Elective Rotations

The CMHS offers over 5 elective rotations in all major specialty areas to students who have completed their core clinical rotations. A maximum of one one-month rotations may be scheduled up to 6-9 months in advance. We need to know your area of interest (list two) and your preferred dates before an elective can be arranged. Once the department agrees to accept you, the clerkship coordinator will contact you via email.

For further information please contact

Ms. Mariam Al Neyadi,
Clinical Sciences Course,
Department of Medical Education
Phone: +971 3 713 7476

Application Process

Clinical electives are available to students who are in their final year of medical school (fourth in a 4-year program and fifth or sixth in a 5 or 6-year program). A completed application form should be forwarded to the Department of Medical Education by regular mail along with the application fee cheque. Please indicate on the application the preferred rotations and dates available. There is a limit of one rotation per student per academic year. All of our rotations are four weeks in length.

Please make sure all supporting documents are sent to the Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain United Arab Emirates. The Application should reach our office 6-9 months prior to the start date of the rotation.

Students will be notified via email if there application has been accepted or denied.
Once your assignment has been confirmed via email, you are expected to complete the rotation. While cancellation may be necessary, please do so at least 30 days in advance otherwise the 200AED will be forfeited. Upon canceling, the student will need to notify his or her school.

Requirements for Applying 

• All prerequisites must be met before a candidate will be approved for rotation. This includes the completion of all core rotations and status as a final year medical student when you are scheduled to participate in the rotation.
• Your medical school must be accredited in your home country and registered with WHO
• The language of instruction is English. Therefore a demonstrated proficiency in written and spoken English should be provided (e.g.TOEFL exam score of 450 or greater ).
• Most medical schools will provide a certificate of proof of malpractice insurance.
• Please provide proof of immunizations, specifically Diphtheria/tetanus booster within 10 years, Hepatitis B vaccination or immune status, Tuberculin status with documentation and intradermal PPD completed no more than six months prior to starting date of rotation, chicken pox disease history or titer, and MMR for applicants born after 1957.
• The Office of Medical Education will require medical students to provide proof of the following immunizations in order to begin a scheduled rotation:
  • Varicella rubella, titers, and/or proof of immunization MMR (mumps, measles, rubella)
  • Recent documented Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or recent chest x-ray if known TST positive
  • Proof of hepatitis B immunity (serology)
  • Proof of blood borne pathogen training.
• Proof of health insurance must be provided before the student can start his/her rotation. The CMHS does not provide health insurance to students.
• Please have your school Dean sign the application form as evidence of good academic standing and approval of the elective for credit. An evaluation of your performance on the rotation will be forwarded to your school upon completion of the elective. A US $50 money order must be made to College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

General Information

Absence During Your Rotation 

If it becomes necessary for you to be absent during your rotation, please obtain an absence form from the Education office. This form must be completed by the student and signed/approved by the department. The policy for absence is two days out of the four week period.

Body Substance Precautions 

The hospitals have adopted Body Substance Precautions (BSP). This is a system of infection prevention practices used for all patients. These practices involve the use of protective barriers (gloves, gowns, facial protection) for contact with body substances, mucous membranes or in-tact skin, regardless of the patient's diagnosis.

The type of barrier used depends on the specific procedure or patient interaction. Each department's Exposure Control Plan outlines the minimum required protection that must be worn.

Gloves are required when a procedure or task is likely to involve contact with blood or other body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin.

Facial protection (mask, eyeglasses with side shields, face shield) is required when one can reasonably anticipate blood or body fluids being splashed in the face.

All barrier equipment is available in each patient care area. The use of BSP for all patients will effectively isolate all infections, except those spread by the respiratory droplet or airborne routes.

Emergency Medical Care 

The Department of Family Medicine and the Emergency Departments will provide emergency visits for medical students. Students will need to refer to their own personal insurance hospitalization plan for information on coverage.

Evaluations - Yours And Ours 

If your school asks for an evaluation of your performance on their form, please ensure that it is provided to the Medical Student Education Office upon your arrival date. Please do not submit your evaluation form directly to the attending in your medical department. We are not able to follow up on evaluations given directly to departments and often no copy of the evaluation is made. CMHS forms will be submitted to the Dean of Students Affairs or another designated official of your school if your school does not provide us with their form. If there is an office other than the Dean's office at your school to which the evaluations are to be sent, please ensure the name and address of the individual to receive your evaluation is submitted to our office.

Prior to the completion of your elective, you will be expected to complete a teaching and rotation evaluation to evaluate your experience here. This information is very important as it provides us with critical information about our rotations, what is good, bad, etc. If you have any questions about the use of evaluations, please feel free to ask for additional information. Final grades will not be forwarded to your school until you have completed a teaching and rotation evaluation.

Mail 

You can have your mail forwarded to the Department of Medical Education, CMHS, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Meals 

You are responsible to cover the cost of your meals

Working Hours 

Clinic (outpatient) services are typically 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sunday through Wednesday and 8.00AM to 2.30PM on Thursday. Hospital services vary with each department. The Elective Coordinator in each department will provide your specific working hours. On-call will not exceed 1-in-4 at night and 1-in-4 weekends.

Travel and Housing

Travel

Al Ain is accessible by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There is a regular and reliable bus service leaving from the main bus stations in both cities. A taxi can take you to the bus station.
Tawam Hospital has a bus service to the Al Ain Hospital and into the city. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. The city buses operate on a limited route but are inexpensive.

Housing and Food

CMHS does not arrange housing for overseas elective students.
Food from small local restaurants is very flavorful and inexpensive. There are fast food courts in the larger malls and virtually all brands are represented. There are many grocery stores in convenient locations and food, produce, personal items are plentiful and the brands are very familiar to those from the West.

Facilities

City Travel and Parking

City buses and taxis are inexpensive. There is adequate outdoor parking at both hospitals should you choose to rent a car. There is a regular bus service to and from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Al Ain and is inexpensive.

Medical Library

The National Medical Library is located on the ground floor of the CMHS Building (A Block). The library has a large collection of books and journals and in particular, a comprehensive electronic book and journal collection. Access to the library is available from both hospitals. If you want to use the library or borrow a book or journal, you will need to register at the circulation desk.

Internet

There are two computer (male and female) laboratories on the ground floor of the NML. All teaching areas in CMHS have wireless internet access.

Fitness

Summers are extremely hot and so students are cautioned to engage in outdoor activities at night or in the early morning. Local hotels have swimming pools and tennis courts and will charge for their use. A monthly pass can be purchased.

Orientation Information

This orientation to the CMHS elective experience will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about your rotation. But, if you still have questions, please call the Medical Education office at +971-3-713 7490.

Where To Report

To begin your rotation, check in by 7:30 A.M. the morning of the first week-day of your elective at the Medical Education Department. We are located on the second floor (Block A297). The Medical School is close to Tawam Hospital. Take a taxi and instruct the driver to go to Tawam. You will see the CMHS building on the right as you pass through the white gates at the roundabout. Have the driver turn into the parking lot.

Lab Coats

Bring your own white coats. There are very inexpensive laundries all over the city that will do your laundry.

Scrubs

Scrubs are available from the ORs in both hospitals.

Dress Code

Students are expected to dress in a professional manner. T-shirts, cut-offs, etc. are not allowed. It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes, as you will be walking a lot.