Away Rotators

Thank you for your interest in the UVA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery! We take great pride in our training program here. Residents and resident education are at the core of our department. We are constantly trying to improve the training environment and adapt to the needs of learners today while making sure to produce graduates who are competent at all facets of orthopaedic surgery.

The AOA/CORD put together a work group with the task of improving the away rotator process. The background and results of that effort can be seen here.

At UVA we are planning to participate in this process, although with some slight modifications. Most importantly, we are going to have a single universal offer date, rather than multiple dates. The timeline for our application process for this application cycle is as follows:

• February 9, 2026- VSLO catalog opens at the University of Virginia, rotations can be viewed
• February 23, 2026- Applications open at the University of Virginia
• March 16, 2026- Application deadline for Universal offer date (per new voluntary recommendations)—note that we are using this as a universal offer date for ALL rotations
  • If you miss this date, we encourage you to still apply. As this is the first year with this new process, it is unclear exactly how it will play out. We will give preference to those who have their application in by 3/16 and if you apply afterwards you may not be included in the Universal offer date. However we will still consider your application and hope to bring in as many students as possible.
• April 13, 2026 (NOON)- universal offer date for ALL blocks. This is followed by a mandatory 24 hour moratorium.
• April 14, 2026 (NOON) through April 16, 2026 (NOON)- 48 hour acceptance period

After April 16, 2026 if there are unfilled positions applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applications will be closed when we are no longer accepting new applicants.

Our block dates are set by the UVA School of Medicine, and we are unfortunately unable to modify them.

Rotation A: 6/8 – 7/3
Rotation B: 7/6 -7/31
Rotation C: 8/3 – 8/28
Rotation D: 8/31 – 9/25
Rotation E: 9/28 – 10/23

For VSLO applications for the 2026-2027 cycle we will follow the new voluntary guidelines to include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Program specific statement of interest, 350 word limit (no minimum)
• Step 1 (Pass or Fail on first attempt) and/or COMLEX Level 1
• Step 2 (if taken) and/or COMLEX Level 2 (if taken)
• Current medical school transcript

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is very pleased to be able to offer up to five $1000 scholarships to help defray the cost of travel and housing to accepted students visiting for an ACE rotation from other medical schools. If you are accepted to a rotation, you will receive further information about this process.

A handbook is available put together by UVA residents for 4th year medical students. This has been updated throughout the years and will be a helpful resource.