Visiting Residents & Fellows
A group of people at a table talking

Special Purpose Trainees

At the U-M Medical School, visiting residents and fellows are known as Special Purpose Trainees (SPT). Learn more about the institutional and individual training program requirements below.

Special Purpose Trainees (SPT)

Residents and fellows currently training at another institution within the United States, in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) may rotate with a Michigan Medicine (U-M) residency or fellowship training program.

At U-M, visiting residents/fellows are known as Special Purpose Trainees (SPT). In addition to the institutional requirements, each training program has their own SPT requirements. Inquire directly with the training program to determine if they accept SPTs, their process and availability. If accepted, the SPT credentialing application will be initiated electronically via MedHub, U-M’s web-based residency management program, and managed by the U-M training program.

U-M Graduate Medical Education Programs >

Essential SPT Quick Facts
  • The educational experience must not be available at the SPTs home institution
  • SPTs must:
    • Be currently enrolled in an accredited ACGME, CODA or CPME training program at an outside institution within the United States
    • Be in good standing within their training program
    • Be a PGY2 level or higher
    • Meet U-M selection and credentialing requirements, which include but are not limited to:
      • US citizen, permanent resident, ECFMG-sponsored J1 visa, or H1B visa (if on an H1B visa the rotation must be 30 days or less)
      • Medical School must appear on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) list, American Osteopathic Association (AOA) list, or for non-U.S. or Canadian medical school graduates, the SPT must be a graduate of a college/university found on the Medical Board of California list posted on the Michigan Medicine website.
  • Successful completion of a background check and drug screening
  • Obtain a Michigan Medical License and associated Controlled Substance License
  • Have a valid American Heart Association (AHA) certification in BLS, ACLS and/or PALS card
  • There is a $400 institutional SPT application fee. Some U-M training programs may require additional fees
    • All fees are the responsibility of the SPT
  • U-M training programs must obtain approval from the GME Office at a minimum of 6-months prior to the start of the rotation via the “Request for SPT” form; in addition to providing the completed SPT credentialing application at a minimum of 3-months prior to the start of the rotation
  • No SPT rotations are available in July

Residents and fellows training at another institution in a ACGME, CODA or CPME accredited program are not eligible to visit U-M as observers following the Michigan Medicine Visiting Observer: Individual Who May Observe But Not Provide Patient Care Policy.