Clinical Training and Residency
Transition from the classroom and theoretical learning to real-world patient care.
Inquire TodayOverview
Semesters 1-5: Grand Cayman
Semesters 6-10: U.S. & Canada
Post Graduation Outcome
Clinical Training
Clinical Medicine at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMUSOM) takes place during Semesters 6 through 10, when students switch gears from Basic Science, moving from the classroom and theory to the patient’s bedside and the real-world decisions of medicine.
As they begin Clinical Medicine, MD program students leave the Grand Cayman campus and join students from other medical schools at teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers across the United States, with select elective rotation sites available in Canada. SMUSOM carefully manages its clinical program to maintain sufficient clerkship positions, helping students complete their clinical education without unnecessary delays.
After successfully completing their Clinical Medicine rotations, students must pass the USMLE Step 2 CK exam to graduate with their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from SMUSOM.
Core Rotations · 42 Weeks
| Rotation | Length | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Medicine | 12 weeks | Students develop the skills to assess, diagnose and manage adult patients in clinical settings. |
| Surgery | 12 weeks | Learn basic surgical procedures, patient assessment and post-operative care. |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 6 weeks | Develop an understanding of pregnancy, prenatal care, labor, delivery and postpartum care. |
| Pediatrics | 6 weeks | Gain experience performing physical examinations on infants and children in clinical settings. |
| Psychiatry | 6 weeks | Learn to identify major psychiatric illnesses through mental status examinations. |
Elective Rotations · 30+ Weeks
After completing their core rotations, MD students move on to elective rotations across a wide range of specialties. Electives are completed in four or six week blocks, for a total of 30 weeks.
300+
Elective Sites in U.S. and Canada
4 Weeks
Required Primary Care Elective
Featured Elective Rotations
Rotation Sites
SMUSOM has affiliation agreements with teaching hospitals across North America, providing students with a range of opportunities to complete their core clerkships. In the United States, core rotations may be completed in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Virginia.
Below is a partial list of affiliated hospitals where students regularly complete core clinical rotations.
California
Mission Community Hospital
Los Angeles
Florida
AdventHealth Orlando Hospital
Orlando
Illinois
Mt. Sinai Hospital
Chicago
Maryland
Ascension St. Agnes Hospital
Baltimore
New York
One Brooklyn Health (OBH)
Brooklyn
St. Johns Episcopal Hospital
Queens
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
Brooklyn
Virginia
Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Falls Church
USMLE Step 2 CK
USMLE Step 2 CK assesses your ability to apply medical knowledge in a clinical setting, including diagnosing and managing patients. Clinical rotations provide an opportunity to put this knowledge into practice and prepare for the exam.
Strong Step 1 and Step 2 CK results can support your residency application, while passing both exams is required for medical licensure. To receive approval to take Step 2 CK, students must demonstrate proficiency in Clinical Medicine by achieving a satisfactory score on a comprehensive exam, such as the Comprehensive Clinical Science Exam (CCSE), and/or another approved exam.
2026 Residency Outcomes
Hear From Our Graduates
“Administrators and advisors supported with mock interviews and made sure I was ready for any questions that the residency programs had. I felt prepared to start residency.”
Kayla Lee, MD
Resident Physician (Family Medicine)
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (PA, U.S.)
SMUSOM Alum 2024
“St. Matthew’s University culminated in the significant moment of Match Day primarily due to the unwavering support I received from the school throughout every step of the process.”
Angie Carolina Contreras, MD
Resident Physician (Psychiatry)
East Carolina University (NC, U.S)
SMUSOM Alum 2024
Have Questions? Let’s connect!
Book a time with an advisor, or call our hotline directly
St. Matthew’s University has three start dates during the year:
January | May | September
Get in Touch for More Information
1. 100% Three-Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or attained a residency outside the NRMP match.
2. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time during the calendar years 2022-2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam, the student must successfully complete the Basic Science curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.
3. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time in calendar year 2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 2 CK exam, the student must successfully complete the Clinical Medicine curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.