We are committed to providing regular VSLO program updates through the VSLO listserv, email and on this page. Please visit this page regularly and if you have any questions, email the VSLO team at: visitingstudents@aamc.org.
Last Updated: January 16, 2025
Message from the VSLO Team
Dear VSLO Colleagues,
We hope that 2025 is off to a great start for you and your teams!
The first part of the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) student training in December was well-attended and the recording is now available on the AAMC VSLO student webpage. During the session, we shared information about the VSLO Student Checklist. This new resource, available later this month, will help students keep track of their VSLO program tasks while applying to electives.
We are finalizing the date for the second part of the training and will share that information with you soon.
Additionally, we’re pleased to let you know that VSLO data is now available in the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) Dean’s Office WorkStation (DWS) analytics. Medical school faculty and staff who advise students can easily access a wealth of new data resources following an update to the ERAS DWS Analytics for Schools.
DWS users who log in to the DWS Analytics dashboard will find new tools that include data from the AAMC VSLO program that will be especially helpful for those working with M3 students who are preparing for away rotations. Advisors with access to the DWS can view VSLO away rotations by month and specialty.
For those who are guiding current residency applicants, there are also residency interview data in aggregate and individual student details about the specialties students have applied to, interviews requested, scheduled, missed, and completed, and much more. You can find more information and resources on the DWS Analytics for Schools webpage.
Thank you,
The VSLO Team
VSLO Program Updates
Register to Attend a VSLO Refresher Training
Join a VSLO system refresher training for new and existing users at Home and Host institutions. Our one-hour training sessions offer a refresher of key VSLO activities that Home and Host institution users complete, as well as an opportunity to ask questions. You can view the training schedule and register to attend on the VSLO Demonstrations and Training page.
2025 AAMC Standardized Immunization Form Now Available
The AAMC Standardized Immunization Form is reviewed annually to ensure it reflects current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedules. There are no significant changes in this year's version of the immunization form. Please refer to the companion FAQ documents for additional information about the immunization form.
New! Expanded Opportunities in the Visiting Scholars Resources Database
We're excited to share that the VSLO Visiting Scholars Resources Database now has an expanded list of opportunities. This includes research components and opportunities for M1 and M2 students. This expansion is due to moving opportunities previously listed in the now retired Careers in Medicine® Clinical and Research Opportunities database. We are eager for you and your students to view and utilize this resource.
Reminder to Review Access in the VSLO Application Service
As part of the AAMC’s access control policies and procedures, system administrators are reminded to review the list of users at your institution who currently have access to the VSLO application service. If there are users who have left your institution or changed roles, please deactivate them. Please reach out to us via our contact form with any questions or if you need assistance.
Requiring Two-factor Authentication for All AAMC Account Users by March 31, 2025
The AAMC takes the security of our community’s data very seriously. In addition to substantial internal controls and information security infrastructure, the AAMC will now require two-factor authentication (2FA) for all users to further enhance AAMC account security. 2FA is a two-step process that provides an added layer of security beyond the standard username and password. Upon login, users will be required to set up 2FA before accessing any AAMC service (the VSLO application service, ERAS systems, and more). This initiative is designed to protect sensitive data and safeguard access to the information of others.
AAMC Resources for Medical Educators
New AAMC Resource Supports Students along Their Medical School Journey
The AAMC recently surveyed a group of medical students, including the Organization of Student Representatives and the Learner Feedback Panel, about their experiences using the resources for students and residents on the AAMC website. Findings show that students want easy-to-use, practical, and actionable tools to track their progress throughout medical school. With this information, the AAMC developed a new resource, Thriving in Medical School: Checklists for Medical Students. This collection of year-by-year checklists and resources are designed to help students feel more prepared before and during medical school. Read more.
Additional Items of Interest
Physician Data Initiative Webinar Recording: Establishing the Foundations for Collective Data Sharing
Through the Physician Data Initiative, the AAMC, Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and American Medical Association aim to enable meaningful collaboration by sharing better data for advancing research regarding a more diverse and culturally prepared physician workforce. Participants in this webinar learned about the Physicians Data Initiative, its collaborative approach to building data standards, the importance of standardizing data to enable data sharing, and heard about two newly released standards.
Upcoming Events and Nominations
ACGME 2025 Annual Educational Conference: Meaning in Medicine
The ACGME will host the 2025 Annual Educational Conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 20-22, 2025. The Annual Educational Conference brings together the largest GME community in the world and features a wide selection of curated experiences and content that apply to both seasoned and first-time attendees. The VSLO team will be attending, and we hope you will stop by to chat with us at the AAMC exhibit booth 116. Register Now.
Registration Now Open for Virtual IPEC Institute
The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC), of which the AAMC is a member, will host its next IPEC Institute, IPEC Competencies: Fostering Innovation Through Interprofessional Collaboration, virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Bringing together leading health care speakers and experts, this event is a one-day, online interactive professional development experience. Participants will engage with national leaders in IPEC and competency-based education. Faculty and leaders responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of IPEC initiatives are encouraged to attend. 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.
We encourage VSLO users to subscribe to our listservs for timely updates and more. Please send us a blank email to join our Global or U.S. Network Listservs.
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.