Rotating Medical Student Application Information

Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Charlotte Campus in conjunction with Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute offers four-week Acting Internship (AI) and Elective rotations with the Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program.

These rotations combine practical clinical experience with didactic instruction, including a series of mandatory formal conferences. Students work directly with residents and members of the orthopaedic surgery faculty. They participate in surgical procedures and in inpatient and outpatient treatment of orthopaedic patients. The AI rotation has a more rigid structure and is designed for students planning to match in orthopaedic surgery. The elective rotation can be tailored to individual medical students’ career goals and interests.

Although Atrium Health/Advocate Health is integrated with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the Charlotte and Winston Salem campuses have separate orthopaedic surgery residency programs. Because of the affiliation, the visiting student application process will take you through Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine students can go through the routine MS4 course scheduling process for obtaining permission to register for the orthopaedic surgery AI or elective courses. 

• The listing for the AI rotation is 4AIM452. Wake Forest students are strongly encouraged to rotate during Blocks 2-3.
• The listing for the elective rotation is 4SGS15. This rotation is available during any block we accept visiting students. Please contact the course coordinator (Griffin@advocatehealth.org) or course director (Sarah.Pierrie@wfusm.edu) for more information.

Visiting students interested in the AI rotation should apply through AAMC VSLO. Please apply through Wake Forest and select our site (Charlotte). This year, the CMC Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program is participating in the Universal Away Rotation Offer Day schedule recommended by the American Orthopaedic Association/Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors. Our timeline for accepting applications and inviting students to rotate is as follows: 

• March 13: Applications accepted in VLSO
• April 1: Cut off for applications for June, July, August (blocks 4-6)
• April 13, 12 PM: Rotations offered for June, July, August (blocks 4-6) (Universal Offer Day 1). Students have 3 days (until April 16, 12 PM) to accept or decline the away rotation offer before it will be given to another student.
• April 20: Cut off for applications for September, October, November (blocks 7-9)
• May 4, 12 PM: Rotations offered for September, October, November (blocks 7-9) (Universal Offer Day 2). Students have 3 days (until May 7, 12 PM) to accept or decline the away rotation offer before it will be given to another student.

Please rank any/all blocks you are applying for in order of preference when you submit your application. Students who apply for but are not offered a spot in blocks 4-6 on Universal Offer Day 1 will be automatically considered for blocks 7-9 (Universal Offer Day 2) if they desire.

Available blocks for visiting students are:

• Block 4: June 22 – July 19, 2026
• Block 5: July 20 – August 16, 2026
• Block 6: August 17 – September 13, 2026
• Block 7: September 14 – October 11, 2026
• Block 8: October 12 – November 8, 2026
• Block 9: November 9 – December 6, 2026 

Please send any questions you may have to Madison.Griffin@advocatehealth.org