Navigating Clinical Rotations: A Student Perspective from Tufts PA Program - Insights from Tosh Campbell, PA24

April 17, 2024

Recent graduate, Tosh Campbell, PA24, shares his insights

Tosh Campbell, PA24, reflects on his clinical rotation experiences during his time in the Tufts PA program. He shares insights into the diverse settings he encountered, emphasizing the wide range of cases that prepared him for his career.

Can you share your experience with clinical rotations in the Tufts PA program? What clinical settings were you exposed to, and what were some highlights of your rotations?

"Each of my clinical rotations while at Tufts were fantastic learning experiences. As Tufts PA students, we have eight core rotations: internal medicine, primary care, surgery, women’s health, behavioral health, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and orthopedics. In addition, we choose an elective rotation and are assigned two rotations in specialized areas of medicine. This diverse educational experience was the highlight of my rotations. The wide variety of cases I had the privilege to participate in was great preparation for my career as a PA."

How did the Tufts PA program prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you encountered during your clinical rotations?

"The faculty of the Tufts PA program are all incredibly supportive people. They consistently provided clear expectations for rotations and for end of rotation exams. Each faculty member is always available to help work through any challenges students encounter during their rotations. There were several instances where I ran into a problem or was feeling especially stressed, and I was able to connect with a faculty member on the same day in each of those instances. The support of the faculty made the clinical year much less stressful and easier to navigate."

What strategies did you find effective in maximizing your learning and growth during your clinical experiences?

"During each of my rotations, I was exposed to a wide variety of cases. I found that studying the material after experiencing it in person was the best way to solidify my knowledge. Although I did not study as much during the clinical year compared to the didactic year, I would still spend some time studying each day to keep up with the material and prepare for end of rotation exams. Another strategy that I found helpful was to think through a potential diagnostic and treatment plan for each patient prior to discussing the case with my preceptor. Many preceptors would ask for this, but in the instances where they didn’t, it allowed me to continue to identify areas where I needed to improve and to actively think about how to treat each of my patients."

Can you discuss the role of mentorship and support from faculty or preceptors in your clinical rotations? How have these relationships contributed to your development as a PA student?

"Throughout the didactic year, we have opportunities to meet with our faculty advisors and build relationships with them and other faculty members. This mentorship continues throughout the clinical year, with faculty consistently checking in and ensuring that we are succeeding in our rotations.

Preceptors on clinical rotations provide great support as well. Some of my best clinical rotations were with preceptors who graduated from the Tufts PA program. They have a thorough understanding of our experience as students, and I found that they all went out of their way to provide support, both during and after my rotations. These preceptors would spend extra time throughout their day explaining details of cases, providing lectures on relevant topics, and debriefing after each day to highlight areas where I did well and areas where I could improve. This resulted in improved medical knowledge and patient care skills every day of my rotations."

In your opinion, what are some key factors that contribute to a successful clinical rotation experience, and how do you navigate these factors in your day-to-day practice?

"In my opinion, one of the most important factors to a successful rotation experience is to be receptive to feedback. As students, we are fortunate to work with medical professionals with much more experience than us. Asking my preceptors for feedback throughout each rotation allowed me to understand their expectations and areas where I could improve, and to grow both academically and professionally throughout the year. Another key factor to a successful clinical rotation is using downtime effectively. Some days are slow, and students should spend the time in between seeing patients to study, discuss material with preceptors, and even to work with other teams. The clinical year goes by very quickly and I found it essential to place myself in as many learning experiences as possible to maximize my growth."

What advice would you offer to incoming PA students who are about to embark on their clinical rotations in the Tufts PA program?

"My two biggest pieces of advice for Tufts PA students starting their clinical rotations are to be flexible and to consistently advocate for yourself. The monthly schedule is different for every rotation; some rotations require long hours in the clinic, while others require more studying at home. It can be very challenging to feel like you’re starting a new job with a new schedule every month, so flexibility is essential throughout the year. Additionally, advocating for yourself is very important for gaining the necessary experience to be prepared for the PA career post-graduation. Preceptors are very busy and there are often several students on each rotation; actively taking on more responsibility will expose students to more learning opportunities, will improve their skills, and will show the preceptor that the student is passionate about medicine. Taking a history, performing a physical exam, and performing procedures on real patients can be stressful (especially the first few times!) but improving those skills requires consistent practice."

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