The Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University welcomes visiting medical students for clinical electives. All visiting students must meet institutional requirements outlined below.
How to Apply for a Visiting Elective
1. Apply through VSLO
Students from LCME-accredited medical schools and Osteopathic programs must apply using the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) system. Applications open in early May; we do not accept applications before April 1. To view all our institutional requirements, visit the VSLO website.
Note: If your home school does not use VSLO, please email us for further guidance at rsom.studentaffairs@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
2. Required Affiliation Agreement (No Exceptions)
Before a student can be accepted for any elective, there must be a fully executed affiliation agreement between Stony Brook University Hospital (and Clinical Practice Management Plans) and the student’s home medical school. There are no exceptions. If an agreement is not already in place, the contracting process may take 6 to 8 weeks. Students are strongly encouraged to verify whether an active affiliation agreement exists before submitting an application.
3. Approval & Reporting Instructions
Once an affiliation agreement is in place, the VSLO application will be approved. Students will receive written confirmation and detailed reporting instructions for the first day.
Note: Clinical departments cannot approve or schedule electives until the affiliation agreement is finalized and the Office of Student Affairs has approved the rotation.
4. Special Accommodations
Students are responsible for contacting the department at least one month prior to the start of an elective to request physical, academic or other special accommodations when needed.
5. Making Changes
If extenuating circumstance requires a change in an elective rotation, visiting students must notify the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education a minimum of one month prior to the start of the elective to be changed or canceled.
Requests for additional rotations must be accompanied by new applications from the home school and an additional processing fee if VSLO cannot be used. Because PPD's and Certificates of Insurance expire, we ask that you submit complete applications and supporting materials for rotations occurring at different times of the year.
6. Housing
Stony Brook University Hospital does not provide housing for visiting students. Do not make housing arrangements until an affiliation agreement is in place and you have received confirmation from the Office of Student Affairs that your rotation has been approved and scheduled.
7. International Medical Students
Renaissance School of Medicine cannot accept visiting students from non‑LCME‑accredited international medical schools unless they are part of an approved Stony Brook global health education partnership. Learn more about our approved partnerships by visiting our Global Medical Education page.