What is an Elective Rotation?
A short-term rotation that gives medical graduates, residents, fellows and NST trainees the opportunity to broaden and tailor their educational experience.
Rotators
Incoming Visitor Rotation: resident, fellow, or medical graduate coming to the GME Consortium for clinical observation or hands-on rotations; not research.
Outgoing Elective Rotation: GME Consortium resident, fellow, or NST trainee going on a domestic or global health away rotation.
General Information
Application materials can only be submitted by WashU Medicine Program Leadership for all Elective Requests.
Requests for outgoing elective rotations must be submitted to the GME office at least 90 days prior to the anticipated start date. In cases where GMEC and RRC approval are necessary, requests should be made several months in advance.
After receiving all required documents, the GME Office will process the request and provide a written response for approval or denial. Every effort will be made to provide a response within 21 business days. In cases where GMEC and RRC approval are necessary, this process will be prolonged. To begin the request process for a rotation, please click the appropriate selection below.
Important Dates
| Blackout Dates | Visiting trainees will not be allowed to rotate or observe in one of our programs’ clinical learning environments. | March 1st – August 31st |
| Application Freeze | Internal trainee applications will not be reviewed or processed | June 5th- August 14th 2026 |
| Deadline for Rotation Requests | Rotation requests for September/October: must be submitted in February. Submissions & agreement documents will not be reviewed or processed during the blackout dates. | Minimum of 4 weeks prior to start February 27, 2026, for September/October rotations |
| Legal Reviews | Required use of another institution’s documents and/or edits to our documents requires review by our legal team(s). | Minimum of 16 weeks |
Processing Timelines
| Incoming Hands-on Rotation: minimum 8 weeks (Prior to requested start date.) | Rotator personnel file contents (licenses, certificates, ID numbers) 15 business days prior to requested start date. |
| Incoming Observer Rotation: minimum 8 weeks (Prior to requested start date.) | Post GME approval, complete the MyClinicalExchange process. |
| Legal Reviews: minimum of 16 weeks (Prior to requested start date.) | Required use of another institution’s documents and/or edits to our documents requires review by our legal team(s). |
| Outgoing Global Health Rotation: minimum 16 weeks (Prior to requested start date.) | Post GME approval, complete the pre-departure checklist. |
| Outgoing Domestic Rotation: minimum 8 weeks (Prior to requested start date.) |
