[ayash]

Hi,

Can someone please tell me what exactly is the clerkship question asking in the ECFMG online application? Is the clerkship the same as all the clinical subjects/classes we take in the last 3 years of med school?

 

[Ahmed-USMLE]

Clerkships are rotations that you do during your medical school in various departments and hospitals.
These rotations might have been arranged by your medical school or you have arranged for it independently.
It can be in the same university hospital that your school affiliated with or any other hospital that provides clerkships to students in US or overseas.
There some are universities that provide internal rotation before graduation as part of the requirement for MBBS or MBChB, these rotations are not counted as clerkships.
If you haven't done any of these then, you have to answer no to that ECFMG question.

 

[ayash]

Thanks Ahmad for your reply.

Just want to make sure. Assuming a 6 year medical school, first 3 years were basic sciences and last 3 years were clinicals. In the clinical period of studies we had our classes, a total of 3 years worth of classes,in the various hospitals. Does this qualify as clerkship?

 

[Ahmed-USMLE]

Thanks Ahmad for your reply.

Just want to make sure.Assuming a 6 year medical school, first 3 years were basic sciences and last 3 years were clinicals. In the clinical period of studies we had our classes, a total of 3 years worth of classes,in the various hospitals. Does this qualify as clerkship?

No, anything within the frame of your educational curriculum in med school is not counted as a clerkship.
For example, in Iraq students spent all the time in hospital during their last sixth year as part of their curriculum. This is not regarded as clerkship and should not be indicated in the ECFMG form.
I am graduate of Iraq and I had exactly the same query that you are asking about. Initially I considered that sixth year as clerkship but then it created problems with ECFMG because they realized that the medical transcript does include those clinical hours as part of the curriculum and therefore they asked me to revise the form and answer NO to that question.
Student clerkships are usually taken during summer holidays and are extra-curricular in nature.

 

[ayash]

Ahmad thanks so much that was such a relief. Its just so difficult to get the answers you want especially when you feel like your the only one with this problem.

God Bless!

No, anything within the frame of your educational curriculum in med school is not counted as a clerkship.
For example, in Iraq students spent all the time in hospital during their last sixth year as part of their curriculum. This is not regarded as clerkship and should not be indicated in the ECFMG form.
I am graduate of Iraq and I had exactly the same query that you are asking about. Initially I considered that sixth year as clerkship but then it created problems with ECFMG because they realized that the medical transcript does include those clinical hours as part of the curriculum and therefore they asked me to revise the form and answer NO to that question.
Student clerkships are usually taken during summer holidays and are extra-curricular in nature.

 

[ayash]

ahmad just one last thing, if I include clerkships that aren't listed on my diploma is that ok, since I did some on my own time?

 

[Ahmed-USMLE]

ahmad just one last thing, if I include clerkships that aren't listed on my diploma is that ok, since I did some on my own time?

If you have proper documentation of that
Then yes absolutely you can indicate that, pay particular attention to dates and number of hours done.
Contact the hospital/clinic in which you did it and ask them to provide you with a documented proof of your attendance if you have not done so already.

 

[ayash]

Ahmad! I know by now I have probably have gone too far with all these questions but just one more thing if you just bare with me.
Do I have to include and send them my documentation for all clerkships done or is it fine if they are written on my diploma as practicals?

If you have proper documentation of that
Then yes absolutely you can indicate that, pay particular attention to dates and number of hours done.
Contact the hospital/clinic in which you did it and ask them to provide you with a documented proof of your attendance if you have not done so already.

 

[Ahmed-USMLE]

Ahmad! I know by now I have probably have gone too far with all these questions but just one more thing if you just bare with me.
Do I have to include and send them my documentation for all clerkships done or is it fine if they are written on my diploma as practicals?

You most welcome my friend, this website is dedicated for the help of colleagues and do not hesitate to ask us at any time.
In my experience with ECFMG, if the practicals are mentioned in your transcript then they will probably will not accept it as clerkship. If it's written in your transcript then its most likely part of your curriculum and you may not mention it as clerkship.
However, I might be wrong in this regard so the best thing is you call the ECFMG and they'll help you for sure.
Do not hurry up in filling that form.
Wait until next Monday and call them before you fill that question.

 

[ayash]

You most welcome my friend, this website is dedicated for the help of colleagues and do not hesitate to ask us at any time.
In my experience with ECFMG, if the practicals are mentioned in your transcript then they will probably will not accept it as clerkship. If it's written in your transcript then its most likely part of your curriculum and you may not mention it as clerkship.
However, I might be wrong in this regard so the best thing is you call the ECFMG and they'll help you for sure.
Do not hurry up in filling that form.
Wait until next Monday and call them before you fill that question.

Thanks again for all the help you gave. I've been searching this question all over the internet and this is the only place out of all the USMLE forums that gives answers.

God Bless

 

[cuteguy]

Thanks alot for you both

thanks alot for you both guy, i was looking for answer to the same question and here i found everything i need to know.

 

[eesfee]

Contact them immediately and explain your situation. However I am not sure whether this should create problems for you. In our 5th year, we also do what we call 'clinical clerkship', even though its in our own university hospital. And as for externships/electives, those we do in our 4th year. I don't think clerkship refer specifically to those done in some other hospital. But please do let us all know what turns out after you contact them, because it would help others as well. :notsure:

 

[DOCSHO]

how did you revise clerkship after submitting application?

No, anything within the frame of your educational curriculum in med school is not counted as a clerkship.
For example, in Iraq students spent all the time in hospital during their last sixth year as part of their curriculum. This is not regarded as clerkship and should not be indicated in the ECFMG form.
I am graduate of Iraq and I had exactly the same query that you are asking about. Initially I considered that sixth year as clerkship but then it created problems with ECFMG because they realized that the medical transcript does include those clinical hours as part of the curriculum and therefore they asked me to revise the form and answer NO to that question.
Student clerkships are usually taken during summer holidays and are extra-curricular in nature.

hello,

I also mistakenly entered all my medical rotations during medical school as my clinical clerkship (was part of my med school curriculum).. But how did you revise this after submitting the application?