- Professional Service
VSLO® Program Bulletin
Last Updated: October 15, 2026
Message from the VSLO Team
Dear VSLO Colleagues,
Exciting news: The launch of the new Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) platform is on the horizon, and we’re making sure you have everything you need to be ready. A comprehensive set of training resources will be available beginning this month, including job aids and webinars. These tools will provide hands-on support, practical guidance, and an opportunity to be prepared and explore the platform before the 2027 VSLO application season begins.
As you plan ahead, don't forget about our upcoming webinars focused on an overview of the new VSLO system. We're excited to give you a closer look at what's ahead. During the sessions, we will showcase the new system, highlight key 2027 VSLO season enhancements, and share tips to help you navigate the new experience with ease. Register now:
VSLO Modernization: Home Institution Overview
Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. ET
VSLO Modernization: Host Institution Overview
Thursday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. ET
Sincerely,
Dana Dunleavy, PhD
AAMC Senior Director for Career Exploration Services and Selection R&D
VSLO Program Updates and Resources
Get Ready for the 2027 Season: Key Milestones Ahead
For the next VSLO season, we are planning a phased launch that reflects how VSLO users work. Hosts will publish their catalogs first, then advisors and students will gain access so they have more time to explore their away rotation strategies before beginning to submit applications.
- October 2026: Home and Host institution resources will become available.
- Late December 2026: The existing VSLO system will close for two weeks (when we have the lowest usage every year) to enable final data transfer and prepare for the new season.
- January 2027:
- Host institutions will gain initial access to make their catalogs and electives for the season visible.
- Home institutions and students will then gain access, enabling Home institutions to invite new students to explore available opportunities and prepare with their advisor.
- Early February 2027: Students can begin submitting their applications.
Visit the Career Exploration Services Team at Learn Serve Lead
Heading to Learn Serve Lead 2026: The AAMC Annual Meeting from Nov. 6-10 in Anaheim? Members of the Career Exploration Services (CES) team, including VSLO, Careers in Medicine® (CiM), and Residency Explorer™ colleagues, will be on site and we hope to see you there. Visit us in the AAMC Downtown space or at the VSLO Program and Modernization Briefing on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. PT, VSLO Modernization Demos (check the program agenda), and the “Developing a More Transparent Away Rotation Season” table topic discussion on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Connect with the VSLO Team During our Office Hours
Got questions about the new VSLO system? Join our upcoming office hours on Oct. 22 or Oct. 28 for a conversation with the VSLO team. You can register for VSLO Office Hours on the Training for Institutions page.
AAMC Resources for Medical Educators
Use the Careers in Medicine Program to Support Undecided Students
For students who are undecided about a specialty, CiM self-assessments can help them reflect on their interests, skills, and values. The specialty indecision survey can help start a conversation about what is making the choice difficult. Use their responses to identify specialties they want to explore and choose an away rotation that lets them experience one firsthand.
Use the Residency Explorer Tool to Help Students Create their Away Rotation Plan
The Residency Explorer tool helps students learn what residency programs offer and compare their training environments. Use that information in advising conversations to help students identify programs that fit their goals and decide where an away rotation could help them learn more before applying to residency.
Institutional Retention of Medical Students for Residency
About one in four graduates of U.S. MD granting schools enter a residency program affiliated with their medical school. New AAMC research on institutional retention shows how that pattern varies by specialty and institutional characteristics. For Home and Host institutions, the findings offer a useful lens for thinking about student advising, away rotations, and residency recruitment.
Upcoming Events
Register Now for Learn Serve Lead 2026: The AAMC Annual Meeting
Are you registered yet for Learn Serve Lead 2026: The AAMC Annual Meeting taking place Nov. 6-10 in Anaheim, Calif.? Registration includes access to more than 110 educational sessions, networking opportunities with colleagues and AAMC leadership, industry-leading keynote speakers, limited-capacity preconference workshops, and more. Register now.
About the VSLO Program
The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home institutions.
View Program Updates
We appreciate your candid feedback as it helps us identify and prioritize any resource or system enhancements. Please contact the AAMC Support Center or call 202-478-9878 if you have any questions. Representatives are available Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
VSLO News and Announcements
Recently Updated: VSLO Student Infographic
The VSLO student infographic provides information to assist students (and advisors guiding students) through the process of developing individual away rotation strategies. The infographic illustrates a range of data points, including specialty data, average time between application submission and elective start dates, cadence of student and Host institution activity in the VSLO application service, and more.
VSLO® Applicant Checklist
This resource will help applicants keep track of tasks they need to complete while applying to electives in the VSLO application service.