Whether core or elective, clinical rotations allow the Physician Assistant student an opportunity to apply the fundamentals learned in the classroom to patient care. Students function as an integral part of the healthcare team by participating in supervised patient care activities and taking night call on rotations throughout the clinical phase of the curriculum. Students attend medical conferences and lectures with housestaff as well as interactive sessions designed specifically for the physician assistant student.

During clinical rotations the student is expected to gain proficiency with patient assessment techniques, oral and written presentations, assisting with procedures performed at the bedside and developing a working differential diagnosis and reasonable plan of treatment based on patient history, physical examination and laboratory studies. Students will be required to return on the final day of each rotation for End of Rotation Meetings. During the course of these meetings students will take written examinations based on learning objectives for the particular rotation. Each student will submit a well-researched written-up case that they experienced during the course of the month. Students will also participate in practical examinations, small group sessions and attend lectures.

General Surgery
The four general surgery services at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell Campus and Columbia Campus introduce the student to the fundamental principles of operative surgery of the abdomen including hepatobiliary system, stomach, small bowel, colon and rectum, spleen, pancreas and retroperitoneum as well as surgery of the abdominal wall, breast, head and neck. Topics commonly discussed during general surgery rotations include wound care management, perioperative fluid and electrolyte balance and surgical infectious disease.

Internal Medicine
The medicine rotations at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell and Columbia campuses, The New York Hospital of Queens and New York University Downtown Hospital introduce students to the diagnosis and management of a broad range of general medical problems commonly encountered in an urban community hospital. Students are exposed to the pulmonary, renal, oncologic, and general medicine services.

Pediatrics
The Pediatric rotation introduces students to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric problems in an inpatient and outpatient setting. Rotations at New York Presbyterian Hospital and The New York Hospital of Queens provide the student with exposure to common problems in this population as well as an opportunity to see unusual cases in the tertiary care setting.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
The obstetrics and gynecology rotations at New York Presbyterian Hospital and The New York Hospital of Queens introduce the student to the process of childbirth as well as gynecologic problems including the diagnosis and management of tumors and infectious diseases involving the female pelvic organs.

Emergency Medicine
The emergency medicine rotation at The New York Hospital of Queens and Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center introduces the student to the emergency care of medical and surgical patients. Patients with medical problems are often admitted for diagnosis and management of chest pain, hypertension, strokes, asthma, diabetes and various malignancies. Patients with surgical problems are often admitted to the emergency ward for evaluation of abdominal pain, trauma, burns, orthopedic, and urologic conditions. Students may participate in supervised training in the urgent care medicine section of the emergency ward.

Primary Care / Family Practice
The primary care rotations at the Metropolitan Detention Center, St. Barnabas Hospital, Hillside Comprehensive Center and various other sites throughout the metropolitan area allow the student to learn how to manage common acute and chronic ambulatory medicine issues. The rotation takes place in family practice and ambulatory care settings.

Psychiatry
The behavioral science rotation builds on a preclinical fund of knowledge by introducing students to the diagnosis and management of common neuro-psychiatric disorders. Students have an opportunity to work with the consult services of Payne Whitney psychiatric clinic or the Emergency Department at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Geriatrics
The geriatrics rotation at DeWitt Nursing Home and The New York Hospital of Queens Geriatric Service exposes students to the various levels of nursing home as well as acute care in dealing with an aging population. Students gain understanding of the aging population and their special needs.