Specialty: Internal Medicine / ICU / Pulmonology / Sleep Medicine

​

MD2B Connect Physician ID # 37

​​

Where will this rotation take place: This combined inpatient and outpatient US clinical experience will take place in Huntington Beach.

​​​

Hours: 

 

Outpatient

​

Monday 8:30 AM to 6 PM (in office with NP or PA until 1 PM and then with attending from 1 to 6 PM)

​

Tuesday 8:30 AM to 7 PM (in office with NP or PA until 2 PM and then with attending from 2 to 7 PM)

​

Wednesday 8:30 AM to 5 PM (in office observing/participating in allergy testing with medical assistant)

​

Thursday 10 AM to 3 PM (in office with attending)

​

Friday 9 AM to 5 PM (in office observing/participating in pulmonary function testing with technician)

​

For those who are interested, there are sleep studies that take place on most evenings beginning at 6:30 PM.

​

Inpatient

​

Tuesday 9 PM to 11:30 PM (observing in ICU with attending)

​

Wednesday 9 PM to 11:30 PM (observing in ICU with attending)

​

One weekend per month (possible to spend time observing in ICU with attending; please check with attending for availability)

​

Hours have been provided by the preceptor. Hours are subject to change at the preceptor’s discretion, but the minimum total hours will remain approximately the same.

​

What you will do: You will be under the supervision of a physician board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary / critical care, and sleep medicine. Although you will be seeing patients in his office, you will also spend part of your time observing in the ICU. This physician holds staff appointments at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Orange Coast Medical Center, South Coast Global Hospital, Foothill Regional Hospital, and Hoag Medical Center.  He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences.​

​​

After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision (please note that this experience remains within the regulations of California pertaining to the unlicensed practice of medicine. Externs will not be practicing medicine but will be learning under the guidance of the physician preceptor):

​​

• Taking patient histories under supervision.

• Performing physical exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing or entering clinic progress notes under supervision.

• Performing and interpreting spirometry under supervision.

• Observing and interpreting pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests.

• Being involved with patients in the Sleep Lab and learn how to read sleep studies.

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients under supervision.

• Delivering talks about important topics.

• Have opportunities to teach other team members.

• Learning about billing and coding. 

​

​The activities above will mostly take place in the outpatient setting. As a result of hospital policies, inpatient activities will be more observational.

​

In the inpatient setting, you will learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision:

​​

• Rounding on critical care ICU patients in an observer role.

• Rounding on consults in the hospital in an observer role.

• Observing procedures, including central lines, A-lines, chest tubes, thoracentesis, bronchoscopy, etc.

​

Please note that in the ICU, you will be purely observing. 

​​

You will receive regular feedback on your performance. 

​​

Who should consider this rotation: International medical graduates (IMGs) and students seeking US clinical experience in internal medicine. IMGs seeking careers in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine will also find this rotation particularly useful. 

​​

How to obtain a letter of recommendation: The rotator should ask the preceptor for a LOR near the conclusion of the rotation. Dr. Desai has provided the physician with guidelines about best practices in letter writing that meet residency program requirements. In some cases, the preceptor may ask the rotator to write a letter of recommendation draft. 

​

During the rotation: Our team will be checking in periodically with you to ensure that you are having an optimal experience. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions during the rotation.

​

See Where Our Students Applying to Internal Medicine Have Received Interviews or Matched

​

Read Dr. Desai's Interview with Dr. Roy Ziegelstein (Vice Dean for Education at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Former Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center) about How to Match Successfully in Internal ​​

​