VSLO® Program Updates

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities^™ (VSLO^®) program is enhancing its system for institutions and students. These modifications—based on user-feedback—will optimize the experience for everyone. 

With these modifications, Host institutions will be able to make electives visible within an open catalog, increasing transparency and flexibility for Home and Host institutions and helping applicants better develop their away rotation strategies. Host institutions will also be able to see one application for all date requests for an elective versus multiple separate applications, streamlining the application review process. 

Streamlined, flexible, and transparent. This is the new VSLO system.

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.

Explore more VSLO student resources on our webpage.

Last Updated: September 17, 2026

Message from the VSLO Team

Dear VSLO Colleagues, 

We're excited to share some details of the upcoming launch of the modernized Visiting Student Learning Opportunities^™ (VSLO^®) system coming in early 2027. 

The system will launch in phases, and Host institutions will gain access in early January 2027 to build, review, and make their catalogs and electives visible. A few weeks after the initial launch, Home institutions and students will gain access, enabling students to explore available opportunities while ensuring offerings are ready for review. With application submission officially opening in early February, this phased approach will provide greater visibility into opportunities, support more effective planning, and deliver a more predictable and consistent application experience for VSLO users. 

To help users prepare for the transition, a comprehensive set of training resources, including job aids, webinars, and training opportunities for institutions, will be available beginning in October. These materials will provide step-by-step support and help users familiarize themselves with the modernized experience ahead of launch. To reduce disruption to your workflows, the existing VSLO system will close for two weeks in late December (when we have the lowest usage every year) to enable final data transfer.

We also hope you will join us for an upcoming webinar focused on an overview of the VSLO modernization efforts. During the session, we will showcase the modernized system, highlight key 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

Lastly for those of you attending Learn Serve Lead 2026: The AAMC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in November, you can get an early look at the modernized VSLO system. Join us for the VSLO Program and Modernization Briefing on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., and stop by one of our live system demonstrations on Nov. 8 and 9. Check out the program for the exact timing and location of the demonstrations. 

Sincerely,  

Dana Dunleavy, PhD 
AAMC Senior Director for Career Exploration Services and Selection R&D 

VSLO Program Updates and Resources

Connect with the VSLO Team During our Office Hours  

Got questions, ideas, or topics you'd like to discuss? Join our next office hours for a conversation with the VSLO team. Whether you are reflecting on the past academic year or preparing for the upcoming season, we’re here to help. You can register for VSLO Office Hours on the Training for Institutions page. 

AAMC Resources for Medical Educators

New Residency Explorer^™ Feature: Interview Likelihood 

The new Interview Likelihood feature within the Residency Explorer^™ tool provides applicants with additional information about how their application characteristics compare with applicants who received interview invitations from individual residency programs during the previous application cycle. The feature was developed using historical Electronic Residency Application Service^® (ERAS^®) application data and Thalamus interview invitation data. It is designed to complement Program Alignment to help applicants consider both competitiveness and alignment, recognizing that successful residency applications depend on many factors that extend beyond the variables included in the model. 

AAMC Building Better Curriculum Webinar Series 

The AAMC Building Better Curriculum webinar series is an opportunity for curriculum deans, leaders, administrators, teaching faculty, and staff to learn about and explore innovations in curriculum and curriculum mapping. It also provides a venue for the AAMC to provide updates on Curriculum Inventory developments. The next webinar in the series will take place on Sept. 21. For a complete list of future events and for special programming registration, please visit the AAMC Building Better Curriculum Webinars webpage. 

New AAMC Data on Transition to Residency Courses at U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools 

Data from the 2023-2024 AAMC AACOM Curriculum SCOPE Survey reveal that most medical schools (68.7%) required at least one transition to residency (TTR) course. A new Data Snapshot explores required TTR course timing, duration, and content covered. It highlights common priorities as well as institutional differences and outlines future research needs to support this important learner transition. 

Additional Resources of Interest

AAMC Joins Amicus Brief to Support Challenge to Rule Eliminating Duration of Status 

The AAMC joined the Association of American Universities in an amicus brief filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Aug. 27 that supports a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule eliminating duration of status for student and physician trainee visa holders. For nearly half a century, international students, research scholars, and physicians have been admitted to the United States for “duration of status” — a framework that has permitted such individuals to remain in the country for as long as they are pursuing their authorized programs. The brief highlights long-standing reliance on this framework among higher education institutions and academic health centers and catalogs the risks to cutting-edge research and patient care that could result from the final rule’s implementation. The brief urges the court to issue a stay of the final rule. Read more. 

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

Contact AAMC Support

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.