Rotating Medical Student Application Information

COVID-19 Updates

Visiting Medical Student Rotations

April 14, 2021: The Coalition for Physician Accountability has updated recommendations for visiting student rotations. Our available rotation options now include the month of July (see details in rotation blocks below).

March 30, 2021: VSAS is not accepting applications for visiting MS4 rotations until April 15, 2021. We will be accepting applications through this system with an application deadline of May 9, 2021 (extended from prior deadline).

February 24, 2021: Based on recommendations and restrictions from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Coalition for Physician Accountability, we will be offering orthopaedic surgery rotations to visiting students during the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year. Rotation availability will start on July 26, 2021 (see dates of rotation blocks below). Students who have an orthopaedic surgery specialty interest but do not have access to an orthopaedic surgery residency program within their school's system can request rotations starting earlier than July 26. When deciding whether to apply for a rotation, please keep in mind AAMC's current restriction limiting each student to one visiting rotation for the academic year.

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program

For fourth-year medical students, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers four-week elective orthopaedic surgery rotations.

These electives combine practical clinical experience with didactic instruction, including a series of mandatory formal conferences. Students work directly with residents and members of the orthopaedic surgery attending staff. They participate in surgical procedures and treatments in the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Our healthcare system is affiliated with University of North Carolina School of Medicine (UNC COM). However, our residency program is completely separate from UNC Orthopaedics. Because of the affiliation, the visiting student application process will take you through UNC COM.

UNC SOM students should contact Hanna.Lyons@AtriumHealth.org for permission to take the course.

Visiting students interested should log onto: aamc.org/vsas

Our application process will begin thru VSAS. Please apply through UNC and select our site.

From the VSAS main page, click on Search Electives and select from the list of drop-down boxes:

• 4th year Elective Requirements for Orthopaedic Visiting Student Rotation ORTS448
  • Specialty - Orthopaedic Surgery
  • State - North Carolinas HealthCare System
  • Institution - Univ North Carolina School of Med
  • Site - Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte NC 
• For further questions, please contact Hanna.Lyons@AtriumHealth.org, Helen.Womack@AtriumHealth.org or Susan.Kullstam@AtriumHealth.org
  • Fax: 704 355 7905
• Applications for visiting student rotation requests will be accepted April 15, 2021 through May 9, 2021.
  • 4-week rotation blocks start July 26 and end November 13, 2021
    • Block 5: June 28 - July 25, 2021 (this option added as of 4/14/21)
    • Block 6: July 26 - August 22, 2021
    • Block 7: August 23 - September 19, 2021
    • Block 8: September 20 - October 17, 2021
    • Block 9: October 18 - November 14, 2021

Please select a first, second and third choice for rotation block.

We would also like for our applicants to include their CV, USMLE scores, medical school transcripts, a recent photo, current fit test and the supplemental form of Key Academic Achievements (see link below). Please remember to save your edits before uploading the completed form to VSAS. The supplemental form can be uploaded as a personal statement. Our rotation does not require a letter of recommendation. If the VSAS system requires a letter of recommendation to be uploaded to submit your application, applicants have the option to upload a document that simply states, "Letter of recommendation not required for CMC Orthopaedic Surgery rotation."

Once these items are received, they will be reviewed by Dr. Laurence Kempton, Medical Student Director. The applicant is informed via email of acceptance as soon as a decision is made. Decisions will be made in late May to early June. Due to the popularity of this rotation, we are only able to accommodate 3-4 visiting students per rotation. We will accept more than four visiting students if space is available after UNC's drop/add dates (mid June).