5 Tips For Finding "Clinch" Rotations

Up&Coming blogs include: 5 tips for.. -Choosing a school -Finding clinch rotations -Finding a mentor Keep your eyes peeled! cc #DPTstudent
— Ben Fung DPT/MBA(c) (@DrBenFung) April 8, 2015

@DrBenFung I took "clinch" to mean "really awesome." So there's that.
— Rachel Jermann, SPT (@RJGotAGoni) April 8, 2015

So.....! Clinch means really awesome??? You kids and your new words... #FeelingOld. Alright! Let it never be said I don't rise to random and rather serendipitous challenges!

Here are.........!!!!

5 Tips For Finding a "Clinch" Rotation

1. Network Early, Network Often.

I can't say it enough, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." I said so as lately as this post and probably all the posts in the career paths label. Yet, what I mean by network is that I encourage you to seek out those who may be able to offer you a favorable introduction to a highly competitive clinical rotation. Think on it: a rotation at NYU Medical, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Michigan, Johns Hopkins... just to name a few. It'd be pretty cool, huh? Therefore, it is best to make contact with people early, establish a relationship with them, become likable to them, turn up the charm, and make the connection both relatable and regular. How, you ask? It can be as simple as cold calling a facility. Call up that world class hospital you've been thinking about, ask for the PT department, request to be forwarded to the PT student coordinator.

Do this a year in advance since most likely, all the spots this year are already filled and start networking. You could also leverage social media and make contact that way. There's always your friendly PT Pub Night. Oh, yes! CSM is always a welcome way to make an approach, establish contact, and hope to continue the connection in a meaningful way until the rotation is settled. All those booths with people waiting to be talked to? Yup! That's your in. Oh, one last networking opportunity is via alumni. For this, many times networking is through social media or just serendipity. In any case, CIs from the same program typically love to take on students from their alma mater -- it's a great opportunity to pass the torch and gossip about the professors... I mean, speak... only.... professionally..... always.

2. Don't Be Afraid To Move

Some of the best clinical experiences are far, far away.

Yes, I know... it is expensive. Yes, I know... it can be annoying to move. And, yes... I know, it's just an overall pain. But, guess what? It is temporary. Quite short term, in fact. And, being that some of the best rotations require just a bit more umph in mobility, it's likely that only the local students will take interest. This is a good thing since many times, CIs will get bored of the same students from the same program... they just may want a little mix-it-up and that's where you can come in. But really, the REAL reason not to be afraid to move is that when you come out with your DPT, you will want to be able to put on your resume that you did a 12 week rotation at NYU Medical's Cardiac Rehab program. NOT, that you landed a super convenient rotation close to home that no one knows about. Besides, you BETTER believe you'll get a job in any acute care hospital after that world famous rotation (more on this in tip #4).

3. Seek Out Teaching Facilities

Be it clinics, hospitals, university affiliates...etc. such facilities tend to offer students the most well rounded and comprehensive learning experiences for any given clinical rotation. Hospitals as such, usually offer students to observe surgery and will have them rotate through the breadth of the campus. Another advantage of seeking out teaching facilities is that the CI population is quite likely to have a natural way of teaching with a passion for grooming up and coming students. It truly comes across with a quality difference when rotating in a for-profit-SNF experience versus an outpatient "sports medicine" wing attached to a teaching university's medical campus. Trust me, it's worth looking into.

4. Seek Out Big Names and Big Brands

The true competitive advantage that any given clinical rotation offers isn't the experience per se. Certainly, if your CI is an OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, and 20 other credentials, is a great communicator, savvy mentor, amazing clinician, and is also an empowering teacher.... Then, yup, you stuck gold! But, the likelihood of this being the case on the draw isn't so high. Surely, if you network early, you can up your chances. BUT! If you were to rotate at one of the larger brands as mentioned above, it becomes no question as to the quality of your training (be it the case or not). The bottom line for many hiring managers is this: "Can I trust this person?" When you are able to state that you rotated at one of the nation's largest and most venerable medical campuses, it becomes much to your favor in the job market as the strength of the brand you rotated with now becomes attached to that of your own.

5. Get To Know Your People
DCE...ACCE...CCCE...CIs???? What ARE those? Well, this link will tell you and so will I. The DCE/ACCE is typically the same person who arranges and matches available rotations to the students in the DPT programs. The CCCE is the site coordinator who receives the students from DPT programs to which the CI (clinical instructor) will supervise every move the student will hence make. Getting to know your DCE is of paramount importance; because, if they like you well enough, they may very well labor to set you up with a choice rotation. Now, don't squander this. Don't choose some conveniently located rotation close to home; choose something that will challenge you and will up your overall value as a future job market applicant.


Sooooooo..... That's it! Those are my tips for finding a "clinch" rotation. Haha, it was definitely a lot of fun spinning this post together. Please keep the ideas coming; requests are always warmly welcome.

Until Next Time!
-Ben

PS. Click here to see the original post "5 Tips For Finding a Clinical Internships."