Visiting Student Learning Opportunities
Learning Opportunities For Medical Students
The VSLO program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education. 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 and are open to preclinical, clinical, or final-year students, as determined by the host institution.
For Students
For Institutions
The VSLO program includes:
- The VSLO Application Service (sometimes referred to as VSAS), which enables students to browse and apply to electives offered by host institutions.
- A collaborative network of US and international institutions.
- Training, information and guidance for students and institutions.
- Telephone and email support to students and institutions.
Transition to the VSLO Program
Launched in January 2018, the VSLO program merged two existing visiting student programs: the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS®) program that focused exclusively on U.S. domestic electives and the GHLO® program which focused on electives abroad. The AAMC is focused on facilitating a successful transition to the new VSLO program. We provide training resources for institutions and students and provide support through our customer support team.
Additional Opportunities for Medical Students
In addition to the educational opportunities available through the VSLO program, the AAMC encourages students to consider other opportunities as well.
The summer between your first and second year is a valuable time to explore specialties or bolster your research experience in a specialty you’re already considering. Then, carve out some time during your second year to participate in specialty interest groups and physician panels organized by your school.
Looking for ways to enrich your medical school experience? Search for fellowships, internships, summer programs, scholarships, and grants currently available in the United States and abroad.
Many medical schools and graduate schools offer courses related to public health or population health, but students may want additional training or experiences to enhance their ability to address the health needs of populations as well as individuals.