Welcome to the Electives Page

Electives are an integral part of your training, permitting you to individualize your experience to better match your career goals. Whether it is learning more about a specialty or participating in projects or research, electives can be quite valuable.

You will have three types of elective experiences during your training:

  • Block rotation: This is best for a deep-dive, immersive experience for upper-level residents. Typically done in a 2-week block, but a select few can be a 1-week block (you must select 2 of them back-to-back to fill your rotation).

  • Longitudinal: starting in R2 year, this allows the development of trusting relationships with a mentor, continuity with patients and practice sites, and increased autonomy. These experiences are during the FMC block occurring each week.

  • GH Elective: this is a special underserved-focused elective in the final year of residency and is a full four weeks (with FMC time worked in). It is an excellent opportunity for international and local experiences with vulnerable populations. Many residents use the “create your own experience” option and plan global health trips to a variety of countries. There are some “pre-made” experiences that you can find in the drop-down menu. If you are unsure whether your desired experience will qualify as a GH elective, please check with Dr. Rosado and/or Dr. Rich.

To help residents plan for their electives, we’ve created a list of commonly selected electives that you can access from the drop-down menu. Many of these have already identified objectives and online resources and/or selected readings. All have stipulations as to whether they can be a block rotation or longitudinal experience, and all have a faculty lead. If you don’t see the experience you desire, you can always create your own. Please reach out to the faculty lead, your advisor, or the program director if you have questions or want to discuss a specific elective.

Please submit your elective request a minimum of 3 months in advance. If you do not submit your request before the 3 month deadline, you will need to choose an elective at The Christ Hospital or a site you are currently rotating at.

When you are ready, please submit your elective request here.

Some things to consider:

  • Block Rotation: there are a total of 18 half days for a two-week block rotation. Not all days have to be clinical, even if you chose a clinically-based elective. You may use the time for reading, preparing a presentation, creating an Evernote, participating in online modules or webinars, and so on. You will always attend conferences even during your elective.

  • Longitudinal electives: Must be 6 months at minimum. You can choose to extend your elective if you wish. There are a few exceptions of 3 month longitudinal electives - please see individual elective webpages for ones that qualify for this special short duration.

    • A 6-month longitudinal elective will have approximately 9-11 half days (assuming both you and your preceptor have a vacation during that time).

    • A 12-month elective will have 18-24 half days

    • A 3-month elective will have 4-5 half days

  • Each half-day session is assumed to be 5 hrs. This includes any patient care activities (which we all know can run long) but also prep done the night or morning before (e.g., reviewing pt charts, reading up on a topic) or other work done (e.g., preparing a presentation, creating an Evernote, participating in online modules or webinars, etc.).

  • If you choose to rotate outside of The Christ Hospital there must be an active PLA in place. Please see the list of active PLAs below:

    Beacon Orthopedics, Brightview, Cincinnati Health Department, Cincinnati Health Network, Crossroads Health Network, Maple Knoll, UC Newborn, Equitas Health,UC Addiction Medicine, UC-Burnet Family Med, UC-West Chester Family Med, UC-Wyoming Family Med, Cincinnati VA, Chenmed, CCHMC Emergency, CCHMC Palliative and Hospice Care, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health, Wuqu Kawoq **There is a learning agreement with the Navajo Area Indian Health Service

  • You must submit outside rotation paper work at least 40 days before the outside rotation. Please reach out to Holly regarding outside rotation applications.