Information for Medical Students Seeking Elective Rotations at Drexel University College of Medicine

If you wish to apply for a rotation that begins prior to June 5, 2023, please email clinicaleducation@drexel.edu for instructions.  No phone calls please - Email only

Applications for 2024-2025:  DUCoM's upcoming Academic Year '24-25 visiting student application process has not been determined yet; please check back on March 15, 2024 for updates.

Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCoM) uses the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program for processing visiting student applications (see link: https://students-residents.aamc.org/attending-medical-school/article/visiting-student-learning-opportunities/.)

Academic year 2023-2024:  Applications will be accepted beginning 4/17/23 for Psychiatry at Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville, and 6/15/23 for Pediatric electives at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.  Please refer to DUCoM’s Institution Overview page in VSLO for Timeline and Important Dates:  https://vslo.aamc.org/vslo/index.html#/institution/host/summary?instId=833.  

Inquires to Drexel University College of Medicine should be addressed using the   
e-mail address: clinicaleducation@drexel.edu.  For tracking purposes, when e-mailing please enter the following in the subject line: “Visiting Student” and then your full name.

All courses currently offered to Drexel medical students are listed on-line via the 2023-2024 Senior Course Catalog https://webcampus.med.drexel.edu/ClinicalEducation/SeniorElectives/2023-2024/.  For academic year 2023-2024, DUCoM offers Pediatric rotations at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and Psychiatry elective at Phoenixville to visiting students.  When viewing our course catalog, to find courses available to visiting students, search by Location.  The course descriptions notes if the rotation accepts visiting students with a “Yes” or “No” to “Will accept visiting students” meaning applications are, or are not accepted through Drexel’s VSLO.

Policies for Visiting Students:
Applications must be submitted through VSLO.  Note:  DUCOM’s eligibility requirements (pre-and post-decision requirements) are listed on our VSLO institution overview page https://vslo.aamc.org/vslo/index.html#/institution/host/summary?instId=833

• Please review both pre/post requirements PRIOR to applying as you will be charged by VSLO... continue reading policies…
• All visiting medical students must be enrolled in a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited medical school (United States or Canadian) and in, or beginning, the final (senior) year of medical school.  Please refer to current directory of LCME-accredited schools published by the AAMC: http://lcme.org/directory/. DUCOM will not accept students in a “Fifth Pathway Program."
• All visiting medical students must have completed one year of clinical training, including the following clerkships: Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pediatrics in an LCME-accredited medical school as noted above.  Third year core clerkships are not available to visiting students.
• All students must be covered by malpractice insurance and personal health insurance and provide documentation to DUCOM.
• The AAMC standardized immunization form (AAMC Immunization form) must be completed. Please download the form linked in VSLO under the Immunization link, complete and upload to VSLO, do not send copies of records unless requested. You may not substitute an alternate form.

• Medical students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster, prior to rotating.

• DUCOM’s Supplemental application: Please download the VSLO Supplemental form complete Section I and have Section II completed and signed by your Dean of Students or designee. No modifications may be made to the application. DO NOT APPLY TO VSLO IF ANY CHANGES ARE MADE/REQUESTED – we recommend that you contact Drexel Clinical Education directly to see if the differences may be reconciled before your non-refundable VSLO fee is charged.  
• No visiting student may complete more than 12 weeks total of elective experience at Drexel University College of Medicine.
• All visiting students must submit a non-refundable elective fee of $75.00 for each rotation once an offer has been extended and you accept the offer.  This fee must be received 24 hours after acceptance of the rotation.  A link will be provided for payment via credit card once the offer has been extended.
• No confirmed elective may be dropped within six-weeks of the start of the rotation.  Again, no refunds will be issued once a rotation has been offered and accepted.
• No housing is provided by Drexel University College of Medicine.
• Siblings, spouses, partners should not apply for the same rotation at the same site at the same time.  It is Drexel's policy that these students do not rotate together.  No refunds will be issued should Drexel learn of this instance, and must cancel a rotation; however, Drexel will attempt to secure an alternative learning opportunity.
• It is strongly recommended that any student interested in rotation within 8 weeks of application complete ALL requirements at the time of application, including background checks, in order to meet requirements in time for rotation.

Visiting Students should familiarize themselves with the Drexel University College of Medicine Visiting Student Handbook prior to arrival and may access the Handbook at any time. 

Some visiting students may wish to schedule an elective rotation at one of our affiliated educational institutions. You may see them in the electives catalogue but will not see them in VSLO.  Drexel University College of Medicine can only schedule visiting students for rotations that are listed in VSLO.  If you wish to schedule a rotation at one of our affiliated educational institutions, please contact them directly.   

Thank you for your interest in scheduling an elective rotation at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Revised 02/15/2024