Surgery

Visiting Student Internship

Clements University Hospital

Program Description

By offering the Surgery Visiting Scholar Program, the Department of Surgery provides support for fourth-year medical students who are interested in serving an underserved patient population and completing their graduate medical education in Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The program will give them exposure and experience within a safe environment to learn. At the completion of the program, students will have a better understanding of what it is like to be working in the surgery discipline, the interconnectedness of various departments, and what is expected of them as they become interns.

Experience Highlights

Four residents walking down a hall

Students will:

  • Function as acting-intern members of the surgical team, which include rotations in colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, general surgery, surgical oncology, trauma and emergency general surgery, and vascular surgery
  • Attend both medical student core lectures and resident-level conferences weekly
  • Participate in weekly mentorship with a resident in the general surgery program and a dedicated faculty member
  • Deliver a brief presentation on the topic of their choice to their immediate clinical team at the end of the rotation

What Awardees Receive:

  • Travel and housing stipend
  • At least one meeting with the Chair of the Department and one meeting with the general surgery program director
  • Ongoing support and mentorship after the rotation
  • Assistance building a General Surgery Application portfolio
  • If couples matching, support in facilitating a visiting experience with the specialty in which they are applying

Application Process

Please review the UTSW Visiting Medical Student Application Requirements. 

Apply for your chosen elective in VSLO. Register for the Course Number and Course Name through the Office of Enrollment Services.

  • SUR 1903 – Sub-Internship in General Surgery
  • SUR 1906 – Sub-Internship in Vascular Surgery

To apply to the UT Southwestern Surgery Visiting Elective Program, the applicant must include:

  • A personal statement (1 page maximum, single-spaced), which describes your intended path to surgery and desire to treat underserved populations
  • Your curriculum vitae
  • A letter of recommendation from a faculty member at your home institution