I remember in my third-year as a med student I really didn’t understand what a sub-internship was. I just heard the term “Sub-I” being thrown around by the fourth-years. I thought it would be advantageous for incoming medical students if I spoke briefly about the role of a sub-intern since you will all have to participate in at least one during your medical school career.
A sub-intern is a fourth-year medical student playing the role of an intern, or first-year resident. You are given a larger patient volume, you typically formulate the plan and the orders under the direct supervision of the senior resident. The main difference between a “Sub-I” and an intern is the fact that at most facilities the “Sub-I” cannot enter orders, so the senior resident completes that task. This is more of an audition for most fourth-years to really show a clinical site what you have to offer the program. It’s also your time to shine and show off a little bit to leave the program wanting more. When you pick your sub-internships, make sure they are in a rotation you are passionate about because the work will be demanding.
