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Away Rotations

Most institutions use VSLO to process their applications for clinical electives. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students may opt to participate in multiple clinical rotations, but only 2 will count toward the minimum overall immersions* required to graduate (as competency/interest-driven rotations). It is necessary that Vanderbilt students rotate at an institution that has an Affiliation Agreement established. View a list of schools that have signed onto the AAMC Uniform Clinical Training Agreement, here. To check if we have an affiliation agreement with a school, please email miranda.l.mclaughlin@vanderbilt.edu

Away Rotations FAQs

See evaluation data here.

Away rotations fulfill the competency and interest- driven requirements of the Immersion phase, e.g. NOT ACE, A.I., A.E., etc. requirements. A maximum of two (2) four-week away rotations are creditable toward the minimum overall immersions* required to graduate. Any more than 2 away rotations will NOT count toward the overall minimum required immersions, however you will receive a grade on your transcript and earn credit if passed successfully for all approved away rotations.


Each institution has different requirements, but below are the following items you should have easily accessible.

  • Updated CV
  • Transcript – request through YES and have it emailed to miranda.l.mclaughlin@vanderbilt.edu
  • AAMC immunization forms – completed by student health, Dara Dixon is your contact – dara.l.grissom@vumc.org
  • Letter of Recommendation – not required by all institutions, but good to have ready if needed. If required, have your letter writer email the document to miranda.l.mclaughlin@vanderbilt.edu and it will be uploaded to your VSLO documents
  • Updated compliance items – Annual Renewal Training, BLS, Bloodborne Pathogens Training, and N-95 Mask Fit test. Please contact Emily Blake at emily.blake@vanderbilt.edu for compliance inquiries.
  • Criminal Background Check – from Certiphi

This is very important! You cannot register yourself. You will need to submit the Form 7100: Petition for Clinical Rotation (Away) in redcap for every away rotation you participate in, even if you are participating in more than 2 away rotations. This form a) enables us to enroll you in the elective and b) provides us a contact name so that we can track down your evaluation and enter a grade to your transcript. 7100 FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED 28 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF YOUR ROTATION OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

A 7100 form must be submitted for every away rotation regardless of if it is creditable toward the minimum required immersions.


7100 FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED 28 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF YOUR ROTATION OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION​ REQUIREMENTS. All you need to do is submit the 7100 Form via Redcap. From there, the Office of Enrollment Services will take care of your registration. For questions about the away rotation registration process, please contact Miranda McLaughlin. Once your away rotation is complete, you will be required to submit a student away rotation evaluation about your experience.

A 7100 form must be submitted for every away rotation regardless of if it is creditable toward the minimum required immersions.


We are happy to help you with the application process for a non-VSLO school. Please email Miranda McLaughlin for further assistance.

Each away rotation must be hosted by an entity with a pre-existing medical education program. A formal affiliation agreement between the entity and VUSM is required.

Yes, you can complete a family medicine away rotation. It will count towards the immersions required for graduation (competency and interest) but it does not fulfill a primary care course requirement.

Not at all! Make sure you visit the VSLO website and review the specific requirements of each institution, as well as the date when that institution’s application opens online. If you feel strongly about rotating at a particular school, you’ll want to make sure you’re one of the first applicants. Many schools enroll on a first-come-first-serve basis.


No need! We will be going into VSLO twice a day in the coming months and will receive a notification when you have an application that needs to be verified and/or released.


No. The beauty of VSLO—much like the Common App or AMCAS—is that you can upload your documents one time. Just make sure you assign your documents to the different host institutions to which you’re applying.


Most institutions require a recent criminal background check. When you get that email, follow the steps to process your criminal background check. You will receive a copy of the results you can upload to your VSLO documents.


We will create a letter for each of you that addresses your expected graduation date, the core clerkships you’ve completed, your various trainings (BLS, ACLS, mask fit, etc.) and your personal health and malpractice insurance. We will upload these letters to your VSLO documents. This will suffice for the institutions’ requirements.


Institutions will either have their own immunization form for you to complete or they will use the standard AAMC form. Make sure you read the information about the institution and know what they require. For signatures on immunization records, please contact the Dara Dixon in Student Health at dara.l.grissom@vumc.org


Just leave that blank. Do not put N/A.


There is a dashboard in VSLO where you will be able to check on the status.


Go into YES (Your Enrollment Services) and request that it be delivered to miranda.l.mclaughlin@vanderbilt.edu. We will get notification that your transcript is ready and we will upload it to your VSLO record.


Grades are determined by the host institution. If a host institution only offers pass/fail grading, this is explained on the transcript.