Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO®)

Willis Knighton welcomes learners to our program as an Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO®) program host.

Fourth-year medical students enrolled in U.S. LCME-accredited medical schools and COCA-accredited osteopathic colleges can apply for visiting electives in general surgery at our three Willis Knighton hospitals in Shreveport, Louisiana. All visiting student rotations are processed through the AAMC VSLO® platform.

Application Timeline

The Willis Knighton VSLO® program for general surgery will begin accepting applications for each academic year through VSLO® on March 31. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.

Institutional rotation dates start on the first Monday of each month for four-week rotations. Individual rotations may have their own block dates and/or accept alternate date requests.

Please do not call or email regarding the status of your application. You'll be notified of your application status as decisions are made. If you see your application status is pending, it is still under consideration by our program. Decisions are made no less than 30 days before your requested start date.

You’ll receive an email from VSLO® if you’re offered a spot to rotate at Willis Knighton. Please expect more information from Willis Knighton’s program coordinator as the rotation start date gets closer. If you do not hear from us within one week before your scheduled start date, please email visitingstudents@wkhs.com.

VSLO® Required Uploads Pre-Invitation

You and your home institution must submit the following items when you apply for a visiting elective at Willis Knighton:

  • Acknowledgement of minimal technical standards – VSLO® form download, sign and upload
  • Transcript uploaded by your home institution
  • Your CV/resume
  • VSLO® Verification Questionnaire completed by your home institution
  • Additional documents if requested

VSLO® Required Uploads Post-Decision

You must submit the following documentation if accepted for a rotation at Willis Knighton Health:

  • AAMC Standardized Immunization Form
  • Medical malpractice insurance ($1,000,000/incident; $3,000,000 aggregate, at minimum)
  • BLS/ACLS certification card
  • Background check verification
  • OSHA training
  • Influenza vaccine documentation (current flu season)
  • Personal health insurance documentation
  • Mask fit test verification (type/size of mask; must be within one year of rotation start date)
  • Needlestick attestation form (VSLO® download)

All of your paperwork must be submitted at least four weeks before the start date of your rotation to avoid the automatic drop of your elective in VSLO®.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Only United States visiting medical student rotations are available at Willis Knighton through the VSLO® program
  • Currently enrolled in LCME-or COCA-accredited medical school
  • Must be in the final year/phase of medical school during the time of your rotation
  • Good academic standing
  • USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1 results; Step 2 or COMLEX Level 2, if available
  • Completion of your home school’s clinical core clerkships
  • Criminal background check

Students will only be accepted for one elective. All other applications will be denied once you’ve been accepted to a rotation.

Post-decision requirements must be met no later than two weeks from the date of your conditional offer. Failure to meet post-decision requirements within two weeks will result in ineligibility.

Acceptance to an M4 elective rotation or Sub I does not guarantee a residency program interview. To learn more about our residency program, we invite you to view our website: https://gme.wkhs.com/our-programs/general-surgery

PPE

PPE is provided on-site for all visiting students who participate in an approved clinical rotation at Willis Knighton, according to the AAMC guidelines for student involvement in direct patient care activities.

Needlestick Injury

If you are involved in a needlestick injury while rotating at a Willis Knighton hospital, go to Willis Knighton Work Kare occupational health or to the emergency room.

You are responsible for all costs related to needlestick injury. Willis Knighton Health is not responsible for the cost of care related to any needlestick injury.

Amenities

Housing: You must procure your own housing. A limited number of reduced-cost apartments near the South campus hospital may be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Otherwise, students are responsible for finding your own housing. RotatingRoom.com is a good resource for finding short-term rentals.

Food: Willis Knighton generously provides meals for students in our hospital cafeterias when mealtime occurs during an assigned hospital shift. You must show your student badge to the cashier. Meal cost is covered by Willis Knighton up to $5 for breakfast, $10 for lunch, and $10 for dinner. Additional costs must be paid by students. Free meals are not allowed when a student is not assigned to a Willis Knighton rotation or when a student is not on call. Food and beverages should be limited to the current meal.

Parking: Parking on campus is free and does not require a parking pass. There is no designated student parking. Students are allowed to park in any location that is not a restricted parking spot. Willis Knighton Security can be contacted through the Hospital Operator Switchboard at each campus to escort a student to a parked car in the parking lot if there is any concern about safety. Switchboard contact for each campus:

  • North 318-212-4000
  • Pierremont 318-212-3000
  • South 318-212-5000
  • Bossier 318-212-7000

Directions: Look for interactive maps for each hospital on the Willis Knighton website.

Fitness: Students have access to our full-service fitness centers at each hospital.

Medical Student Study Area on Willis Knighton North Campus

GME has a study area for medical students on the third floor of the Shelby Building on the Willis Knighton North campus. Students are not allowed in the Resident Lounge, which has card access only.

Identification Badge for Willis Knighton Campus or Clinic Access

Willis Knighton campus access is only allowed when a student is assigned to a rotation at a Willis Knighton Health hospital. A badge is required for access to any hospital or clinic facility.

A Willis Knighton badge is provided to you before the start of your first assigned rotation. The badge must be returned at the end of the rotation.

About Willis Knighton

Willis Knighton Health is a not-for-profit community health organization with a broad continuum of care in Northwest Louisiana and the Ark-La-Tex region. With a tradition of healing since 1924, Willis Knighton has grown to become one of the largest healthcare providers in Louisiana. The health system includes four full-service acute care hospitals, a stand-alone rehabilitation institute (with physical rehabilitation and behavioral medicine), a virtual hospital for training, an active senior living community and affiliations with several rural hospitals. Willis Knighton provides patients with access to state-of-the-art medical technology and services in a compassionate setting. From prenatal care to cancer treatment, organ transplantation to hospice services, the health system addresses the health and well-being of all residents. In addition to providing charitable care services to underserved neighborhoods, Willis-Knighton contributes 10% of its earnings to community organizations each year, making it unique among not-for-profit health systems in the nation. In doing so, Willis Knighton helps promote health, educational, humanitarian and cultural opportunities to enhance lives throughout the region.

Important Links

Login to VSLO® here: www.aamc.org/vslo

If you have trouble with your VSLO® account, please contact VSLO® support or call 202-478-9878 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

AAMC VSLO® Resources

Report misconduct as a visiting student