Orthopaedic Surgery 
Student Elective Rotation

Pre-approval required documents

• Elective application (PDF)
• Photo
• CV
• Comlex 1
• Personal statement

Post-approval required documents

• Copy of health insurance card (front and back)
• Certificate of malpractice insurance (minimum of $1 million/$3 million, current at time of rotation)
• Letter of good standing (LOGS)
• PA state criminal background check (within six months of the requested rotation dates)
• PA FBI fingerprinting clearance (within six months of the requested rotation dates)
  • We will only accept the fingerprinting certificate from the Department of Human Services, not the CJIS- Criminal Justice Information Services certificate from the Department of Justice.
  • If you are non-PA resident, once you click on the hyperlink of IdentGO, scroll down to the bottom of the website and click on "Pennsylvania Non-Resident Cardscan Instructions" for further instructions.
  • Please don't send in your actual fingerprint card, it will not be accepted.
• PA child abuse clearance (within six months of the requested rotation dates)
• Immunization records
• Proof of 2 Step PPD (tuberculosis) testing or QuantiFERON during the past three months.
• Flu shot verification (within one year of the requested rotation dates)
• Mask fit test results (within two years of the requested rotation dates)
• Affiliation agreements are needed for non-PCOM students. Please check with your school to confirm that an agreement between PCOM and your school is in place in order to complete your audition or non-audition request.

Pre-approval required documents

• Elective application (PDF)
• Photo
• CV
• Comlex 1
• Personal statement

Post-approval required documents

• Letter of good standing (LOGS)

The audition season runs from June through December.*

* Due to COVID-19, our adjusted audition season will start on August 1, 2021, and end on January 28, 2022.

* We will start accepting applications for the upcoming audition season on April 15, 2021.

PCOM medical students

For PCOM medical students interested in setting up audition rotations, the season will start on August 1, 2021.

Per the recommendation of the American Orthopedic Association / Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (AOA/CORD): Provide adequate exposure to orthopaedic surgery and advocate for at least two months of orthopaedic surgery for students at their home program. However, you don't have to complete the two months as suggested unless there's a need within your schedule.

Non-PCOM medical students

For non-PCOM medical students, the season will open tentatively on August 1, 2021.

Note: In person auditions will be granted if: (1) learners who have a specialty interest and do not have access to a clinical experience with a residency program in that specialty in their school’s system; or (2) students who have a graduation or military requirement to complete such a rotation. If you fall within the exception category stated above and your medical school is allowing you to complete an in-person audition rotation, the in-person audition rotation will start on August 1, 2021.

* As of April 19, 2021 our main hospital is allowing non-PCOM students to rotate with our program. Please note rotations can be canceled at any time or switched to a virtual format during the scheduled rotation if a new COVID-19 surge occurs. Virtual audition rotations are an option if interested.

• January - May *

* Due to our adjusted audition season, non-audition season will start March 1, 2022 and end on May 27, 2022. However, at this time, we are only able to accommodate PCOM medical students. Non-audition will only be for two weeks.

• Main Line Health System (Lankenau Medical Center, Paoli Hospital)
• St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

Additional information regarding audition rotation for the residency program and elective rotation:

• Due to COVID-19, hospital regulations are constantly changing. Rotation dates may need to be canceled or changed on short notice.
• Six students per month for in person rotations and two students per month for virtual rotations will be accepted for the upcoming audition/non-audition season.
• Two week or four week rotations are offered for in-person auditions. Two week or four week rotations are offered for virtual auditions. Two week rotations are offered for in-person non-auditions.
• Please note post approval required documents must be submitted six weeks prior to the start of your rotation date or risk the chance of forfeiting the rotation.
• Audition rotation is highly recommended to be considered for an interview. However, completing an audition doesn’t guarantee an invite for an interview.
• USMLE is acceptable but not required.
• Please submit an evaluation to mariereneema@pcom.edu for completion and indicate where the completed evaluations should be returned.
• The virtual Q&A/town hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 5 p.m.
• PCOM Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program will not be participating in the Universal Interview Offer Day on Monday, November 15, 2021.
• The 2021-2022 interview days are:
  • Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 - Afternoon session (Time slots TBD)
  • Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 - Morning session (Time slots TBD)