Medical students: Considering an away rotation? Apply for these AAN scholarships
May 5, 2025
As a medical student, Joy Josephs, MD, was interested in neurology—but without a neurology rotation at her institution, she wanted a visiting student rotation to familiarize herself with the field. These rotations are essential for many students, but they can be difficult to afford as transportation, lodging, and other costs add up.
“Aways, in general, are more expensive than many people realize,” Josephs said. “Since my institution didn’t have a neurology rotation, aways were critical for matching into neurology and knowing what it meant to be a neurologist.”
Despite her worries about whether her limited exposure to neurology at the time would lower her chances, she applied for—and received—one of the AAN’s scholarships for visiting medical students studying neurology.
“Having the scholarship took away some of the pressure of ‘How am I going to afford this?’ Josephs said. “I was able to focus just on learning. It was phenomenal. I learned so much, and I met amazing people who I still see now.”
Apply for visiting medical student scholarships now
Josephs’ scholarship, the Visiting Medical Student Diversity Scholarship, is accepting applications, as is the Visiting Medical Student Scholarship, through June 6, 2025. Both are $2,000 scholarships for fourth-year AAN member US medical students (student membership is free) who plan to pursue a neurology visiting student rotation at an LCME/AOA approved US medical school or the National Institutes of Health. Between the two scholarships, a total of 40 are available.
“Many medical schools and programs within all subspecialties of neurology are looking for excited, smart, driven, motivated medical students,” said Aaron Zelikovich, MD, who was awarded the Visiting Medical Student Scholarship for his away rotation in neuromuscular medicine. “This is a really good opportunity to eliminate the barriers and be able to do an away rotation. For many students, cost is a major issue, as it was for me.”
Like Josephs, Zelikovich credits the scholarship with helping him focus on neurology rather than the various costs faced by visiting medical students.
“I was really fortunate to be able to spend that month away as an elective rotation with the assistance of the scholarship, see patients with complex neuromuscular disorders within a multidisciplinary clinic, and learn about all the amazing clinical trial work that was going on there,” he said. “It allowed me the opportunity to understand how different types of centers within neurological care operate, how things work at different institutions, and prepared me well for residency.”
The applications for the two scholarships include a set of questions, CV, proof of acceptance, and proof of good standing. Both Josephs and Zelikovich encouraged interested students to apply, even—or especially—if they don’t have strong experience or connections in neurology.
“Many students feel that they have to know someone or have a secure position already,” Zelikovich said. “This is an opportunity to approach faculty who you may or may not know and say, ‘I’m interested in rotating with you. I’m applying for this scholarship. Can we work together to allow me to visit your institution and learn more about the amazing clinical work and possibly research that you do there?’”
Learn more and apply for the Visiting Medical Student Scholarship or the Visiting Medical Student Diversity Scholarship by June 6, 2025.