Visiting Medical Students
We're proud to offer the following opportunities to visiting medical students and residents.
Shadow Visits for Medical Students
If you're scheduled for a residency interview or have already interviewed and would like to shadow our staff, contact the residency program to schedule your visit. To shadow under other circumstances, submit the relevant application below before the deadline in the cover letter. Other forms listed in the application are also at the bottom of this page. Arrangements may never be made independently from Carilion Clinic's office of Visiting Student Affairs (VSA).
Unfortunately, we're no longer able to accommodate externs (medical school graduates) for shadow visits or rotations.
Eligibility
- Placement is NOT guaranteed, as it depends on staff availability and limited capacity.
- Eligible applicants will be allowed to shadow up to 3 days within a 12-month period.
- VSA will use the information provided on the application to arrange placements. If a placement is scheduled based on the information provided but the applicant is unable to attend or is a no-show, VSA will not reschedule the appointment and the time will be counted toward the 3 days within the 12-month period.
- Due to concern for patient confidentiality and visitor safety, some departments don't provide shadow experiences.
- Tuberculosis (TB) screening: All shadowing applicants are required to provide TB screening information that has occurred within the last 12 months as part of the application requirements on the Carilion Tuberculosis Screening form ONLY. No other forms will be accepted.
- Visiting medical students seeking shadowing time at Carilion must submit a full, completed Medical Student Application for Observation, including all required documentation to VSA in either Word or PDF format.
- Applicants must also read the Code of Excellence manual and print and sign page 29 as part of the Application for Observation packet.
- Carilion considers flu season to be between October 1st - March 30th each year. Currently, flu vaccinations are not mandatory for shadowers or clinical rotations. However, if the applicant is not vaccinated for the current flu season, they must wear a mask in all Carilion facilities.
How To Apply
A medical student shadowing application MUST include the following documents to be considered COMPLETE. Completed applications should be submitted to visitingstudentaffairs@carilionclinic.org (in Word or PDF format) in one communication (email), not separately. All incomplete or not legible applications will be denied and returned to applicant.
- Medical Student Application For Observation
- Carilion Immunization Record
- Access and Confidentiality Agreement
- Observer Program Participation Agreement
- Observer Guidelines
- Carilion Code of Excellence Acknowledgement (page 29 of COE manual)
- Carilion Flu Vaccination Form (if applying to shadow between Oct. 1 – March 31)
If a shadowing application is approved by VSA, the applicant will receive a written confirmation to the email address provided on the application with further instructions. Shadowers approved through VSA are required to wear an observer badge while in Carilion facilities.
All application questions and clarifications should be directed to Carilion’s office of Visiting Student Affairs at visitingstudentaffairs@carilionclinic.org.
Under no circumstances may you shadow without approval and a confirmation email from Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs.
Clinical Rotations for Medical Students
Arrangements may never be made independently from Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs.
Applications for the 2025 – 2026 academic year will be accepted through VSLO beginning on April 1, 2025.
Prerequisites for Applying for Either Type of Clinical Rotation
- You must be a native-born U.S. citizen, naturalized U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have entered the United States on a B1 or F1 visa.
- An approved affiliation agreement must be on file with Carilion. If your school isn't listed below, and is a U.S. medical school, email us your school's clinical office contact information (confirm with your school before emailing). We'll notify you when the affiliation is finalized so you may apply.
- You must have taken and passed the USMLE Step 1 and/or the COMLEX Level 1 exam.
- You must be fluent in written and spoken English.
Rotations in a Private Practice
Medical students who meet the above criteria and plan to rotate with a physician in private practice may accompany that physician into a Carilion facility by applying for a private preceptorship. (See application documents.)
Students from unaffiliated schools may accompany the physician into Carilion; however, they're only eligible to shadow (no "hands-on" clinical experience, communication with or treatment of patients). If approved by Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs, the shadow appointment will be no longer than 3 days. Applicants must complete the shadow application, as described above, and submit to Visiting Student Affairs for approval prior to any arrangements being made.
Electives/Selectives With Residency Faculty
Students who want to apply for elective rotations with residency faculty at Carilion must meet the prerequisites and by the time of the rotation be fourth-year medical students who have completed their schools' third-year core rotations.
VSLO Application Timeline
If the applicant is currently a third-year medical student in the 2024/2025 academic year, they're eligible to apply for fourth-year elective rotations for consideration through VSLO starting April 1, 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic year. These rotations occur July 2025 through May 2026.
Before Applying for Electives/Selectives Rotations:
- Review the catalog descriptions below for rotations being offered through VSLO for the upcoming academic year for all prerequisite requirements, location and other information.
- Most of our programs reserve July through January rotations for students interested in applying for audition electives with their programs. Before applying during audition months, determine whether or not you meet that particular program's minimum residency criteria.
- You may participate in up to 8 weeks of fourth-year elective rotations within the same academic year.
- Applications submitted through VSLO are considered on a first-completed, first-served basis.
- Documents uploaded into VSLO should be in PDF format.
- Verify that the email address used in the student's VSLO profile is the medical school email address (not personal email such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc.). Historically, notifications from VSLO were undeliverable to personal email addresses. Please verify with your school's IT department that communications from VSLO aren't blocked.
- Completed applications must be received at least 45 days prior to the requested start date.
- Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs are able to offer rotations to upcoming fourth-year medical students after our own Virginia Tech Carilion medical students are assigned.
- If the applicant has been selected for a rotation, they will receive an approval confirmation from Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs.
- All applicants are required to be approved and onboarded through Carilion's office of Visiting Student Affairs - NO EXCEPTIONS.
Time Off
See the Attendance Policy.
Housing and Transportation
Students must provide their own housing and transportation.
Critical Information
- We DO NOT ACCEPT applications arriving fewer than 45 days prior to the requested start date.
- We cannot process applications with missing information or documentation. They will remain in a pending status until completed by the applicant.
- The ONLY immunization record we accept is the Carilion Immunization Record - no substitute documentation.
Canceling Rotations
On rare occasions, circumstances necessitate dropping a confirmed rotation. However, students are expected to honor their commitments once rotations are confirmed.
Carilion Immunization Record Form and Elective Catalog Descriptions
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Affiliated Medical Schools
Affiliated Medical Schools
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Albany Medical College
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- A.T. Still University - Kirksville, Missouri
- A.T. Still University - Mesa, Arizona
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
- California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- California Northstate University College of Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- California University of Science and Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Campbell University
- Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Creighton University School of Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Duke University School of Medicine
- East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
- East Tennessee State University James H Quillen College of Medicine
- Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (all campuses)
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
- Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine - Temple University (expired 6/30/25)
- Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans (expired 6/30/25)
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport
- Mackay Medical College - Taiwan
- Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Meharry School of Medicine
- Mercer University School of Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- Midwestern University on Behalf of its Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
- New York Institute of Technology - NY and AR Campuses
- Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- NOVA Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine
- NOVA Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
- Old Dominion University
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus
- Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
- Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine - University of Utah
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center (expired 6/30/25)
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - New York
- Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Tulane University School of Medicine
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (expired 6/30/25)
- University of California Davis School of Medicine
- University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine
- University of Chicago - Pritzker School of Medicine
- University of Florida College of Medicine - Gainesville
- University of Illinois College of Medicine - Chicago, Peoria, Rockford and Urbana
- University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- University of Kansas School of Medicine
- University of Louisville School of Medicine
- University of Massachusetts Medical School
- University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
- University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Greenville
- University of South Florida - Tampa (expired 6/30/25)
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- University of Washington School of Medicine
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (expired 6/30/25)
- Washington University School of Medicine
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- West Virginia University School of Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
- William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Wright State University
Podiatric Medical Schools
- Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences
- Des Moines University
- Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - School of Podiatric Medicine
- Midwestern University on behalf of its Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine
- New York College of Podiatric Medicine (expired 6/30/25)
- Rosiland Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Samuel Merritt University School of Podiatric Medicine
- Temple University on behalf of School of Podiatric Medicine
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Podiatric Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine
*All current affiliation agreements expire June 30, 2030.
Attendance Policy
For all absences, you must follow your school's and Carilion's policies (Carilion's is below).
You may not miss the scheduled check-in for any reason, including board exams or interviews.
You may not be on the service before completing check-in or after completing check-out. If required to make up time missed, do so between check-in and check-out.
Some courses further restrict days missed (see the course description), which supersedes the following.
Whether an absence is approved or unapproved, the student must notify the clerkship director (M3) or course supervisor (M4) and the immediate supervising attending and resident. Time missed for unapproved absences will be made up before check-out.
Approved Absences
Unexpected events:
- Death in the immediate family (less than 3 days)
- Personal sickness (>2 days requires a note from a physician to get credit for the course)
- Presenting at a conference (1 day)
- Inclement weather
Scheduled events:
- M4 interviews other than on the rotation start date (1 day for each rotation week taken consecutively or at random)
- School-required event or professional meeting (less than 1 day)
Unapproved Absences
- Attending graduations, professional conferences
- Participation in a wedding
Early Check-Out Appointments
Students may request early check out appointments with Visiting Student Affairs, but must provide at least 24 hours advance notice.
