UC Davis has offered me the option of rotating with any ortho service during my away rotation. Does everyone do trauma on their away or should I request the reconstruction service with the chair of the dept?
Thanks in advance.

You should try to do both. Most aways are organized so that you spend one week on various services. Trauma is almost always included but the others can be chosen based on whatever interests you, or based on someone YOU are trying to interest. Trauma is where you really prove yourself to the residents so I wouldn't skimp on that week (or two). Any other service will be easier and you can use that time to butter up any key attendings.

The two places I rotated had predetermined weeks so the students didn't have a say. I'm not sure that's not better since it ensures everyone equal opportunity.

GAdoc said it perfectly right, the most contact you can get with residents and attendings is best. If you are unsure if you want to do ortho (i.e. think you want to do it but haven't actually done any rotations in ortho) I think spreading it out is especially important.

Trauma is a good one and at most level 1's it's the most busy servicce and the easiest one to have students on. You'll certainly be busiest during those weeks.

That being said, one of my aways I did all 4 weeks on trauma (2 weeks at each different hospital), and on the other one I did 1 week of sports and 3 weeks of hand (Program director was a hand surgeon and he decided the residents).

Just do a good job and you'll be fine.

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I asked if I could split the 4 weeks into two different services but that was not possible. Since I will have trauma at my home institution and at a second away, I will try to do the joints service for this one. Thanks a lot for the replies.