Student Handbook

Visiting Student Information

***IMPORTANT INFO: APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2009-2010 ACADEMIC YEAR***

The University of Virginia will be using VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service, to receive visiting student applications for the 2009-2010 academic year. Applications may be submitted through VSAS starting on May, 1, 2009. To apply to our school, please complete and send us a VSAS application for your preferred electives and dates. We should have our Electives Catalog Active around the first week of April for students to see what Electives will be offered and for what rotations.

For more information on VSAS, please visit www.aamc.org/vsas or contact VSAS at vsas@aamc.org or (202) 478-9878.

For more information on our visiting student electives, please contact Jill Clarke, Electives Coordinator at jillc@virginia.edu. Please note that VSAS can only be used by 4th year medical students from U.S. LCME-accredited schools.

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. Student Affairs will begin processing visiting student applications in May. All required immunizations must be complete (and included in your VSAS Application) before your application can be processed. ALL visiting student applications MUST be processed through the Office for Student Affairs. Arrangements may never be made solely with the elective supervisor.

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. Currently, the VSAS system cannot process Osteopathic student applications.

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 Associate Dean for Student Affairs, 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, 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. VSAS will not be used for International Medical Student applicants.

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 Student Affairs notifies you and your acceptance is finalized, we will register you for the required NetLearning modules.

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 your acceptance is finalized, Student Affairs will send you a list of short-term housing that you can use to find yourself accomodations while here at UVA for your visiting student elective.

Maps, Travel Tips, etc.