Beginning with section 7 (July 7-Aug 1, 2025), all ACEs and AEs will move to a 42-day add/drop deadline. AIs and ISCs already follow this schedule. This means that the deadline to change your section 7 core course is May 26. Please keep an eye on your schedule in YES and be aware of the 42-day deadline throughout the year.

Longitudinal courses like LC and FHD are not affected by this change and will still have a 7-day add/drop deadline prior to each section's start.

If you are doing an away rotation, even if you are not counting it towards graduation requirements, you must complete the 7100 form found on the MD Gateway 28 days prior to the start of your rotation. We hope you stay safe and have a great time on your rotations!

We are excited to begin offering a new AE: Health and Homelessness. You can register for this course during your enrollment week or when enrollment opens for everyone. The course is EM 5410 and information about it can be found in YES and in the 25-26 Google Sheet catalog.

Neerav Desai, MD, is the primary course director for the Adolescent Medicine ACE. He loves being involved with medical students' big picture goals and aspirations. Dr. Desai wishes he had the type of mentorship during medical school that VUSM students receive. His goal in being a Portfolio Coach, clinical care site director, and ACE course director is to help students become the best version of themselves.

Neerav A. Desai, MD

Dr. Desai became involved in adolescent medicine during residency when he cared for a small group of youth living with HIV. He learned "how much help and health navigation youth" need. Dr. Desai joined the Vanderbilt as faculty in 2006 and spends most days in clinic. The most common areas seen in the clinic are primary care, sports medicine, and eating disorders. Dr. Desai specializes in caring for young people living with HIV and does clinical research in the field. He hopes you'll take the Adolescent Medicine ACE, which counts towards the Primary Care graduation requirement, and have the chance to interact with a great patient population.

Have you ever wondered what happens with the data from the surveys you complete after each course? At the end of each academic year, after feedback is collected and anonymized, VUSM leadership meets to review the feedback and to make quality improvement plans; 23-24's can be found here. These quality improvement plans inform the goals and actions each course will take in the next academic year as we strive to always improve our curriculum.

The Big Short portrays a Vanderbilt School of Medicine alum, Michael Burry, MD, who graduated with his MD in 1997 but did not complete his residency, though he keeps his license active with the Medical Board of California.

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Find most of what you need online in the MD Gateway under Immersion.

Do you have questions about the Immersion Phase? Want counseling on which courses to take?