Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
Medical Student Electives
You must be a currently enrolled fourth-year student in an United States LCME accredited Medical School.
It is the policy of the Ochsner Health System's Academic Division not to accept international medical students for visiting elective clinical course work. Ochsner Health has special affiliation agreements with a small number of international medical schools—if your school has such an agreement with Ochsner, special rules, other than those shown here, may apply—contact the Academic office at electives@ochsner.org if your school has a special affiliation agreement with our institution.
Please log in to the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) for full details and application process and to view our elective catalog. Electives are approved with a maximum of one 4-week elective rotations and are based on academic merit and availability. Because the selection process is highly competitive, we ask that students please allow a minimum of 8 weeks for proper approval.
Please note that because of our increasing number of affiliate partnerships and the high demand for educational rotations at Ochsner, opportunities for visiting students from nonaffiliated schools may be limited.
All information requests must come through the UGME Office of Student Services.
Accepted students will be required to provide a completed Attestation Form signed by an authorized school representative, attesting to the student’s compliance with Ochsner requirements. This form must be submitted before the application can be processed. Students who receive a denied application for not submitting proper documentation cannot reapply for the same dates. The requirements are as follows:
- OIG/GSA Verification
- Personal health insurance documentation
- Immunization titers (MMR, Varicella)
- Proof of completed hepatitis B vaccine series
- Proof of annual TB skin test
- Proof of seasonal flu vaccine (for students rotating between December-April)
- Clear criminal and sexual offender background check
- Clean urine drug screen performed by a SAMHSA-approved laboratory
- Valid American Heart Association-issued Basic Life Support card
*Additionally, all students must submit proof of malpractice coverage from medical school, with limits of liability of $1,000,000/$3,000,000.
All information requests must come through the UGME Office of Student Services.
Students are NOT to directly contact Ochsner Health faculty and administrative staff in an attempt to arrange clinical/research experiences. The UGME Office of Student Services is responsible for scheduling ALL elective requests. All students must follow the established guidelines and procedures without exception.
Send student inquiries and status requests to:
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Undergraduate Medical Education
1401-A Jefferson Highway
Academic Center, First Floor
New Orleans, LA 70121
Electives@ochsner.org
Visiting students are responsible for locating and securing their own transportation, housing, and meals during the elective rotation(s).
We recommend that final housing and travel arrangements are deferred until enrollment has been confirmed in the event that we are unable to accommodate a specific course request.
