Dear RUSM Community,
We often receive inquiries about the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program and its accessibility for Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) students. VSLO, managed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), is a platform that facilitates short-term clinical opportunities, such as away rotations, for medical students.
However, it's important to note that VSLO is currently only accessible to students from participating "Home" institutions. At this time, RUSM is not a participating Home institution in the VSLO program. While there was a period when a Caribbean medical school was included in VSLO on a trial basis, that institution was subsequently withdrawn, and no other international schools have been granted access since. This limitation means that RUSM students cannot utilize VSLO to apply for away rotations and must instead seek alternative methods for such opportunities.
Additionally, because the AAMC does not extend certain services to international institutions, RUSM students are required to independently purchase their Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) tokens for residency applications.
We understand the challenges this presents and want to assure you that the Clinical Student Government Association (CSGA) is actively monitoring this situation. Our Secretary of Academic Affairs maintains open communication with relevant parties to stay informed about any changes. Should the AAMC revise its policies to include international schools in the VSLO program, we are prepared to advocate for RUSM's inclusion to ensure our students have equitable access to these valuable opportunities.
This post was brought to you by the Clinical Student Government Association (CSGA). If you have any questions, please contact the Executive Secretary at CSGAExecutiveSecretary@rossu.edu.