During this rotation, I was able to strengthen my musculoskeletal knowledge and how to approach those injuries as a PA. My rotation site was located at CitiMed in JFK, and this clinic mostly saw patients with work-related injuries, injuries outside of work, DOT physicals and employment physicals. This clinic also employed Pain Management MD/PAs, orthopedics MD/PAs, Physical Therapists, chiropractors and acupuncturists, which was great to work in collaboration with.

Each day, I was assigned my own room where I was able to conduct thorough histories and physicals on my own patients. Afterwards, I would present the patient to my preceptor and we would make decisions about their care together. In addition to history and physicals, I was able to give many injections such as the flu vaccine, tetanus, MMR, hepatitis and PPDs.

This was a great rotation to learn to be comfortable doing exams on your own, with the comfort of knowing your preceptor will supervise and help you if needed.