Mayo Clinic Florida Clerkships for Visiting Medical Students: Eligibility & Application

The Mayo Clinic Florida Visiting Medical Student Elective gives medical students the opportunity to gain hands-on clinical experience at one of the most respected healthcare systems in the world. During this clerkship, students work closely with residents and faculty while participating in patient care and clinical decision-making.

In this blog post, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about the Mayo Clinic Florida visiting student elective, including eligibility requirements, the application process, costs, and available specialties.

What can I do during the Mayo Clinic Visiting medical student elective?

Students participating in the Mayo Clinic clinical visiting student elective are assigned to a resident who provides instruction and supervision throughout the rotation.

During the clerkship, students gain hands-on clinical experience by:

• Taking patient histories

• Performing physical examinations

• Assisting in the operating room

• Supporting other clinical procedures

• Practicing clinical decision-making skills

Students also interact daily with Mayo Clinic faculty, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their clinical abilities.

How long is the clerkship?

Accepted students are limited to one one-month rotation. Because the Mayo Clinic visiting student program receives a large number of applicants and has limited availability, students are only permitted to complete one clerkship experience.

How to apply for Mayo clinic-florida clinical Clerkship?

Students must apply through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) portal.

If your medical school does not participate in VSLO, you can learn how to begin the process through the AAMC website.

Application Timeline:

• Applications are reviewed on the first of the month following the application deadline

• Applications released by home institutions after the deadline may not be reviewed

• Decisions are typically released about six weeks after the submission deadline

Who is eligible the Mayo Clinic Visiting Student Program?

The program accepts:

• U.S. medical students

• International medical students from approved medical schools

Approved International Medical Schools

• American University of Antigua

• American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

• Medical University of the Americas

• Ross University School of Medicine

• Saba University School of Medicine

• St. George’s University School of Medicine

• St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine

• UNIBE School of Medicine

• University of Medicine and Health Sciences

If your medical school is not on this list and does not participate in VSLO, you can learn how to begin the process through the AAMC website.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must:

• Pass USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1

• Be in the final year of medical school

• Be in good academic standing

• Meet Mayo Clinic immunization requirements

Additional Requirements for International Medical Students

International applicants must also meet the following requirements:

• Maintain personal health insurance coverage of at least $50,000 (USD)

• Demonstrate English proficiency if medical school instruction is not in English by completing the TOEFL within the last two years with a minimum score of 104

• Complete approximately 48 weeks of clinical experience before the clerkship begins, including:

  • 6–8 weeks each in medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery

  • About 20 weeks of elective rotations

Clinical experience must be verified by the applicant’s medical school.

Students must also:

• Be enrolled in the final year of medical school during the clerkship

• Pay a $350 USD non-refundable application fee

How are students selected?

Selection for the Mayo Clinic Florida visiting student elective is determined by the clinical departments and based on:

• Medical school transcript grades

• Successful completion of USMLE/COMLEX Step 1

• Space availability

• Competitiveness for Mayo Clinic residency programs

Available Specialties: 

• Anesthesiology

• Dermatology

• Emergency Medicine

• Family Medicine (General)

• Internal Medicine

  • Cardiovascular Diseases

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Nephrology

  • Pulmonary Diseases

  • Subinternship

• Neurology

• Neurosurgery

• Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Surgery 

• Ophthalmology

• Orthopedics

• Otorhinolaryngology

• Pathology

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Radiation Oncology

• Radiology — Diagnostic

• Surgery

  • General/Vascular/Colorectal

  • Oncology Subinternship

  • Plastic

• Urology

What Does the Mayo Clinic Visiting Medical Student Elective Cost?

Students must pay a $350 non-refundable application fee to apply for the visiting student elective.

How will this help my residency application?

Participating in the Mayo Clinic Florida visiting student program can strengthen your residency application by allowing you to:

• Gain valuable clinical experience in the U.S. healthcare system to add to your ERAS CV

• Improve your clinical and patient care skills

• Network with Mayo Clinic faculty and physicians

• Potentially earn a letter of recommendation

Will I receive a letter of recommendation? 

Mayo Clinic does not guarantee a letter of recommendation or residency interview for visiting students. However, strong performance during the rotation may increase your chances of receiving a letter of recommendation.

Is housing or transportation included?

Housing and transportation are not provided. Students accepted into the Mayo Clinic clinical clerkship are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and transportation during the rotation.

Can I cancel?

Once electives are confirmed, changes or rescheduling are not permitted.

Contact information:

For more information, you can contact:

Clerkship Coordinator

Mayo Clinic

Stabile Building 790N

4500 San Pablo Road

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Email: flacomvisit@mayo.edu

How to Prepare for your university Rotations

MD2B Connect's US Clinical Experience program allows students to learn to adapt to the intricacies of the U.S. healthcare system, as well as prepare for the responsibilities of US medical residency. By doing our rotations beforehand, our students can have the skills and knowledge to perform highly during their university or hospital rotations.

Learn more MD2B Connect's US Clinical Experience Program by visiting our 'Program Information' page and clicking the button below.

MD2B Connect Program Information