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Education / Medical Education / Visiting Students
 

Visiting Students

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) will offer onsite visiting student rotations for the 2024-25 academic year starting June 10, 2024.  Visiting students must be final year medical students in good academic standing from an LCME accredited medical school or osteopathic school in the U.S. or Canada.  Rotations are subject to availability and department approval.  

Important Dates:

  • Applicants can begin browsing elective opportunities on March 22, 2024
  • Applicants can begin submitting elective requests on April 5, 2024
  • Applicants will begin to be notified of decisions on May 8, 2024

All visiting rotations are coordinated through the AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO).  For a description of electives offered at URSMD please see our Clinical Course Catalog

Dental students please contact the Medical School Registrar’s Office.

The Visiting Clerkship Program is designed to give students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM) or who have a demonstrated vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations via patient care, research and/or teaching an opportunity to experience training at URMC and to connect with faculty, residents, and 4th year medical students during the months of August-November. This program is coordinated by the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) and the Office of the Registrar. Only full-time, final year medical students who have completed 3rd year core clerkships may apply. Contact URSMDpipeline@urmc.rochester.edu for an application and more information.

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry plans to accept international visiting students for on-site electives for the 2023-2024 academic year as outlined below, but this is subject to change in response to COVID-19.

The Visiting International Student program coordinated by the Office of Medical Student Enrichment Programs (OMSEP) and is only open to final year students from the following universities:

  • Jagiellonian University Medical School - Krakow, Poland
  • National Taiwan University Medical College - Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Royal College of Surgeons - Ireland
  • Seoul National University College of Medicine - Seoul, South Korea
  • Universidad de Navarra Facultad de Medicina  - Pamplona, Spain
  • Universidad Nacional de San Augustin de Arequipa - Arequipa, Peru
  • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos Facultad de Medicina San Fernando – Lima, Peru 

If you are a student from one of the above schools please contact your school coordinator as you must be chosen by your school in order to be eligible.

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry does not allow clinical shadowing or observerships for international medical students. 

Visiting International Student Requirements

Upon being chosen by your school, the following documents must be sent to OME_VIS@URMC.Rochester.edu

  • A letter of intent describing your interest in studying at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • A copy of your curriculum vitae
  • A letter of recommendation from your Dean or senior student affairs official
  • A completed Certificate of Good Standing with your institution's seal
  • Two letters of recommendation from Faculty members from your home institution
  • An official transcript from your home institution- transcripts must list grades/marks for all completed courses. Transcripts listing only the hours completed for each course will not be accepted.
  • Mandatory: To be eligible for the program students must provide a TOEFL Score of 100 or higher overall with the subcategory minimums outlined below proving proficiency in the English language.
    • Minimum scores required in each category: 

      Listening 25
      Reading 24
      Speaking 26
      Writing 25
    • If an overall score of 100 or higher is achieved, but the minimum scores in the subcategories above is not met then we will require the Duolingo assessment as an additional test. We will require a score of 120 or higher on the Duolingo assessment as an equivalent TOEFL passing mark. If the Duolingo score is below 120 then the student is ineligible for the program. 
    • Those that do not score 100 or higher on the TOEFL are ineligible for the program.
    • Proof of English language proficiency is not required for American and Canadian citizens or for those currently attending an English language program.

Technical Standards Policy

All applicants accepted to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry must be able to meet the School’s technical standards. Students are asked to review the standards and to sign a form certifying they have read, understand, and are able to meet the standards.

Technical Standards

The School of Medicine is prepared to provide reasonable accommodations to students who are accepted and who have physical and learning disabilities (e.g.: mobility impairments, chronic illnesses, dyslexia and other learning disabilities).  The University will review the information in order to determine whether a reasonable accommodation can be made.  The University reserves the right to reject any requests for accommodation, that in its judgment would involve the use of an intermediary that would in effect require a student to rely on someone else’s power of selection and observation, fundamentally alter the nature of the School’s educational program, lower academic standards, cause an undue hardship on the School, or endanger the safety of patients or others.

Questions regarding the Technical Standards Policy should be directed to Dean Flavia Nobay, MD at  Flavia_Nobay@URMC.Rochester.edu

Religious Observance Policy

In order to be in compliance with New York State Education Law 224-a, the University has adopted the following statement regarding respect for students’ religious beliefs.

“As provided in New York Education Law Section 224-a, students who choose not to register for classes, attend classes or take exams on certain days because of their religious beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or to make up the work requirements or exams they miss, without penalties or additional fees.”

If the requested accommodations in effect require or result in students not participating in required educational experiences, a review committee will be convened to evaluate the reasonableness of the requested accommodations and if granting such will substantially alter the depth and integrity of the educational requirements for University of Rochester electives.

Religious Observance Policy.

Letter of Eligibility

(To be completed after electives are scheduled)

All materials submitted to the New York State Education Department must be in English, and accompanied by a $30 fee (in US funds) for each letter of eligibility.
The Office of Medical Student Inclusion and Enrichment Programs will provide you with the application form after you have been accepted to the program.

Contact

Questions about the letter of eligibility can be directed to:
Attn: Carla Wells
New York State Education Department
State Board of Medicine
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234 USA
518-474-3817 Ext. 56

Housing

Please note that the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry does not provide travel, housing, or living expenses for international visiting students. You are responsible for finding your own housing for the duration of your stay. Housing inquires should be directed to the Residence Director, University Apartments, Towne House, 1325 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620. Telephone number: (585) 275-5824. Fax number: (585) 442-7941. Please be aware that the Housing Office at the University does not guarantee housing.

URSM&D Policy on Unexcused Absences for International Visiting Medical Student

In the event that an visiting international student is reported missing from his or her elective for more than 24 hours without prior approval from the clerkship director, the  Director for the Visiting International Students in the Office of Medical Student Inclusion and Enrichment Programs will notify URMC security and the University of Rochester International Services Office (ISO). After 48 hours of an unexcused absence, the student’s home school will be notified and the student will be terminated from his or her electives and ISO will report the termination in SEVIS

Medical Student Honor Code

The University of Rochester School of Medicine has implemented an Honor Code for medical students in the Class of 2008 and forward. The honor code is designed to educate our community about professionalism and to deal with violations of these expectations while maintaining due process for students. NOTE: The Honor Code exists in conjunction with other University, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and regulatory policies. The Honor Code is not in lieu of, nor does it replace or supersede existing University, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and/or regulatory policies and procedures. In addition, the Medical Student Promotions and Review Board (MSPRB) retains the right to review professionalism, behavioral and other student cases directly, (independent of the Honor Code process) where health and safety concerns exist and in instances, determined by the MSPRB, to be egregious violations of the Medical School’s professionalism standards.
All students selected to participate in clinical electives at the University of Rochester must read and adhere to the professionalism standards described in the Student Honor Code.
Your failure to complete every phase of the application processes will result in your request to complete electives at the University of Rochester to be denied.
 

Contact

Questions, correspondence, and completed applications should be sent to the following:
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Office of Medical Student Enrichment Programs
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 601
Rochester, NY 14642 USA
Fax: (585) 273-1016
E-Mail: OME_VIS@URMC.Rochester.edu