Medical Student Rotations at Froedtert & MCW South Side – An Opportunity for External Rotators
For medical students seeking a high-quality, hands-on clinical experience, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network offers a distinctive opportunity through the South Side residency program. As part of a leading academic health system rooted in clinical excellence, research, and education, our rotations are designed to provide meaningful exposure to patient care while fostering the next generation of physicians.
Why Rotate with Us?
The South Side residency program combines the strengths of an academic medical center with the accessibility and continuity of a community-based clinical environment. This hybrid model creates an ideal setting for visiting medical students to:
- Develop strong clinical fundamentals through direct patient care
- Work closely with residents and faculty in a supportive learning environment
- Gain exposure to a diverse patient population across outpatient and inpatient settings
- Experience a program that emphasizes both clinical excellence and real-world practice
As part of the broader Medical College of Wisconsin, students benefit from training within one of the largest academic medical systems in the region, with access to robust educational resources and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Available Rotation Experiences
We offer a variety of rotation opportunities tailored to medical students at different stages of training. These rotations are designed to balance autonomy with supervision and include:
Primary Care & Family Medicine -Experience comprehensive, longitudinal care across outpatient clinics and continuity practices. Students participate in patient evaluations, care planning, and preventive health management. Some inpatient experiences included in rotations.
Specialty Electives -Depending on availability, students may rotate through select specialty clinics and services, gaining exposure to focused areas of medicine while maintaining a strong generalist foundation. Rotation experiences are set in various settings (clinic, inpatient, labor and delivery, specialty clinics, etc).
How to Apply – External rotators can apply through standard visiting student application platforms (e.g., VSLO). Specific rotation availability, requirements, and timelines will be available on VSLO.
We encourage early application, as rotation spots are limited. The following course will allow for an outpatient experience at the South Side Family Medicine Residency (please specify location in the application).
Please review course information at: Medical Student Education | Family and Community Medicine | Medical College of Wisconsin
What Makes This Experience Different?
1.High-Value Clinical Exposure
Students are active participants—not observers. You will contribute meaningfully to patient care, develop clinical reasoning skills, and refine your ability to present and manage patients.
2.Close Mentorship
Our program emphasizes approachable faculty and engaged residents who are invested in your development. Feedback is frequent, actionable, and tailored to your goals.
3.Community + Academic Integration
While grounded in a community-based setting, the program maintains strong ties to a major academic center, allowing students to experience both environments in a cohesive way.
4.Preparation for Residency
Rotating with us provides insight into residency training within our system and allows students to demonstrate their clinical abilities, professionalism, and fit within the program.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome external medical students who are:
- Motivated to take ownership of patient care
- Interested in community-based academic medicine
- Considering residency training within the Froedtert & MCW system
- Seeking a rotation that emphasizes both clinical rigor and mentorship
For additional questions, please contact Blanca Garcia at bagarcia@mcw.edu.