation in orthopaedics. These two courses are offered at a number of clinical sites. All courses at all sites are open to Ohio State students. Only courses which are based at OSU are open to students from other colleges. The goal of each rotation is to give the student a well-rounded, thorough introduction into orthopaedics and the sub-specialties therein. Students are permitted and encouraged to customize their one-month rotation in order to gain exposure and experience in the sub-specialties of their choice. The director of medical student education and the education coordinator will work with the student to identify his or her area of interest and then schedule the student for one-week blocks accordingly.

There are two levels of responsibility from which the student may choose. The elective offers the student a basic introduction into orthopaedics. The DOC5, or sub-internship, offers the student a more in-depth study of the discipline. The DOC5 requires additional participation on the part of the student. For example, students are required to attend conferences, take in-house call and present a paper or case presentation during one of the residency program’s educational conferences.

For questions regarding your application to The Ohio State University College of Medicine or to enroll in a fourth year elective, contact:

Dennis Johnson
dennis.johnson@osumc.edu


College of Medicine
1190C Graves Hall
370 W. 9th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210

Orthopaedic podiatric student externships 

This externship takes place within the Department of Orthopaedics at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University Hospitals East in Columbus, Ohio. The Department of Orthopaedics sponsors a three-year rotating residency program in podiatric surgery, as well as a five-year residency program in orthopaedics. We are unable to provide housing for externs. If you require additional assistance, please contact the residency coordinator.

Structure

We believe the externship month at Ohio State should be an educational experience, giving each student exposure to all aspects of podiatric residency training. The responsibility of the extern is to assist the surgical residents with whatever is needed. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:

  • Taking preoperative podiatric histories and physicals
  • Scrubbing and assisting surgical cases
  • Writing preoperative and postoperative notes
  • Rounding on patients
  • Attending lectures and conferences
  • All of the above is under the supervision of the program director, Dr. Alan Block. Externs will also work under the direction of both the senior and junior residents

Erik Monson, DPM
Director, Podiatric Residency Program