Visiting Learner

Butterworth Hospital main entrance with flowers

Corewell Health in West Michigan is an integrated health system with a team of nationally recognized physicians. Through hands-on learning, we are committed to provide a learning experience tailored for you. Spanning a 18-county area, learners may experience primary care exposure or opportunities in a variety of subspecialties – all within state-of-the-art facilities.

The Office of Medical Education provides and coordinates clinical medical education to residents, fellows, medical students and advanced practice provider students, including physician assistant, nurse practitioner and nurse midwife. We offer primary care and subspecialty electives in both inpatient and office experience opportunities. The West Michigan community has been engaged in graduate medical education programs and clinical learning for over 100 years. Our regional network of hospitals and offices also offer learning opportunities outside the Grand Rapids campus.

Medical Students

Corewell Health in West Michigan and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital (part of Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals) are committed to providing high-quality medical educational opportunities. Choosing a medical education program that best fits your interests and passion starts in West Michigan. The program offers a dynamic experience through our dedication to foster growth of medical knowledge and high-quality, safe health care. All rotations are scheduled through the Office of Medical Education.

Elective rotations are awarded based on available educational opportunities and approval of the residency program director. Applications are prioritized as follows:

  • Students from affiliated schools (Michigan State University College of Human Medicine)
  • Fourth or final year students from other accredited medical schools in the U.S.
  • Final year students from medical schools outside the U.S. who have demonstrated a tie to West Michigan

U.S. Applicants

  • All visiting medical student applications must be submitted through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program
  • The course catalog for rotation opportunities is published annually on March 1, and applications are accepted starting April 1 for the next academic year

International Applicants

Contact Medical Student Scheduling with any questions.

Minority Visiting Scholars Program

The Minority Visiting Scholars Program (MVSP) is sponsored by the Office of Medical Education as a supplement to our Visiting Learner program for medical students. MVSP is a specialized away rotation that provides mentoring and networking for fourth year and qualified third year medical students who are underrepresented in medicine, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+-identified and gender nonconforming individuals, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with disabilities. The mission of the MVSP is to enrich medical education, advance research and strengthen our clinical practices by fostering a culture of inclusion. Learn more about the Minority Visiting Scholars Program.

Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwife Students

The preferred advanced practice registered nurse schools are: Davenport University, Frontier Nursing University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Rush University, University of Cincinnati, University of Michigan, University of Michigan – Flint, Vanderbilt University and Wayne State University. If you are a Corewell Health in West Michigan employed nurse practitioner or nurse midwife student, please see the Office of Education page on The Well for placement details and rotation application.

For all other nurse practitioner students attending preferred schools, select acute care rotations may be available on a limited basis. We currently do not offer rotations in ambulatory family medicine, pediatrics, or women’s health to Corewell Health non-employed students. Please contact CHWNPScheduling@corewellhealth.org for details and the Corewell Health non-employed student application.

Physician Assistant Students

The preferred physician assistant schools are Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Flint, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. At this time, we only accept applications from students attending these institutions. Contact Lynn McBurney for the student application or with any questions.

Resident and Fellow Physicians

Resident and fellow physicians in ACGME-sponsored programs are welcome to apply for rotations at Corewell Health in West Michigan using the Visiting Resident/Fellow Application. Elective rotations are awarded based on available educational opportunities and approval of the residency/fellowship program for inpatient service rotations. Send the completed application and any questions to Academic Scheduling.
Physician smiling with tablet in hand