OPPORTUNITIES

A limited number of electives are available to students from other U.S., Canadian (accredited schools by the LCME) and Foreign medical schools, who have finished their junior year of clinical work. Foreign medical students should review our policy on medical students from foreign medical schools. However, VCU School of Medicine students have first priority and we try to accommodate extramural students at the time and in the discipline requested. Due to the timing of preparing the schedules of our own students, we can take no action on applications from extramural students for the upcoming year until around the middle of July 2008 and foreign students not until around the first of August 2008.  We do not offer electives during the months of May, June, July, and August.  Also, we need the following information along with the application, Dean's Letter of good standing, proof of taken USMLE Step 1, proof of HIPAA training from your school, immunization records  (VCU Certificate of Immunization Form - need proof of TB skin test within 3 months prior of arrival and proof of varicella status (2 vaccines or a positive titer)), proof of health insurance (need copy of your card), proof of malpractice, two letters of recommendation, and current transcript.

ELECTIVES

Our electives are of one month duration, or multiples thereof. Generally speaking, we encourage visiting students to conform to this schedule if at all possible, but exceptions will be considered and all electives must be taken at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia or the V.A. Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia (the VA Medical Center now requires criminal background checks before you start electives there). 

IMMUNIZATION RECORD

All visiting medical students have to fill out our VCU Certificate of Immunization Form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) and return wih your application and other materials to the Elective Coordinator (Do not mail to our Student Health Services).  Your immunizations have to be approved by our Student Health Services before starting elective here.

Reminder that we need proof of TB skin test 3 months prior to arrival and proof of

varicella status (2 vaccines or a positive titer).

EXPENSES

We offer no stipends. A non-refundable processing fee of $100.00 for each elective you would like to do here will be required. Students are responsible for the cost of their meals, securing living accommodations, and rental fee for those that need pagers here ($10.00). However, we will be happy to send you our housing list and the telephone number of our dorms here on campus. You will need a car to reach most other housing.  Also, any student that will be doing our Emergency Medicine elective will have to pay and additional $15.00 for their ER I.D.

MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

Professional liability coverage is required and must be verified by the student's home school or by the student for their school's coverage.  VCU/MCV School of Medicine does not offer malpractice insurance to visiting medical students.

HEALTH COVERAGE

Health coverage is required and must be verified by the student's home school or by the student (copy of health card).

EVALUATION

We ask that you provide your Dean's Office with our address listed below and have them forward an evaluation form to the Electives Coordinator because we do not have grade sheets for visiting students.

APPLICATION

Please note that we do not take applications from the following foreign schools:

•  Ross University
• Spartan Health Science University
• American Caribbean
• St George's
• All other schools located in the Caribbean

Send your completed application (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) to:

Nancy Jackson, Assistant Electives Coordinator, Electives Office
VCU School of Medicine

1101 E. Marshall Street

VCU/MCV Campus Box 980565

Richmond, VA  23298-0565

E-mail Address: nbjackso@vcu.edu

We cannot always accommodate all students who apply to us for an elective at the VCU Medical Center of Virginia Commonwealth University. Therefore, unless special circumstances exist, we limit all visiting students to a maximum of two months here. If your plans change and you cannot come to VCU School of Medicine, please notify us.