Electives - Visiting Medical Students

General Information for Visiting Students - Applications for 2008-09 will not be processed until May 1, 2008. Availability will be determined when your application is reviewed and approved by the Department and the Office for Student Affairs.

The Clinical Medicine Committee has established a policy and procedure for fourth year students from Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME) accredited US and Canadian medical schools who are interested in taking an elective at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. As a matter of policy, we offer an elective to a visiting student only after our own students have been assigned. Departments will begin processing visiting student applications in May. Applications received before this date will be held on file. All required immunizations must be complete (and on the application) before your application can be processed. Completed forms MUST be submitted and reviewed before availabilities and / or arrangements should be discussed / considered by the departments. ALL visiting student applications MUST be processed through the Office for Student Affairs. Arrangements may never be made solely with the elective supervisor.

For the timing of electives see the fourth year Academic Calendar. When they review your application, elective supervisors have the option of accepting you for dates that do not coincide with the UVA dates. View the elective descriptions to determine your choice of elective and the elective number (the away, or arranged designation after the title only applies to UVA students).

The University of Virginia School of Medicine accepts osteopathic students from schools that have an affiliation agreement between institutions. Until further notice we are unable to process new affiliation agreements.

A faculty member who wishes to invite and sponsor an acquaintance, who is an International medical student, to visit them for an elective, should request the application from Student Affairs. With the approval of the Senior Associate Dean for Education, the application packet will be sent to the student as an email attachment. Students should be comparable to U.S. fourth year students (will have completed 48-weeks of clinical training in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Neurology) and will be accorded the same experiences as a fourth year UVA student. They will be allowed to participate in a maximum of 8-weeks of elective time. International students will be covered by University of Virginia malpractice insurance. International students, from countries that require a VISA, should request a B1 VISA. Students from non-English speaking countries must supply a certificate of fluency in the English language (spoken and written) such as a TOEFL or the sponsor must know that the student is fluent in medical English. The faculty sponsor will be responsible for answering questions and providing required correspondence for VISA applications.

PROCEDURES for LCME accredited US and Canadian Medical Schools

1. The applicant should complete the Section I of the Visiting Student Application. Please write clearly so that your information can be processed correctly.

2. Have your Dean's Office:

• Complete Section II of the application
• Provide a copy of your medical school transcript - a student copy will be sufficient.
• Provide a Letter of Recommendation - this letter can be either a letter of recommendation or a letter of good standing from your Dean's Office unless a specific letter is required in elective description.
• Include any materials indicated as required in the elective description.

3. Have your Health care provider complete all required immunizations in Section III -

• the information must be completed on this application. Applications with missing information will not be processed.
• yes, you must have a Rubella Titer.
• if you do not know the dates for your last polio booster, you will need to get a one-time adult booster.

4. Return the the completed application with all supporting documents included to the contact listed on the web site.

5. When the application is processed, the Visiting Student will be notified by e-mail as to whether or not she/he has been accepted. 

MALPRACTICE INSURANCE: The malpractice insurance of the University of Virginia School of Medicine does not cover visiting students. Visiting students MUST submit the University of Virginia elective application form which requires an official signature attesting to malpractice coverage by the student's home school, or a certificate of insurance.

MEDICAL EXPENSES: Medical care expenses, incurred by the visiting student while at this institution, will be the student's responsibility. Students who have blood or body fluid exposures should receive evaluation and care in the Emergency Department with long term follow-up at their home institution. The student is responsible for all expenses incurred in the Emergency Department.

HIPAA, OSHA & HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS: All students must follow the directions in their acceptance email to complete all assigned modules in NetLearning requirements before beginning a rotation. When the department notifies Student Affairs and your acceptance is finalized, we will register you for the required NetLearning modules and send you a list of short-term room rentals as an email attachment.

TUITION: Visiting students are allowed to participate in up to 8 weeks of electives. There is no tuition charge.

EVALUATION FORMS: Should be provided to the supervisor by the visiting student.

HOUSING: Visiting students must make their own arrangements for room and board. When the department notifies Student Affairs and your acceptance is finalized, we will send you a list of short-term rentals as an email attachment and register you for the required NetLearning modules.

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