Clinical Internships and Rotations

At the heart of your health care education are the hands-on experiences in direct patient care that enable you to take your classroom learning and turn it into practical practice.

Clinical rotations and internships provide you with hands-on experience in real-world patient care settings. You’ll apply your theoretical knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, refine communication techniques, and build empathy by directly interacting with patients.

What Are Clinical Rotations and Internships?

Clinical rotations and internships are a pivotal educational phase for students in RIT’s physician assistant BS/MS and diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound) BS programs. They mark the beginning of the real-world clinical practice portion of their studies.

During clinical internships and rotations, students work under the mentorship of medical professionals to help care for real patients. Clinical internships and rotations can be completed at hospitals, ambulatory clinics, outpatient centers, and other medical-related facilities.

A medical student taking the blood pressure of a mock patient.

Physician Assistant BS/MS

Mandatory rotations are in the fields of internal medicine, family medicine, orthopedics, emergency medicine, women's health, pediatrics, general surgery, and behavioral health. Students select two elective rotations.

A college student performing an ultrasound on a mock patient, surrounded by other students and health professionals.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound) BS

The one-year clinical internship provides hands-on experience at two or more approved medical facilities. After completing the pre-internship course work, all students begin the internship by attending an intensive two-week experience on campus.

Why Are Clinical Rotations Important?

While classroom learning provides a strong academic foundation, lectures and classroom activities alone cannot prepare you for real-world practice. During your clinical rotations and internships, you will engage with patients who may have a range of medical symptoms and conditions. Clinical rotations refine your diagnostic skills and enhance your ability to provide appropriate care in a variety of clinical settings. These experiences are essential to develop your expertise as a health care provider.

Key Benefits of Clinical Rotations and Internships 

When you complete your clinical experience, you’ll gain a variety of skills and capabilities needed to care for and treat patients:

Practical Skill Development
Gain experience in documenting patient histories, performing physical exams, ordering tests and bloodwork, interpreting diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and managing common medical conditions.

Patient interaction
Learn to effectively communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds, understanding their concerns, and providing care.

Clinical Reasoning
Enhance critical thinking skills by analyzing complex medical scenarios and make informed decisions based on patient presentation and data.

Selecting a Specialty
Exploring various medical specialties through rotations enables you to identify areas of interest and potential career paths.

Teamwork and Collaboration
Working collaboratively with physician assistants, sonographers, nurses, clinical staff, and other health care professionals to provide coordinated patient care.

Networking
Build relationships with mentors and potential future employers within the medical field.

Cultural Competency
Gaining awareness of different cultural perspectives and tailoring care to diverse patient populations.

Confidence
Applying classroom knowledge in a clinical setting, gradually increasing confidence in patient interactions, knowledge, and decision-making.

Feedback and Evaluation
Receiving regular feedback from supervising clinicians to identify strengths and areas for improvement.