University of Iowa Health Care is committed to improving the delivery of health care to diverse patient populations through patient care, research and teaching. In order to diversify our healthcare workforce, the UI Visiting Student Scholars Program encourages applications from medical students who are from underrepresented populations as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Program Description:

The UI Visiting Student Scholars Program is designed to support 4-week electives for visiting medical students.

• Accepted students will receive a stipend of up to $2,500 to cover the visiting student elective application fee, travel, housing and other living expenses
• The program will provide mentorship and networking opportunities with UI Health Care faculty, resident/fellow physicians and current students

• The following departments are participating in the UI Visiting Student Scholars Program:
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Medicine
  • Family Medicine/Psychiatry
  • General Surgery
  • Neurological Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Otolaryngology 
  • Pediatrics
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Urology

• The following departments have a separate application process which can be found at the following links:
  • Orthopedic Surgery
    • The Jackson-Steindler Orthopedic Clerkship 
  • Urology
    • Underrepresented Communities Scholarship for Visiting Students in Urology

Program Eligibility:

• The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (CCOM) accepts applications for visiting fourth year medical students for elective opportunities in July, August, September and October.
• Applicants must be full-time senior US-based allopathic medical students who meet CCOM visiting student eligibility requirements, have been accepted into the CCOM visiting student elective, and are in good standing at their home institution.
• Medical students who are members of underrepresented populations as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are strongly encouraged to apply: 
  • Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research (Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders) 
  • Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 
  • Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria: 
    • Were or currently are homeless 
    • Were or currently are in the foster care system 
    • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years
    • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree
    • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants
    • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child  
    • Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health), or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zipcodes are included in the file).  

Application Process:

1. First, complete the UI Visiting Student Scholars Program Supplemental Application (Required documents include medical school transcript, resume/CV, USMLE Step 1 Score, and Letters of recommendation, if applicable.  All of these documents are required in order to complete the application.  Please ensure that you have ALL of the required documents BEFORE starting the application.) 

• Applications will open on March 18th. 
• Applications will not be considered without ALL required fields completed and required documents uploaded.
• Medical students must submit applications at least 6 weeks before the desired date of the elective.
• Acceptance into the UI Student Scholars Program is contingent upon UI CCOM Visiting Student Elective approval and as spaces in the program are available.

2. Then, complete the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Visiting Student Elective Application (this application can be completed and payed for at any time including before your Visiting Student Scholars Program Application has been finalized).

Questions?

Contact Dr. Rachael Nicholson.