Visiting Students/Externs

***ATTENTION***

Please pay close attention to the Application Process below.

First and foremost, thank you for your interest in the UTHSC program.

We are very interested in processing your application and taking care of your request efficiently.   Because of how applications through VSAS or the Medical School are processed at our institution, your application will be delayed for several months (at a minimum) if it goes solely through this channel, and you will likely be disadvantaged in your selection of externship time options.  To avoid that possible delay, please communicate directly with our neurosurgery office (Meredith Hamilton Suescun or Dr. Kitagawa 713-486-8056) before processing your application through VSAS and UTH.

Second, as you are aware, all institutions are currently dealing with COVID-19 and its social restrictions.  At UTH, we are still on target with the timing and number of available externship slots.

NSUR 4001 is our visiting student elective course number (see details below). The rotation lasts for 4 weeks, typically beginning the 1st Monday of the month and ending on the Friday 4 weeks later (i.e. Monday, Sept 5, 2020 – Friday, Sept. 30, 2020).  If you are a serious applicant for our Neurosurgery Residency Program, it is advantageous for you to spend time with us as an extern, ideally between the months of July-October immediately preceding your match year.

Application Process

Part 1: Email Meredith Hamilton Suescun, Education Program Coordinator, with the following information:

  • Your Name
  • Medical school
  • Expected date of graduation
  • Three choices of dates for your rotation, listed in the order you prefer
  • Contact telephone number
  • Any questions you may have
  • **Attach a copy of your CV and USMLE score(s)

Part 2: Apply through VSAS as soon as this opens through UTHSC School of Medicine Student Affairs – May 1st.  More information regarding the elective application process at our institution can be found at the VSAS website.  To be eligible for the elective you must have completed the 4 core rotations (Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN, Pediatrics) & have taken the USMLE Step I.

Our site – Memorial Hermann Hospital TMC – This is the referral hub of the Memorial Hermann System (largest healthcare provider in the state of Texas) and one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in the country and the busiest Level I in Houston, TX.

 

NSUR 4001 elective rotation details include:

– Month-long (4 week) blocks (i.e. typically 1st Monday to last Friday of each calendar month)

– 16 eight-hour shifts (days, evenings, nights, weekends)
– weekly Friday Medical Student sessions, including a suture skills labs

– Required weekly Thursday residency conferences
– Presentation at our departmental Grand Rounds during the last week of the elective