Students may complete their 4th year electives at either affiliated and non-affiliated facilities throughout the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Non-affiliated hospital rotations are designed to provide students with an opportunity to enrich and diversify their medical education in a different physical and social setting.

During an away rotation, students spend a predefined amount of time as a medical student outside their home institution. You will still be an official medical student during your away rotation but your responsibilities will closely resemble those of an intern.

There is a wide number of hospitals and medical schools available for international students. Students are recommended to rotate at hospitals they are considering for residency, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the hospital and network with the educational staff. 

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.