Prepare Yourself for Residency
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We are pleased to offer both clinical and research training opportunities for fourth-year medical students. Join us for a clerkship in one of our many orthopedic divisions—Trauma, Adult Reconstruction, Spine and Hand Surgery, Pediatrics and Sports Medicine—or an independent study research opportunity led by internationally recognized faculty.
Fourth-Year Medical Student Clerkships
Our clerkships are available for MD and DO students from both UC San Diego School of Medicine (SOM) and home institutions accredited by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), laying the groundwork for students to carry on to a residency or fellowship.
Students apply for sub-internship rotations in a chosen medical or surgical discipline, gaining invaluable experience applying classroom knowledge face-to-face with patients. Outside of the classroom, students receive ongoing learning through attending Grand Rounds seminars as well as journal clubs and sub-specialty conferences.
During four-week rotations, you’ll participate in appropriate patient care related to your subspecialty, learning to understand, diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries, conditions and diseases. Under the supervision of faculty, students explore what it’s like to manage and provide care in a complex healthcare organization while working in a range of world-class facilities throughout San Diego County—including hospitals, emergency rooms and numerous clinics. Visit our residency page for to learn more about our facilities.
Please note: Availability is limited in all our clinical electives and UC San Diego students receive enrollment priority. For further information, please contact the clerkship coordinator, Sandra Gutierrez, at s5gutierrez@health.ucsd.edu.
Currently enrolled fourth-year UC San Diego medical students may apply for our subinternship rotations through MedHub. For more information about eligibility, and the application process and requirements, please review the Medical Student Core Curriculum through the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Visiting Medical Students
We accept fourth-year medical students visiting from institutions partnering with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Visiting medical students may apply for our subinternship rotations when the application period opens through the AAMC's Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program. For more information about eligibility, and the application process and requirements, please review the guidelines for Visiting Senior Students through the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
2023-2024 Application Key Cycle Dates:
- February 1: Opportunities posted in VSLO.
- March 1: Applications open in VSLO.
- April 1: We begin extending offers.
Please note: Only completed applications will be considered. Admission into the Visiting Student Program does not constitute admission or matriculation into the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Visiting student applicants must contact Undergraduate Medical Education to confirm that their school has a partnership agreement with our institution and request application material.
Application instructions
Visiting Elective Scholarship Program
We remain committed to advancing our mission of equity, diversity and inclusion within our departmental work and learning environments. To support a trainee’s transition into an away rotation, we are pleased to offer one qualified fourth-year medical student, who is a member of an underrepresented group in medicine, a scholarship through the Visiting Elective Scholarship Program (VESP). Scholarship funds can be used to alleviate travel and lodging expenses up to $2,200.
Visit the Award Opportunities page for more information about eligibility and application instructions.