The Office of Student Affairs offers support to third and fourth year students who are seeking additional experiences through away rotations. This page will serve as a guide as you navigate the process and answer any questions you may have. At the end of the page you will find step-by-step instructions to utilize throughout the process as a quick reference guide.
What is an Away Rotation?
Away Rotations are offered by participating Host institutions. The opportunities are available in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites.
What Are the Benefits of an Away Rotation?
Applicants use them for career exploration, support in the residency application process, prioritizing geographic preferences, or gaining exposure to various patient populations or cultural settings. Away rotations allow institutions to assess applicants’ capabilities, showcase the benefits of their programs and facilities, and preview potential applicants to their programs.
Am I Required to do an Away Rotation?
Not all specialties are required to complete an away rotation. Most common specialties to do away rotations are Surgery (and other Surgery related fields), Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, PM&R, Dermatology, and ENT. If you are unsure on whether an away rotation is required and/or beneficial, check with your department and/or consider scheduling an advising appointment with a faculty advisor or , Director of Academic Enhancement and Career Development.
When Can I Start Applying?
VSLO Authorizations will be sent out on Friday, January 31, 2025, however, not all applications will open at this time; there will be little to review at that time. Applications open at various times, determined by the Host institution. If there is a program that you are highly interested in, we recommend adding them to your "favorites" within the VSLO system so you can receive notifications from those programs.
What Do I Need to do to Get Credit?
- New process for receiving credit coming soon! More details to follow.
Most Common Items Needed for Application(s):
- CV/ Personal Statement
- AAMC Standardized Immunization Form
- Proof of BLS/ ACLS
- HIPAA, Bloodborne Pathogens Needlestick, OSHA, and N95 fit testing
- Confirmation student has passed USMLE Step 1
- Criminal Background Check
- Panel Drug Screen Test
- Letter of Good Standing (link)
- Letter(s) of Recommendation
- Additional Malpractice Insurance
- Course Approval Form - new process coming soon
CV/Personal Statement
Throughout your time in medical school, students should keep an updated curriculum vitae (CV) and/ or Personal Statement. This is a commonly requested document and a document you will continue to use through your future applications and interviews. If you would like to review your CV/Personal Statement, students can with Dr. Pickering.
For students looking for inspiration, we encourage use of the Self-Reflection Guide. This guide has a series prompts to help you identify key values and areas to elaborate on. For further Professional Identity Formation guidance, students can with Dr. Mazurek.
AAMC Standardized Immunization Form
The is required for all away rotations that students apply for through VSLO. Students can have the form signed by a physician's office or through the OUME. To have it signed off by the OUME, students will need to download the "Summary" page on SentryMD and provide a copy of that along with a filled out immunization form and send directly to Mercedes Esquivel.
BLS/ ACLS Certification
The OUME does not have copies of student BLS and ACLS certificates. Students should all have a copy. If either has expired and is required by a program, students will need to renew it.
HIPAA, Bloodborne Pathogens Needlestick, OSHA, and N95 Mask Fit
Early in the semester, Dr. Hanson will create a memo that outlines all of the listed requirements. This document can be uploaded for each of the above requirements. Memo will be provided to the class at a later time.
USMLE Step 1 Report
Students should have a copy on file confirming they have passed Step 1.
Criminal Background Check
Criminal Background Checks will be dependent on each program. Some programs will accept the one completed at matriculation, while others will want an updated copy from within the last 12 months. To locate your copy from matriculation, students can search "Compufact" in the email they provided. If an updated one is needed, students can go through any outside entity or schedule an appointment with UTPD. For more questions, email backgroundchecks@uthscsa.edu.
Panel Drug Screen Test
Panel Drug Screen Tests are also dependent on each program. If an updated copy is required, students will need to locate an outside entity to have one done.
Letter of Good Standing
A Letter of Good Standing includes confirmation of your enrollment at LSOM, information regarding our malpractice coverage, clerkships students have completed or will complete, and confirmation of passing Step 1. These letters can also be personalized if additional information is needed, such as clearing a drug test and/or background check. Click here to request a Letter of Good Standing.
Letter(s) of Recommendation
While not all programs will require a Letter of Recommendation, a large majority will. It is a student's responsibility to give their letter writers sufficient time to write one and to submit application(s) on time. Some applications may not allow students to upload these letters and will need to be uploaded by the OUME. For all letters that need to be uploaded by the Home Institution, please have your letter writers send directly to Mercedes Esquivel.
Additional Malpractice Insurance
The standard UT System liability insurance coverage is $25,000 per incident/ $75,000 aggregate. If additional coverage is required, students can purchase directly through the OUME with cash or check only. Students should not purchase additional insurance until after they have confirmed their participation in the elective. If you are required to upload documentation regarding our insurance coverage, you can utilize this letter.
Course Approval Form
New submission process coming soon! More details to follow.
Click here to download as a .pdf