El Rio Health accepts visiting students from other U.S. LCME-accredited medical schools and U.S. COCA osteopathic medical schools in their final year for Sub-Internship experiences. Applications are processed through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO). 

Sub-Internship Elective catalog and applications open annually on March 30^th for the coming academic year. Applications are processed and offers extended no more than six (6) weeks prior to the start date for each Sub-Internship rotation. 

El Rio General Information

• Applicants can view Sub-Internship rotations on March 16, 2026.
• Applicants can submit their applications on March 30, 2026.
• Applications must be submitted in VSLO 60 days in advance. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered or reviewed.
• Students will receive an application status update via VSLO 30-60 days after El Rio Health receives the application.
• We do not offer off-block rotations. No exceptions will be made.
• Must be in the final year of medical school and must have passed all 3rd-year requirements prior to the start of the 4th-year rotation.
• An affiliation agreement and onboarding must be completed for all institutions: El Rio Health, Tucson Medical Center, and Tenet Health (Carondelet – St. Mary’s).

El Rio Pre-Decision Application Requirements

• Letter of good academic standing from medical school.
• Medical School Transcript (uploaded by home institution)
• USMLE/COMLEX test scores
• Professional Photograph
• CV/Resume
• Letter of Interest (A short, 250-word letter of interest for why you are interested in a Sub-Internship at El Rio Health with Psychiatry Residency Program.

El Rio Post-Decision Application Requirements

• El Rio Health Approval Request Form
• El Rio Health Student Agreement Clinical Experience Form
• El Rio Health Affirmation HIPAA Form
• El Rio Health Confidentiality Agreement Form
• El Rio Health Employee Access to PHI Form
• Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Government Issues ID
• Professional Liability Certificate Required by the State of Arizona ($1 million per claim/$3 million aggregate)
• Current Immunization documentation.
• Proof of Flu Vaccine
• Proof of TB screening
• HIPAA Training
• BLS Certification: Submit a copy of the front and back

El Rio Health Application Processing

Once you have submitted your VSLO application, the visiting student committee will review and either accept and conditionally offer you a rotation or will deny your application. You will receive notification from VSLO once a decision has been made. 

Once the conditional offer has been made, the visiting student two (2) weeks to accept or deny. If accepted the visiting student must upload all post-decision requirements.

If you have questions about a Sub-Internship elective or its availability, please contact the Psychiatry Residency coordinator listed under the elective’s “Additional Information” section.

An additional email will be sent to accepted students approximately two (2) weeks prior to the start of the rotation with scheduling details.  

Additional Information

• Students are responsible for finding housing while in Tucson.  El Rio Health does not provide student housing.
• Email vslovisitingstudents@elrio.org for any general questions/concerns.