Free List of Hospitals Offering USCE - Observerships, Clerkships, Electives, Externships, Mini-Residency
USCE (US Clinical Experience) is a great value addition to International Medical Graduates seeking Residency in the United States!
This is a second successive post on Opthalmology observerships and I should be useful to at least some prospective Ophthal-residency seeking IMGs. Maybe these observerships might have some value even to candidates seeking prelim surgery positions too. Here's a another one at the Doheny Eye-Institute in Los Angeles, California, affiliated to the prestigious University of Southern California (USC).
At Doheny Eye Institute, IMGs (i.e. International Medical Graduates or Foreign physicians) are responsible for their own visitors visa during the maximum of 2-weeks of retinal department observership. 2-weeks seems short but look at the bright side - this hospital was ranked 8th in the 2007 US News Ranking for Opthalmology and besides we are talking Los Angeles here = 2 weeks is gonna be blissfully cheaper than 4 weeks or 6 months..hehe
Note: Besides IMGs seeking US residency positions, Observerships at prestigious places in the US can be valuable resume additions even to IMGs aiming for Australia, New Zealand, etc.
A well paid specialty, Opthalmology remains an AMG domain - even though salaries have dropped from the previous years, a clean surgery environment and a controllable lifestyle with not as many emergency sleepless nights, it is still a very desirable specialty for AMGs. And yes, sub-specialties like Vitreo-Retinal surgery are exceedingly high-paid fields...
This is what the NYEE site says about observerships and IMGs:
"International Observer Program:
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary has an observer program for visiting international medical students and physicians. Although hands on patient contact is restricted, participants in this observer program can observe and learn in all ophthalmology clinics, and the operating rooms. Attendance at all lectures and courses is also encouraged. To participate in the observer program, an application form and insurance documentation must be completed by the sponsoring institution and visa requirements met by the applicant in advance. "
You could either contact the program coordinator Janell Matthews, at jmatthews@nyee.edu or try writing to individual faculty. They also have good amount of research going on, which can be of advantage.
Of Interest ? : Personally, the only IMG that I know in an Ophthalmology program was one who first finished Opthalmology residency back in his home country, then entered a Neurology Residency Program and then building contacts through research with the Neuro-Ophthalmology faculty, made it into an Opthalmology residency program..phew !
Someday, an outdoor nature fan that I am, I hope to take my backpack and go trekking in the immensely beautiful forest parks in the state of Utah, that would be an 'observership' of a different kind ...guess I simply had to crack a bad one ;-)
Back to business - The first look at the website section of the University of Utah regarding this observership might confuse you a bit, since the title reads "Ophthalmology International (Img) Fellowship Program" but then if you point your mouse cursor on the left menu over 'fellowships', you will see that this section is listed under "International Observership". Additionally, the description on the page ends with: "possibly the opportunity in clinical research" - meaning, though called a 'fellowship' the focus is observing rather than research.
Anyways, the selection process for this observership seems pretty rigorous and needs the following as part of the application:
Identify the ophthalmology sub-specialty you wish to rotate.
Dates you wish to rotate.
Personal Statement / Statement of Purpose
A current CV with publications included.
Copies of academic degrees
Three Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
Proof of fluency in English. Some samples of proof could be:
A letter from an ophthalmology faculty member in the United States who has personal knowledge of you and your level of English.
TOEFL
A letter from an English teacher who has personal knowledge of your fluency in English.
Also, you need to show proof of adequate finances to cover the visit. If a visa is needed, the University is willing to sponsor a J1 visa for the observership, but I guess they should be other valid visa types.
Columbia University College of Physicians + Surgeons Only for students of these 23 Medical Schools around the world.
SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn Fee: $175 1st Elective : $100 per additional Elective Visas: Students are responsible for their own B1 visitors visa Duration: 12 Weeks Maximum Application Form & Instructions
Weill Cornell Medical College Specialty: Multiple Fees: 2000$ per month Application Information
EXTERNSHIPS
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, NY (Don't confuse this with the country Jamaica..LOL) Specialty: Psychiatry Duration: 5 Months Call: 718-291-0764 or See more Contacts Requirements: Must be ECFMG Certified, and have your own Visa / Green Card
Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Cabrini) Program Specialty: Psychiatry As their Residency Program Website Says: "We have in the past offered externships, but they are offered at the discretion of the Program Director.You may fax your resume and cover letter regarding externships to (212) 995-7031." Thus - its worth a try :-)
New York Medical College (Westchester Medical Center), Valhalla, NY Specialty:Psychiatry Duration: 8 Months ! Click Here for IMG externship selection & policies Click Here for IMG externship application form Email inquiries: wmcexternship@hotmail.com
North Short LIJ, Long Island Specialty: Psychiatry Externship for a Year Contact: Externship Coordinator at : 718-470-7992
OBSERVERSHIPS
Beth Israel Medical Center Specialty: Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Application Information
Hospital for Special Surgery Specialty: Radiology (For Current Radiologists) Fees:
New York University (NYU) Specialty: Dermatology Click Here for Description Duration: 1 Month, 6 Months or 1 Year Fees: This is a very comprehensive Observership Program and carries a hefty Tution: 1 Month: $3000 6 Months: $15,000 12 Months: $30,000 "Participants in the Program will receive a certificate from the Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine verifying their observership as an International Dermatology observer."
New York University Medical Center Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery Visa: If you need a visa, the University does do a J-1 Visa for the Observership, though it may not be compulsorily be a J1 - in that event, I would recommend going with a Visitors or F1 visa instead. Application Form and Links
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn Specialties: Internal Medicine (I know IMGs have done it in Internal Medicine - other specialties may be possible)
This is what the Internal Medicine Department Manual Says about Observerships: "At this time we are no longer offering observerships. Due to the extreme high volume of applicants that have applied in the past, we are no longer able to accommodate any new observership opportunities. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. " = Which means - you gotta periodically check back with the site
University of Michigan, Ann Harbor Specialty: Ophthalmology (for IMGs pursuing PG in home-countries Visa Sponsored: J1 Visa Application Information
Medical Surgical Specialists, Naples, Florida Specialties: Multiple Observership Listings and Information (If any available) - but I would anyways suggest you contact them even if they say they have no current positions Application Form [pdf]
Mount Sinai Medical Center : Mini-Residency Program (Observerships) Specialties : ( 4 weeks each - each specialty is treated like a 'course') : "ANESTHESIOLOGY , CARDIOLOGY, CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, MEMORY DISORDERS, NEONATOLOGY, ONCOLOGY /HEMATOLOGY, PATHOLOGY/LABORATORY MEDICINE, PULMONARY & SLEEP DISORDERS, RADIOLOGY " Cost: $300 Per Specialty Application Information
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Specialty: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR - Physiatry) Application Information
University South Florida, Tampa "Stephen Klasko Observership Program for International Physicians" Specialties: Infectious Disease, Anesthesiology, but more may be introduced Application Information and Application Form
Note:Though This Is mentioned as an "Observership" - the description sounds more like it is ONLY meant for current Medical Students. Remember that while Observerships could be done by both current medical students AND medical graduates - Clerkships are usually restricted only to current medical students
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 'circumstantial evidence'. At the time of this writing, on one of the resident profiles posted on their family medicine website, it was mentioned that the person did an observership at their program before. Program Contact
UCLA IMG Program for English-Spanish speaking Hispanics and other minority IMGs Specialty: Family Medicine Application Information
