Unlocking Aamc Vsas: Opportunities For International Medical Students

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program is an online platform that connects medical and public health students with host institutions offering short-term learning opportunities. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, and away rotations. The program is open to pre-clinical, clinical, and final-year students, as determined by the host institution, and is offered by participating institutions in the US and worldwide. While the VSLO program is open to international medical students, eligibility criteria may vary depending on the host institution and the specific program. It is important for interested students to review the requirements and application processes for each elective and host institution.

The AAMC VSLO program

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities. Offered by participating Host institutions in the U.S. and around the world, elective opportunities are available in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites.

The VSLO program is only accessible to students at participating Home institutions. A Home institution must be either an AAMC member, an ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Organization, or an ACGME Sponsoring Organization's Participating Site to qualify for VSLO access as a Host institution.

Host institutions publish and manage elective offerings, select students, and—upon completion of the elective—submit evaluations to students’ Home institutions. Becoming a host provides the opportunity to meet medical students as they explore residency programs, support the educational mission of your hospital or health system, and host multilingual students to deliver better patient care to multilingual patients.

The VSLO application service makes it easier for medical students to apply to clinical or research opportunities. You must be invited by your Home institution before you may access the VSLO application service. If you have used other AAMC services (the AMCAS® system, the MCAT® exam, etc.), you will then sign into the VSLO application service using your AAMC Account username and password. Otherwise, you will be able to create an AAMC account. You will provide your personal and academic information in the VSLO application service, including contact and biographical information.

The VSLO® program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education. Institutions that join the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program may post elective opportunities in the VSLO application service and/or allow students to apply for electives posted by other participating institutions. The VSLO program provides support for away rotations and promotes best practices in diverse settings and contexts. Through institutional collaboration, members contribute to innovation and broaden their connections and outreach.

Application process

The AAMC VSLO (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education. The program is not just restricted to US medical schools, as the Global Network includes institutions located in the United States or another country that either send their students to international locations or receive students from international locations.

The application process for the AAMC VSLO program is as follows:

• Students must be invited by their Home Institution before they can access the VSLO application service.
• If you have used other AAMC services, you will sign in using your AAMC Account username and password. Otherwise, you will need to create an AAMC account.
• You will provide your personal and academic information, including contact and biographical information.
• You can review general information about each participating Host Institution and their key application dates and fees.
• You can use the elective search to look for elective opportunities based on specialty, Host Institution, and geographic location.
• You can then view a description, application requirements, and available dates for each elective.
• Students must agree to the terms and conditions that govern their use of the VSLO application service, including truthfulness in their application materials, release of personal information, and acknowledgment that they must remain engaged and responsive during the elective application process.
• Requirements vary among Host Institutions and the electives for which you are applying. You will fulfill all requirements within the VSLO application service as you submit your elective requests.
• The VSLO program charges a flat fee of $15 per application. Application fees are per elective, regardless of the number of requested dates for that elective.
• Once you have submitted your applications, your Home Institution will verify the information about you and fulfill any additional requirements before releasing the application to Host Institutions for review.
• You can easily track the status of your application as it moves through the application review process.
• A Host Institution may request that you resubmit a requirement. After receiving an email informing you of this request, you would resubmit the requirement through the Tracking tab of the VSLO application service.
• Post-decision requirements may include, but are not limited to, a copy of your passport, immunization records, or proof of HIPAA training.
• You may accept or decline offers received from Host Institutions. It is important to respond to an offer within the allotted time to ensure the Host Institution can prepare for your visit.

Some examples of participating Home Institutions include:

• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
• The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
• The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
• Tokyo Medical and Dental University Faculty of Medicine
• A. T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
• East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
• Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Some examples of participating Host Institutions include:

• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
• The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
• The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
• Tokyo Medical and Dental University Faculty of Medicine
• University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
• University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine
• University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
• Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
• B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
• Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University

Additionally, the following are required to be uploaded to VSLO as supplemental materials:

• A copy of the student’s CV/Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Neurological Surgery Clerkship
• Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Sub-Internship
• Anesthesiology Visiting Scholars Program (AVSP)

Host institutions

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities.

There are two types of networks within the VSLO program: the US Network and the Global Network. The US Network includes institutions located in the United States that either send their students to other US medical schools or receive students from other US medical schools. The Global Network, on the other hand, comprises institutions located in the United States or another country that participate in international exchanges.

Some examples of host institutions in the VSLO program include:

• Ascension St. Alexius
• B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
• Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
• Dr. P.S.I. Medical College, Chinoutpalli
• East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
• Hospital Corporation of America, Inc.

Students can use the VSLO application service to search for elective opportunities based on specialty, host institution, and geographic location. They can then view descriptions, application requirements, and available dates for each elective. It is important to note that students must be invited by their Home institution before they can access the VSLO application service and apply for electives at host institutions.

Home institutions

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home Institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities. Offered by participating Host Institutions in the U.S. and around the world, elective opportunities are available in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites.

To access the VSLO application service, you must be invited by your Home Institution. You can then sign in to the VSLO application service using your AAMC Account username and password. If you have not used other AAMC services, you will be able to create an AAMC account. You will provide your personal and academic information in the VSLO application service, including contact and biographical information.

• A. T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
• A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
• Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
• Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership
• B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
• C.M.H. Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry
• Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
• Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
• Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Dr. P.S.I. Medical College, Chinoutpalli
• East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
• Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
• J.S.S. Medical College
• Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
• Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
• Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
• Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
• St. George's Hospital Medical School
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
• The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
• The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
• Tokyo Medical and Dental University Faculty of Medicine
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
• Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina Guadalajara
• Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
• William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Opportunities and benefits

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program offers a range of opportunities and benefits for international medical students. Firstly, it enables them to pursue short-term learning opportunities away from their home institutions, including electives such as observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, and visiting opportunities. These experiences can be gained in various settings, including teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites, providing a diverse range of learning environments.

Secondly, the VSLO program facilitates connections between students and host institutions worldwide, including in the United States. This global network enriches students' medical education by exposing them to different healthcare systems, practices, and cultures, fostering cultural competence and a global perspective. The program's flexibility allows students to tailor their away rotations to their specific interests and goals, enhancing their clinical skills and knowledge.

Thirdly, the VSLO program simplifies the application process for clinical or research opportunities. It provides a centralized platform where students can access information about various host institutions, their application requirements, key dates, and fees. This streamlined process saves students time and effort in researching and applying to multiple institutions individually.

Additionally, the VSLO program offers a range of resources to support students in developing their away rotation strategies. These resources include webinars, recordings, directories of internships and summer programs, and databases of academic, professional, and financial resources. These tools empower students to make informed decisions about their away rotations and maximize the benefits of their chosen opportunities.

Lastly, the VSLO program provides international medical students with the chance to develop a strong professional network. By participating in programs at different institutions, students can connect with a diverse group of peers, mentors, and healthcare professionals, expanding their professional connections and creating potential future collaboration opportunities. Overall, the VSLO program offers international medical students enhanced educational, cultural, and networking opportunities that can enrich their medical training and better prepare them for their future careers.

Frequently asked questions