Introduction The curriculum in surgical subspecialty rotations (SDC) is not uniform among universities. Among different sources, the implementation of SDC is frequently debated especially as part of the curriculum in undergraduate medicine. Its importance in the training and professional performance of graduates has proven to be a controversial topic. In addition, student appreciation of these experiences is deemed rare. In this study we explore the perception of a group of graduates with a focus on the values they learnt during these practices. Methods Qualitative exploratory case study. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with recent medical graduates from three universities in Colombia between August and October 2022. Participants were selected by avalanche sampling, snowball style. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for later analysis. Thematic analysis was used to identify codes and categories, which were validated by peer review. Results We identified three key categories: perception of rotations, valuable learning for medical practice, and definition of future activity. The interviewees deemed the experiences in SDC as valuable for their training because they gave them confidence to perform professionally and to make decisions about their future employment, strengthen investigative skills and primary health care. Conclusion Although primary health care is a priority in clinical training, these findings suggest that it is necessary to include rotations in SDC to strengthen the profile of the graduate.
