Visiting Opportunities

Under the supervision of a faculty physician host, visitor observers can observe patient care, procedures, or the use of special equipment at Stanford HealthCare (SHC) or Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH). Visiting Observers cannot participate in patient care, conduct any administrative work, access any protected health information, or use any of the information that he or she is exposed to for research purposes.

Visiting Observers are only allowed to rotate for 30 days or less in a 12 month calendar year. Stanford does not provide nor sponsor a visa for visiting observers. 

The following categories are generally allowed under the Visiting Observer policy:

• International Physicians interested in observing procedures
• International Professionals interested in observing procedures for educational purposes
• Domestic physicians or healthcare professionals interested in observing care
• Healthcare Professionals interested in observing for educational purposes
• Medical Students currently enrolled in a non-Stanford medical school that are interested in observing care (this excludes medical students here for training related to a clerkship or externship)
• Students from Stanford or another domestic University
• High School Students that are age 18 or over

The potential observer is responsible for finding a faculty host. Once a faculty host is identified, please contact derm_visitorprogram@stanford.edu regarding next steps of the process. Paperwork must be completed and submitted to the hosting department at least 30 days before the observership start date.

Visiting Observer process is currently managed by the Privacy Assurance Office which is part of the Compliance Department. 

Stanford Health Care offers Visiting Medical Resident electives from other institutions for short-term (2-4 weeks) rotations in a broad array of elective rotations that foster growth of medical knowledge through patient care.

All required paperwork must be submitted to our department in which the training will take place at least sixty (60) days in advance of the rotation start date. Late fees may incur if submitted less than 30 days before the rotation start date.

Eligibility Requirement

• US/Canadian Medical Graduates
• One (1) Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education accredited residency(internship)/fellowship year

The potential visiting medical resident is responsible for contacting the faculty supervisor and obtaining written consent for their clinical rotation and training. Once a faculty is identified, please contact derm_visitorprogram@stanford.edu regarding next steps of the process. 

Required Application Documents

1. Required Letters 

• Letter of good standing
• Acceptance Letter
• Program Letter of Agreement w/ signature of home PD and Stanford PD

2. Vaccinations

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (including booster)
• Chickenpox
• Flu shot certificate
• Hepatitis B
• Measles
• Rubella
• TB Surveillance

3. Additional Documentations

• JPEG for photo ID badge
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of medical school diploma
• Copy of medical license
• Copy of ECFMG certificate if applicable
• Document stating HIPAA training has been completed
• Institutional Photo ID Badge 
• Confidentiality Statement
• VR Information Form

More information can be found at: https://med.stanford.edu/gme/housestaff/visiting.html

• A Visiting Student Researcher (VSR) is a graduate student who has not yet obtained a Ph.D. (or its foreign equivalent) to engage in research on the Stanford campus. This could include students from other universities who are engaged in graduate-level research in a field of interest to the faculty member, or students doing a research rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. The VSR cannot have a Stanford fellowship or assistantship.
  

Time Frame: The VSR is aware that their status is valid for up to one year and may be extended once for an additional year.

Financial Responsibilities

• The VSR understands that the host department is not required to provide financial support for their time at Stanford
•  The VSR understands he/she will be charged a monthly VSR fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, set annually by Stanford’s Board of Trustees
• The VSR understands he/she will be charged the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee
• The VSR understands he/she will be charged for Cardinal Care Student health insurance (unless they document that they have comparable coverage with another carrier).
• The VSR is not eligible for Stanford loans.

Required Documents:

Required documentation needs to be provided to our department at least sixty (60) days prior to the start date.

• CV
• School Transcript 
• Undergraduate Diploma
• Vaccination Records (COVID, Flu & PPD)
• (For international researchers) A legible copy of the biographic page(s) of their passport; accompanying dependents must also provide a legible copy of the biographic page(s) of their passports and supporting biographical information.

Visa:

Stanford sponsors J-1 visas.

More Information Regarding Visiting Student Researcher (VSRs) can be found at: https://doresearch.stanford.edu/policies/research-policy-handbook/non-faculty-research-appointments/visiting-student-researchers

Stanford currently offers 4 week elective rotation/clerkships to MD or DO students who will be enrolled in their fourth or final year at a school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or Education Department of the American Osteopathic Association. Since Stanford medical students have priority to take elective clerkships that are open to visitors, visiting students are only scheduled during a specified time each quarter.

Stanford Dermatology's visiting medical student clerkships are designed for medical students interested in pursuing dermatology residency training. The department offers two advanced clerkships:

• Derm 310B: Advanced Clinical Elective in Dermatology
• Derm 311A: Advanced Pediatric Dermatology Clerkship

For those interested in learning more about medical student clerkship opportunities for Stanford Dermatology, please visit: https://med.stanford.edu/dermatology/Education/Medical_Students.html.

Department Contact:

• Madison Siemers
• Education Progam Coordinator
• msiemers@stanford.edu