The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers opportunities for students to learn more about plastic surgery and engage with our clinical and research teams.

• Sub-internship
• Research opportunities

Sub-internship

The Johns Hopkins Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers a four-week clerkship for fourth-year medical students who are interested in learning about the field of plastic surgery and our specific program. Students on this rotation will see the breadth and depth of plastic surgery at the historic Johns Hopkins Hospital and work with a wide variety of residents and attendings.

Students will rotate at both the East Baltimore and Bayview Campuses. A car is not necessary; however, many students often use rideshares to get to and from the hospital, particularly when they are on call. At these locations, students will work with different attendings and residents, and, as the name implies, act as the “intern” on service. Rotating students will be integral in assisting in the operating room, seeing consults with the residents, attending clinic, and working with the team to manage inpatient tasks. The rotation is a rich opportunity for students interested in Johns Hopkins to learn what it is like to be a part of our residency program.

The application process for the visiting student rotation has recently changed to ensure equitable consideration of all applicants. Please read these instructions carefully. The application for this rotation is two-fold. Students will first apply to the rotation via the departmental Qualtrics form. This application will open January 28th, 2026, and close on February 23, 2026. Once a rotation offer has been made to the student, they will then be given instructions and permission to apply to the Office of the Registrar's Johns Hopkins Slate Platform. Students should not apply to the Slate Platform unless they have been accepted for the rotation. Please see below for more detailed application instructions.

All applications are reviewed if submitted prior to the deadline. Applications are not first-come first-serve. If applications are submitted after the deadline, or if the Qualtrics form is not filled out, then the application may not be considered.

Contact information

For more information, please feel free to contact our clerkship director, Rebecca Slattery [email protected]

Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in the Johns Hopkins Plastic Surgery Sub-Internship. We are excited for you to experience our program! Please be aware that the process for applying to our sub-internship is new for this year. Please read these instructions closely.

Sub-Internship Application Timeline

• January 28, 2026 @ 5:00 AM EST: Applications open via Qualtrics
• February 23, 2026 @ 11:59 PM EST: Application deadline
• March 2, 2026: Offers for acceptances sent out via e-mail
• March 9, 2026 @ 11:59 PM EST: Deadline to either accept, reject, or request a change for different dates for sub-internship

As soon as you are approved, we will email you to submit the Slate application as soon as possible.

Step 1: Apply via Qualtrics

The Qualtrics application form will open January 28, 2026, at 5:00 AM EST. This form serves as your primary application and is the only document the selection committee reviews during the screening. This application is due February 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Applications submitted after this deadline will only be considered if there are available sub-internship spots after the initial round of acceptances.

You should only fill out the Qualtrics form at this stage. Do not apply via the Johns Hopkins Slate platform, as those applications will not be reviewed by the Department of Plastic Surgery. If you attempt to apply through the Johns Hopkins Slate Platform at the same time, or if you apply via Slate without completing the Qualtrics form, your application may be missed or disqualified.

Documents Needed

• CV
• Unofficial medical school transcript (official transcript is also acceptable) and transcripts from other graduate degrees earned while in medical school
• Personal statement (250 words max, with a focus on your interest in plastic surgery and at Johns Hopkins specifically).

Step 2: Notification and Confirmation of Acceptances

The applications will be reviewed by a faculty and resident committee. We will send out notifications of acceptances by e-mail on March 2, 2026. You will have one week—until March 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST—to respond. During this window, you must either accept the offer, request a change of dates, or reject the invitation. If you are not selected to rotate, you will not receive an email. After March 9th, offers for any remaining sub-internship spots will be released on a rolling basis.

Step 3: Apply via Slate

Once you have secured your desired date and accepted the offer to rotate, you will be authorized to apply via the Johns Hopkins Slate Platform. This application ensures that you will be credentialed at Johns Hopkins facilities and receive transferable academic credit with your home institution. Again, you may only apply to the Slate platform after you have been accepted to the rotation.

The Slate application is what the Office of the Registrar uses, and they require: 

• the visiting student application
• a letter of recommendation/good standing from your dean's office immunization records
• honor code 

Once your Slate application has been processed and accepted, payment of a registration fee is required before any clinical activities can begin. Do NOT include this payment in your initial application. Please refer to the school of medicine fees website for the most updated details.

Please also note that though the residency program is a joint program, with both Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, this sub-internship is solely sponsored by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Students who are interested in rotating at the University of Maryland/Shock Trauma need to apply for a visiting rotation through the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

Please email Rebecca Slattery [email protected] with any clarifying questions or concerns. Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to having you be a part of the team!