Exposing Medical Students to Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialties
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery welcomes visiting 4th-year Medical Students, though space is limited. We follow recommendations from the Coalition for Physician Accountability’s Work Group on Away Rotations.
Application Process and Requirements
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) and Nashville’s Meharry Medical College 4th year Medical Students are given first preference for our clerkships. Our Clerkship is a 4-week rotation, offered during the months of July, August, September, October, and November. Rotation dates follow the Vanderbilt MS4 Class Calendar.
All applications must be submitted through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program (VSLO). Apply to General Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Surgery. A supplemental video application must be submitted through JOBMA.
Deadlines
VSLO Catalog Viewable: February 24, 2025
VSLO Application Opens: March 3, 2025
VSLO Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
JOBMA Supplemental Application Opens: February 24, 2025
JOBMA Supplemental Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Important: Your VSLO application must be released by your home institution by March 31, 2025 to expedite the review process. Decisions will be sent to applicants approximately 4-6 weeks following the deadline.
Rotation Dates for 2025:
Please note: Due to the mandatory orientation and related trainings on the first day, we are unable to be flexible with rotation dates.
- July: July 7 - August 1
- August: August 4 - August 29
- September: September 2 - September 26
- October: September 29 - October 24
- November: October 27 - November 21
VUSM Eligibility Requirements can be found here
In addition to the VUSM requirements, we require:
- Supplemental Video Application - We are utilizing the JOBMA platform for the supplemental video application. The questions are listed below. Each question has a time limit. You will also be given the option for a practice question to help acclimate you to the system.
- Tell us about yourself. 3 minutes
- Why Orthopaedics? 2 minutes
- Why Vanderbilt? 1 minute
Helpful information about our clerkship program:
- Many sub-specialties rotate off campus. It is highly recommended that you have reliable transportation.
- Students are notified by email when they are accepted for a visiting student rotation.
- Visiting student elective complete applications are considered in order of receipt. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
For more information about our clerkship program, contact us at ortho-residency@vumc.org.
For more information about rotating at Vanderbilt, contact visitingmed@vanderbilt.edu or visit their website.
Program Overview
Positions: Varies
Duration: 4 weeks
Locations: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade, Vanderbilt Orthopaedics Franklin
Our orthopaedic surgery clerkships give you hands-on experience in all aspects of orthopaedic surgery. Helping you integrate medical and surgical knowledge by caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including oncology and pediatrics, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As part of our program, you will work as part of our multidisciplinary team, focusing on initial evaluation, preoperative and postoperative management, and intraoperative surgical procedures.
Your course will include:
- Call: During your clerkship, you will share in the call experience, working independently to provide patients with casting, evaluations, and splinting.
- Didactic sessions: Through one-hour discussions each morning before surgical cases or clinic, you will participate in didactic sessions that will help you integrate medical and surgical knowledge in the care of patients.
- One day with our Program Director, in the OR or in clinic.
- Rotations: You will rotate through two different sub-specialties for 2 weeks each.
- A faculty advisor will be assigned to you for your clerkship.
Residency Program Candidacy
As a visiting medical student, we consider you a candidate for our Orthopaedic Surgery Residency program. We complete formal residency program interviews during your month-long visiting rotation.
Subspecialty Clerkships
Our orthopedic surgery clerkships provide exposure to two of eight subspecialties.
Adult Hand
You will learn to provide the initial evaluation, pre-operative, and post-operative management for adult hand surgery patients. Caring for patients with congenital hand deformities and musculoskeletal hand injuries, you will gain experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Adult Reconstructive Surgery
Working alongside our joint replacement experts, you will improve your surgical knowledge in caring for orthopaedic patients.
Adult Spine
Through exposure to caring for patients with spine-related deformities and injuries in the hospital and at outpatient clinics, we provide an introduction to outpatient assessment and inpatient management for people with a wide variety of spinal disorders.
You will learn to properly assess patients with low back pain, and spinal injuries with neurological involvement.
You will also participate in the emergent, preoperative, surgical, postoperative hospital, and outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic care of patients.
Adult Trauma
Working alongside our residents, you will help care for orthopaedic trauma patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Through this experience, you will learn more about emergent, preoperative, surgical, postoperative hospital and outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic patient care.
Foot & Ankle
You will gain an in-depth understanding of the evaluation and management of: Arthritis, Common deformities, Neuropathy, Orthotic management, Pedorthic management, Sports-related injuries, Tendonopathies, and Fractures.
Oncology
You can expect to gain hands-on exposure to musculoskeletal oncology, learning the medical, pathological, radiological, and surgical aspects of patient care.
Pediatric Orthopaedics
Working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, you will assess and manage pediatric orthopaedic surgical patients. With this exposure to patient care, you will learn decision making protocols, how to evaluate the child, pertinent history taking, and treatment options.
Sports Medicine
You will work in our Sports Medicine Center and the operating room, alongside our Attendings and residents, caring for patients with athletic injuries and all injuries of the knee and shoulder.