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Clinical Rotation – Fairbanks

Clinical Rotation – Fairbanks

Demographic Information

Known as the “Golden Heart City,” in America’s “Last Frontier” Fairbanks Alaska boasts diverse culture, rich history, a thriving population and economy, and plenty to explore! Fairbanks is the third largest metropolitan area in the state and serves as the regional economic and health care center for the Interior and Northern Alaska.

Housing:
There is a stipend towards housing available through The Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation. Please contact your Regional Site Administrator for further information.

Length of time region has been training with PNWU students:
Since the first PNWU graduating class of 2012 (our first PNWU students rotated in 2010).

Preceptor/Rotation Information

The region will do their best to schedule core rotations within 50 miles one way from where didactics are held or from the satellite locations (a location for clinical rotations associated with a regional site). In the event that a core rotation occurs more than 50 miles from their assigned site, students may be eligible for a housing allowance and/or mileage stipend provided by PNWU.

4th year electives that have been successful in this region depending on availability:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology
  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • OMM
  • Oncology
  • Orthopedics

Number of preceptors credentialed with PNWU to teach CORE rotations:
There are approximately 160 physicians and surgeons with privileges at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
Tanana Valley Clinic employs approximately 40 physicians and all have privileges at FMH.
Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center employs approximately 6 physicians and all have privileges at FMH.
There are 43 Clinical Adjunct Faculty teaching for PNWU. About 20 are teaching CORE Courses.

D.O. preceptors in the region (approx.): 23

M.D. preceptors in the region (approx.): 20

Rotations that provide inpatient experience:

  • Behavioral Health
  • Internal Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Surgery
  • Women’s Health

Rotations challenges in the region based on availability:

  • Core Residency Rotation

Is there integration of other schools with PNWU students?
It is rare that a PNWU student will share a preceptor with another non-PNWU student.

Residencies available in the region that PNWU students are involved in (didactics, rotations, etc.):

None in region.

Opportunities to practice OMM:
Students consistently report that the region’s longitudinal, integrated OMM experience is one of the highlights of their clinical rotations.

Out-of-Region Expectations:
It is expected that a student may be required to rotate outside of their region for any unavailable core rotations. Please see the student handbook for policies and procedures related to core rotations conducted out of region.

Didactics Information

Centralized Didactics are held every Wednesday afternoon from 1pm to 3pm AK. Students will join the online PNWU Centralized Didactics for the Clinical Didactics (CLIN 704) course.

Region-led didactics, which is part of the Clinical Didactics (CLIN 704) course, are held every Wednesday as scheduled by the regional leadership and include various topics/activities. Region-led didactics are held in person either before or after centralized didactics. Time is spent as a PNWU group for the following: case presentations/student lectures, oral presentations, guest lecturers, Board prep, and career advising. We collaborate with the Anchorage region for region led didactics.

Core (3rd year) rotations available within driving distance (50 miles) of the didactics site?
For the most part, CORE rotations are available within 10 miles of the Didactics site.

Additional Information

Region strengths:

  • Very gifted and highly regarded faculty.
  • Enthusiastic preceptors
  • Rural medicine opportunities
  • Faculty that believes in encouraging you to practice at your limits in order to learn at the greatest competency level.
  • The Region is situated in the least developed part of the United States and presents the greatest opportunities for adventure, recreation, and exploration.
  • One of the most unique habitats and cultural sites in the world.
  • Greatest community spirit bar none.

Why might a student choose this region over another?

Alaskans are obviously enthusiastic about where they live! For most, the magnificence of the place was the major motivation for moving to Alaska. However, the best reason is the quality of the faculty here. Not only do we have a faculty of the highest educational quality, but you are given the greatest scope possible to achieve your greatest potential according to your own skill and intellectual development. You will have good access to one-to-one teaching/student ratio. You will be welcome here and you will be taught by a small tight-knit medical community that understands what it means to achieve a rewarding and meaningful education. Fairbanks also has many practicing PNWU Alumni!

Student/Resident Information: (as of AY 24-25)
Number of OMS3 Students Rotating in Region:   4
Number of OMS4 Students Rotating in Region:   4
Alumni in Residency Programs (Alaska totals):    48
Alumni practicing in the regions (Alaska totals):   29
% of PNWU-COM matriculations from regions (Alaska totals):    0.0%

Additional information:

Alaska is beautiful, rugged, unforgiving, and extremely rewarding. These aspects of life on the “Last Frontier” intrigue and reward those who are not bothered with irritations, bad weather, and cranky machines (at 40 below). If you have a low threshold of tolerance for these sorts of things, Alaska may not be your cup of tea. However, if the notion that ‘adventure’ is just another word for ‘inconvenience’ doesn’t bother you or dissuade you, I suspect that you are just the right sort of student for the Fairbanks Region.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

Regional Site Leadership

Assistant Dean:
Lance Dunlop, MD
ldunlop@pnwu.edu

907.251.0283

Address used for Site Selection: 1650 Cowles St Fairbanks, Ak 99701