MAKING THE MOST OF OBSERVERSHIPS / EXTERNSHIPS...

If your residency application were a Cheese-Sandwich, then there is no arguing over the fact that externships and observerships add more cheese to your sandwich ;-) ! At the same time, do not underestimate your potential at the very place where you do the clinical term . Though not always, but often, an observership or an externship is not only an investment that YOU make, it's also a mini-investment that the program makes - because, for them, you could be a potential candidate in their program! Keep this in mind and work on improving your chances for a position in that program.

How do you do this ? Here are some ways :

1. Towards the end of your Observership term, shoot an email to the program director telling him how much you are impressed with the program, the work atmosphere for residents, quality of didactics, seminars or teaching your attending does on rounds, etc. etc. etc.

2. At the end of your observership term, drop in a direct or indirect hint to your attending doc, i.e. the one under whom you did the observership, that you are really keen on the program and would be great if he/she could communicate that to the Program Director.

Trust me, the program director and most faculty will already know about you through all those informal conversations and jokes that attendings exchange when they meet each other over coffee or lunch - but an active interest in the program from you can easily land you an interview in the program.

The Downside ?

Now, agreed that the specific program may not be your first choice and that you may have your eyes set on another program. Yet, you wish to have backups without hurting anyone - how would you handle that ?

Well, schedule your interview in that program towards the end ..or atleast AFTER your better interviews. That way, you will have a fair idea of your chances at the prevous programs and should a Pre-match offer come by, you are in a better position to handle things.

So, if you are already doing a US clinical term and not already doing the needy, it's time to get on to your act :-)

SAMPLE EMAIL TO USE WHILE APPLYING FOR USCE [US Clinical Experiences]

Here's a sample email format to use while writing to places to enquire about observerships and externships (Of course you can call too). This email format is specific to places with residency programs, but that does not mean hospitals or other health-care institutes like Long Term Care Facilities, Ambulatory care centers, satellite clinics, etc. are not to be considered, coz something is better than nothing at all. What I want to stress it that you gotta change the format according to the kind of specialty and institute you are writing to. Did I hear you say "Duh" ...hehe




"Dear _____________,


Greetings! My Name is ABC D EFG, an International Medical Graduate from University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines. I intend to apply for residency traning at your esteemed Internal Medicine program and am keen on exploring an opportunity to observe or, if possible, work in the capacity of an extern at your institution. Besides your program being highly recommended by peers, I studied your website and was impressed by the wide scope of learning opportunities available.


A snapshot of my Credentials is as follows:

Medical School:
Graduated:
Overall GPA / Class :

USMLE Step 1:
USMLE Step 2 CK:
USMLE Step 2 CS:
USMLE Step 3:
ECFMG Certified on:

In addition, Kindly find my resume attached to this email as a word document.


I assure you a completely professional behaviour and a committment to uphold patient privacy, confidentiality and safety. I am open to purchase my own malpractice insurance to cover me during the period, in case your institute does not provide one.


Awaiting your reply,


Thank you,


Sincerely,

ABC D EFG"



Search Keywords to this article:

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HOSPITALS OFFERING CLINICAL ELECTIVES / CLERKSHIPS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL STUDENTS

Clinical Electives / Clerkships / Visiting Student Programs for International Medical Students

I started off with a list here, but later on have maintained a separate blog for listing US clinical experience opportunities for IMGs on the USCE Blog

These rotations can be done by International / Foreign Medical Students who are currently enrolled in Medical Schools - mostly 4th Year students . If you are already out medical school and are looking for rotations, look up the links on the side-bar for a list of Observerships / Externships instead

Almost all of these programs will provide you with a visa letter to show at the US embassy to help you get the Visitor's Visa required for the elective. Some will want a J1 visa (Remember that this J1 visa DOES NOT have a 2-year home country requirement - so don't freak out ! - go for it baby ;-) ) while some will allow you to do it on a visitors (B1) visa too.

These rotations are somewhat easier to get and carry far more value than observerships for residency applications - so guys, if you are still in Medical school and have decided on USMLE and Residency, clinical electives in desired specialties are strongly recommended. They will be worth every cent and dollar spent ! I agree this list needs better arrangement - that's why I shall soon be coming up with the list on a separate blog dedicated to USCE and classified state-wise. Until then, please do bear with me.

• University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY : Application + Requirements
• Albany Medical College, NY : Application + Requirements
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine : Electives for Foreign Medical students - they also sponsor your J1 visa for the electives
  
• Columbia University College of Physicians + Surgeons, NY: Only for students of these 23 Medical Schools around the world.
• Weill Medical College of Cornell University : Application Requirements: Fee = 2000$/Month
  
• University of Pennsylvania Visiting Student Programs for Canadian & American Medical School Graduates
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine: Psychiatry Electives
• University Pittsburgh Medical Center: DermatoPathology Electives
  
• Baylor College of Medicine Family Medicine Electives Program for International Medical Students, Houston, TX
  
• Brown University Medical School, Rhode Island: Visiting International Student Clerkships
• Cleveland Clinic, OH Clinical Electives Programs - International Med Student Requirements
• Darthmouth Medical School : Elective in Pediatrics
  
• Duke University's Visiting International Student Program
• Duke University : Orthopedic Surgery Electives Program
  
• Yale University Clinical Electives Program
  
• Harvard Medical School's Office Clerkship Program
• Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA: Application Requirements
  
• University of Massachusetts Medical School, N. Worcester, MA Clinical Electives Program
• Kansas University Medical Center Visiting Medical Students Program
  
• University of Kansas (KU) Clinical Electives Take International Medical Students
  
• Tulane University School Of Medicine, New Orleans: Requirements
• Louisiana State University Health Science Center : Pediatrics Electives
  
• Mayo Clinics Clerkship Program for International Students
• Memorial Health - Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA: Application Forms
  
• National Institute of Health (NIH) Clinical Electives Program
• University of Arizona College of Medicine
  
• University of California, San Francisco Clinical Electives Program (Anesthesiology + Radiology)
  
• University of Cincinnati Visiting Students Program
• Ohio State University College of Medicine
• University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine : for Affiliated Colleges Only
• University of Illinois Peoria College of Medicine: Affiliated Colleges Only
  
• University of New Mexico Visiting Clerkship/Extern Program
• University of South Florida: Dermatology Electives for IMGs / Visiting Students
  
• University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston (UTMB) : They provide their own Malpractice Insurance (2 to 3$ a month) and can even give you a Student Visa (F1) , which I think is a better visa to have, since you can extend it easier than B1/B2 Visitors Visa
  
• University of Vermont College of Medicine Clinical Electives Program for International Medical Students
• Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
• Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI: Application Requirements for International Med students
  

[keep coming back for list updates...]