University of Iowa Medical Students

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Visiting Medical Students

Applications for away rotations in the Department of Orthopedics will be accepted beginning on March 1, 2026.  We encourage you to submit your application by March 16, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted through March 31, 2026.  Provisional universal offers for all of our available away rotation dates will be released on April 13, 2026, pending final approval by the Carver College of Medicine.

Rotation dates for the Fall Semester are as follows:

  • 7/6/2026-7/31/2026
  • 8/3/2026-8/28/2026
  • 8/31/2026-9/25/2026
  • 9/28/2025-10/23/2026

The Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation offers fourth-year electives in orthopedic surgery to visiting medical students enrolled in a LCME accredited medical school during the months of July through October.  These four-week rotations are approved and competitively arranged by the department.

Students who are interested should submit the following materials as a single PDF to Tonia Johnston at tonia-johnston@uiowa.edu.

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Program specific statement of interest, 350-word limit
  • Step 1 (Pass or Fail on first attempt)
  • Step 2 (if taken)
  • Current medical school transcript
  • Rank Preferred Rotation Dates in Order of Interest:
    • 7/6/2026-7/31/2026 (July)
    • 8/3/2026-8/28/2026 (August)
    • 8/31/2025-9/25/2026 (September)
    • 9/28/2026-10/25/2026 (October)
  • Rank Preferred Sub-Specialty Team in Order of Interest:
    • Orange=Spine, Cervical, Lumbar and Thoracic
    • Copper=Oncology/Tumor
    • Red=Trauma
    • Blue=Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction
    • Green=Pediatrics
    • Pink=Shoulder and Elbow
    • Black=Sports Medicine

Following approval from the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, the applicant will need to complete the application process outlined here. Upon completion of these criteria, you will be allowed to formally apply and be approved as a visiting student.  (Until this process is complete, the elective as approved first by the Department is not “official”). 

If you have questions, please contact Tonia Johnston at tonia-johnston@uiowa.edu.