The visiting medical student clerkship program at Mayo Clinic.

Objective: To describe the history, objectives, statistics, and initiatives used to address challenges associated with the Mayo Clinic Visiting Medical Student (VMS) Clerkship Program.

Materials And Methods: Mayo Clinic administrative records were reviewed for calendar years 1995 through 2008 to determine the effect of interventions to increase the numbers of appropriately qualified international VMSs and underrepresented minority VMSs. For numerical data, descriptive statistics were used; for comparisons, chi(2) tests were performed.

Visiting medical student elective and clerkship programs: a survey of US and Puerto Rico allopathic medical schools.

Background: No published reports of studies have provided aggregate data on visiting medical student (VMS) programs at allopathic medical schools.

Methods: During 2006, a paper survey was mailed to all 129 allopathic medical schools in the United States and Puerto Rico using a list obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Contents of the survey items were based on existing literature and expert opinion and addressed various topics related to VMS programs, including organizational aspects, program objectives, and practical issues.