Free List of Hospitals Offering USCE - Observerships, Clerkships, Electives, Externships, Mini-Residency and direct research / clinical fellowships
USCE (US Clinical Experience) is a great value addition to International Medical Graduates seeking Residency in the United States!
Though Family Medicine probably has the highest number unfilled residency positions each year, IMGs may not find it very easy to secure spots. A big concern among program directors is that candidates try to switch specialties after their first year, in essence, using family medicine as an experience building gig to apply to other specialties. Hence what they are looking for is signs of commitment to the specialty on your resume - and a specific family medicine clinical experience along with recommendations from family physicians should be a big plus. The Family medicine residency at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is "IMG friendly" , only allows J1 visas for residency. A good tip for IMGs is to read up profiles of IMGs accepted into their residency program to get an idea of what they are looking for.
They offer a 2-week observership for IMGs who meet the criteria to apply to their residency program. So start with looking at that first. Next, Download their Application form (Word document) . Plus you need supporting documents - which are enlisted on their website along with the mailing address to post application to - Click Here !
Once selected, you will also need to complete online training course for Occupation Safety and HIPAA - both of which are provided for free on the same website linked above.
Union Hospital at Terre Haute, Indiana, recently got good points for lowest heart attack death rates in the US. Their family medicine residency has an observership program that also accepts IMGs, after a rather exacting selection process - which includes a personal interview and requires a personal statement and three letters of recommendation - it's like applying to a residency program !
Only allow 4 observers every year are allowed, for a perdiod of 2 weeks each, from September through January. Now, the good thing about a tough selection process for an observership is that if selected, you would have a seriously good chance to ultimately make it into their residency program !
Thanks to a gracious reader who left me a comment to share with you all... TIPS SW stands for Texas Indo American Physician Society South West, which is one of the five chapters of the Texas Indo-American Physicians Society (TIPS), which is turn is affiliated to the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), about which I already covered on a previous post about IMG Physician organizations in USA.
Though this program is titled as an 'externship' it really is an observership in the way it works - implying no patient contact or hands-on experience....but if they officially allow you to call it an extership, that's what you can write up on your CAF ;-)
Lets go over the Details:
Duration: - Total 6 weeks, two rotations of 3 weeks each
Location: Non-Residency hospitals in San Antonio, TX
Specialty: - IM, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Family medicine
Criteria: Minimum 2-digit score of 78 on both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK
Application: - Click here to Apply online - Click here to download paper-format application
Fees: None mentioned, probably no fees, but you gotta take care of your own accomodation, travel, food, etc. etc.
Hmmm..2 IMGs per 6 weeks, which is about 17-18 IMGs per year....hurry !
ELECTIVES / CLERKSHIPS (3rd / 4th Year Medical Students)
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Duration: Maximum of 12 Consecutive Weeks Visa: Will Sponsor Student Visas Only (F1) - Visitors Visa Not Accepted Fees: Need to pay for two credits per week Application Information
OBSERVERSHIPS
University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals Specialty: Family Medicine This is what their Website says: "We do not offer observerships at the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency program. Our department is, however, affiliated with WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region residencies and we encourage you to contact our network office for further inquiry (206.685.1856)" ....I say you should make the contact then :-)
Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency: Residency Website Note: This info is based on circumstantial evidence - an IMG resident profile on the website says the resident did an observership at the program before the residency ! (yeah ain't I cheeky :-p )
Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA) Specialties: Various - Family medicine, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology etc. Application: To Apply, You must procure an Application Form from OSMA - call 405-843-9571 OR 800-522-9452 and inquire about the application forms. Usually, they will email the forms to you. I secured the forms from a pal - Download sample OSMA externship form Here. Use this downloaded form only as reference, You should communicated with them directly for the form - also try emailing Linda at mcdonald@osmaonline.org, for the forms, as long as she is working for the OSMA ;-) Click here for OSMA Externship Program Website Link Duration: "The Extern will be allowed to have four (3 week) rotations with a sponsor in different specialties. Upon completion of the Externship rotations (twelve weeks), the IMG Council of the OSMA (upon receipt of letters from sponsor physicians) will give a letter and certificate of completion to the Extern indicating the number of weeks as well as physicians and their medical specialties" Cost: This Externship Is Free, but IMGs must take care of their own living expenses
Notes:
1. The OSMA Externship program closes from time to time, depending on the applicant volume, but reopens again - so keep a look out on their website Here for the notices. 2. They call it an 'externship', but works like an observership, since IMGs are not allowed any patient contact. Well, if the certificate from the OSMA says 'externship', I would not be wrong to call it an 'externship' when I fill in the ERAS application form for residency applications, would I ? ;-) 3. This one is from a State Medical Association, which means, its prestigious !
OBSERVERSHIPS
United Regional Health Care Center, Wichita Falls Specialty: Family Practice Cost: 300$ per Month (This information awaits being verified) Contacts Page
Indiana University School of Medicine Specialties: Ob-Gyn + Family Practice Click hereto Download Criteria and Appointment Letter format (pdf) Requirements: ECFMG Certification, At least one US LOR Allow Visitors, Student (F1) and even J1 visas
Note: The letter is to be completed by the faculty after you land an externship, which implies you will need to write to individual program directors / faculty of desired specialty to get an externship"
OBSERVERSHIPS
Indiana University School of Medicine Specialty: Internal Medicine Click here for Observership Information - Check out the last paragraph on that page, which says:
"Two of the partner hospitals, Wishard Memorial Hospital and Clarian Methodist Hospital will consider applicants for observership. At Clarian, prospective observers should contact Marcia Bothwell, Residency Program Coordinator - B342, Clarian Methodist Hospital, 1701 N. Senate Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or phone 317-962-5096. At Wishard, please contact Dr. Kaisner-Duncan, 1001 West 10th Street, OPW M200, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or phone 317-630-7044." ...Sweeeet ?
Union Hospital, Terra Haute, IN Specialty: Family Medicine Period: 2 weeks Application requires 3 LORs, Personal statement & Interview ! Good chance to make it to residency program if selected. Has IMGs ! Click Here for Application Process
North Richland Hospital, North Richland,TX Specialty: Pediatrics Note: This was mentioned on the resumes of one of the residents at the Texas Tech University of Health Sciences at Amarillo - hence an externship might be a possibility to explore.
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Specialty: Family Medicine Observership Information : For IMGs currently enrolled in Post-Graduate Family Medicine Residencies in Home Countries
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Specialty: Physiatry (PM & R)
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston (University of Texas) Specialty: Pulmonary Medicine (Internal Medicine) Observership & contact Information (scroll down on the page)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Specialty: General Surgery Click Here for Application Information - scroll down on the page
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (UT-Southwestern) Specialty: Toxicology Duration: 4-8 week rotation Applications, Contact and FAQs Note: They even offer a direct 2-year Toxicology Fellowship without need for US Residency for IMGs who have completed post-graduate training in Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine, or Internal Medicine. Read More Here
Bryn Mawr Hospital, PA Externship/observership + research in Cardiothoracic surg Starts: end of March 2009 Duration: 3 months to 6 months Contact: Pat Dorris (dorrispa@mlhs.org ) Attending:Robert S Boova M.D.[ System chief Cardio Thoracic surgery] Strong CT surgery experience in Bryn Mawr hospital, affiliated to Thomas Jefferson University.. Clinical research is strongly encouraged along with externship.
OBSERVERSHIPS
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Download Application Form [PDF] Specialty: Multiple (Pediatrics and Pediatric Sub-specialties)
Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia "Drexel Medicine Physician Refresher Course" Specialties: Multiple Click Here for Application Information Steep Fees !
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Specialty: Critical Care Medicine / ICU Duration: 2 weeks to 2 Month along with additional option $200 Critical Care Medicine course (Which I highly recommend for your resume) Application Info
Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia Specialties: Internal Medicine (other may be possible) Internal Medicine Website (This information is unconfirmed word-of-mouth evidence)
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia Specialties: Multiple Visa: They will determine the visa type you will be granted / eligible for (B1/ B2 / J1) Click here for Application Information
Notes: - Needs Passing USMLE Step 1 Score - Applications must reach at least 4 weeks before start date
EXTERNSHIPS
Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus Specialty: Pediatrics This could be a pot-shot, but I read this information from an IMG's resume posted online who was apparently working full time as an extern in this community hospital. This makes it worth a try - call (614) 445-5000 and ask to be transferred to the deparment of pediatrics
Huron Hospital Specialty: Internal Medicine Policy Statement: "The Internal Medicine Program offers externships, observerships to candidates meeting our minimum criteria, but it is not required to be a resident. We do not schedule externships in the months of June or July. Externships are for one month only and must be approved a minimum of three months prior to starting."
University of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center Specialty: E.N.T. (Otolaryngology) Note: According to their FAQs Link, "Application are considered on an individual basis by contacting Robert Keith, PhD, Director of Medical Education at robert.keith@uc.edu, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, PO Box 670528, Cincinnati OH 45267-0528."
OBSERVERSHIPS
Case Western Reserve University Specialty: Family Medicine (Only for candidates selected for Interview) Application Information
Cleveland Clinic Specialty: Clinical Neurophysiology + Epilepsy Observership Course Information Duration: 3 Months Notes: 1. Course if Free - But IMGs and International Medical Students must fund their own stay 2. Good for candidates interested in Neurology Residency !
Ohio State University College of Dentistry Specialty: Periodontology Application Information
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Application Info + Form Specialty: Family Medicine Period: 4 Weeks
University of Maryland School of Medicine Specialties: Multiple :List Application Information Note:It is the policy of the University of Maryland School of Medicine to accept only fourth-year students for clinical experiences who are enrolled in accredited allopathic medical schools which are approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). We do, however, offer an exchange program with the University of Heidelberg and accept two students each year to study with us for six months. The students are selected by the Dean of Studies at Heidelberg
EXTERNSHIPS
Dr. Barry Mehta Specialties: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn Duration: Minimum 7-weeks tp get a Letter Of Recommendation. Schedule Cost: $4,400 for 7 weeks (Training + Staying) Call: 410-730-3961, 443-285-9563 (Mobile) Note: Interestingly, as a reader pointed out on the comments, the same Dr. Barry Mehta was found guilty of fraud and fined $250,000/- for robbing the state Medicaid program. He billed the state for clients that were never present as per this news here. However, the American Medical News also featured the Barry Mehta Externship program, Read the News article here. I was amused that they did not write about the fraud, the article was written by a student of the externship program anyways
Harbor Hospital, Baltimore Specialty: Internal medicine Contact Program Coordinator at:410-350-3565
University California San Francisco Specialties: Anesthesiology + Radiology Fees: $500.oo per 4-week elective + 300$ Homeland Security Fee Application Information
UC Davis Network of Affiliated Family Practice Programs Specialties: FP, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics Application information
UCSF - Fresno Specialty: Family Medicine Note: This is what the website says: "UCSF Fresno Family & Community Medicine offers observerships on a very limited basis. Once your residency program application has been submitted via ERAS, and you have been invited for an interview, you will have the opportunity to apply for an observership. Participants are selected by the Program Director."
Well, even if you do not match there, you can still use the experience elsewhere.. Read here
UCLA IMG Program for English-Spanish speaking Hispanics and other minority IMGs Specialty: Family Medicine Application Information
University of Alabama, Huntsville Specialty: Family Medicine Click Here for Application information Duration: 30 Days Max Note:"Observerships are available from August to February for International Medical Graduates. March, April, and May are reserved for incoming matched Interns."
University of Alabama Specialty: Pediatrics Observership Information Note: "Offer Four Observership Positions each academic year from July 1 of one year to June 30 of next year"
