Student Affairs offers support to third and fourth year students who are seeking additional experiences through away rotations. This page is a guide to navigate the process and your answer questions. At the bottom, you will find a visual flowchart to use throughout process.
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 require an away rotation. The most common specialties to do away rotations are Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, PM&R, Dermatology, and ENT. If you are unsure whether an away rotation is required for your specialty, schedule an appointment with your career/specialty advisor or with , Director of Academic Enhancement and Career Development.
When Can I Start Applying?
VSLO Authorizations will be sent out on Friday, January 31, 2025. Not all applications will open at that time; there will be little to review. Applications open at various times, determined by the Host institution. If you are highly interested in a specific program, we recommend you add them to your "favorites" within the VSLO system to receive notifications.
What Do I Need to do to Get Credit?
- You will need to ensure that the LSOM has an Affiliation Agreement with the institution you plan on doing on away rotation with AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE your rotation begins. You can see who we currently have an Affiliation Agreement in place with in your Class Canvas page (is currently being updated and will be available for viewing before authorizations go out). Finally, you will also need to complete a Course Approval Form AFTER your accept a rotation but BEFORE you start the rotation.
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(s) of Recommendation
- Additional Malpractice Insurance
- Course Approval Form - coming soon!
Additional Resources
CV/Personal Statement
Students should keep an updated curriculum vitae (CV) and/or Personal Statement. These are commonly requested documents that you will continue to use through future applications and interviews. If you would like to review your CV/Personal Statement, 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 in VSLO. Students can have the form signed by a physician's office or through the Office for Undergraduate Medical Education (OUME). To have it signed off by the OUME, students will need to download the "Summary" page on SentryMD and provide a copy along with a filled out immunization form and send directly to Mercedes Esquivel.
BLS/ ACLS Certification
The OUME does not receive copies of student BLS and ACLS certificates. Students should have a copy in their records. If the certification has expired, it will need to be renewed.
HIPAA, Bloodborne Pathogens Needlestick, OSHA, and N95 Mask Fit
Most programs accept a standard memo from us indicating proof of completion for these items. The memo you can use for this can be downloaded from your Class Canvas Page. If the program does not accept our standard memo, email Mercedes Esquivel to have a more customized letter created. Please request this in a timely manner.
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 confirms your enrollment at LSOM, information on malpractice coverage, clerkship completion, 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. Request a Letter of Good Standing . Letters will be created and sent in the order received, with a turnaround time of 1–5 business days depending on demand.
Letter(s) of Recommendation
A majority of programs will require Letters of Recommendation. It is a student's responsibility to give their letter writers sufficient time to write one to submit application(s) on time. Some programs allow students to upload these letters themselves and others will need them to be uploaded by the OUME. For any 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 away rotation. If you are required to upload documentation regarding our insurance coverage, you can upload this letter.
Course Approval Form
After returning from your away rotation, you will need to complete a Course Approval Form. This link will be coming soon.
