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International Physician Observer Program



The Observership program is an informal shadowing experience that enables participants to watch procedures and surgeries; attend patient rounds and teaching conferences; and have full access to Cleveland Clinic’s medical library system. Federal regulations prevent observers from having patient care responsibilities or involvement in any form of volunteer research.
 


 


Available Specialties

Observership opportunities are offered by the following Cleveland Clinic departments:

 Abdominal Imaging  General Surgery Pain Management 
 Allergy and Immunology  Gynecology, Surgical  Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
 Anesthesia, Cardiothoracic  Head and Neck Surgery  Pediatric Neurology
 Anesthesia, General **  Heart Failure  Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
 Breast Services  Hepatobilliary and Transplant  Plastic Surgery
 Cardiac Intensive Care  Interventional Cardiology **  Pulmonary Medicine
 Cardiovascular Imaging  Medical Intensive Care  Radiation Oncology**
 Clinical Cardiology- CLOSED  Musculoskeletal Imaging  Sleep Disorder Center
 Colorectal Surgery  Neonatology  Sports Health (Orthopaedics)
 Dentistry  Neuroradiology  Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery **
 Dermatology  Nuclear Medicine  Thoracic Imaging
 Echocardiography  Laboratory  Ophthalmic Surgery **  Urology
 Electrophysiology and Pacing  Ophthalmology **  Vascular & Interventional Radiology
 Gastroenterology & Hepatalogy  Orthopaedic Surgery**  Vascular Medicine
 General Radiology  Otolaryngology &   Communicative Disorders  Vascular Surgery

All available specialties are included in a drop-down list on the application form.

** (Post-Residency Applicants Only)

Statistics

3,000 program applications received annually

600 international physicians and medical students selected every year to participate in the program


35+ clinical and surgical specialties in which participants can engage


65+ nationalities represented by our visiting observers


Duration

The length of the program typically is one month. A maximum of two months may be requested; however, this is subject to department availability and capacity.

Cost

This program is offered at no cost.

The International Physician Observer Program is open to:


Fully trained international physicians and specialists currently practicing abroad
 
• International residents and fellows currently enrolled in a residency/fellowship 
  program at a foreign institution and who are expected to graduate from that same
  institution

• International medical students currently enrolled at an international medical school
  and who are expected to graduate from that same school

 

Foreign medical graduates residing in the US or abroad who intend to apply for residency or fellowship in the US may only be considered for our Global Clinical Observer Program.

 

 

How to Apply for the International Physician Observer Program

1. Observership applications are presented to one specialty only; please select the one specialty that reflects your area of expertise or that you are most interested in.

2. Refer to the schedule below and select an application period most appropriate for you.

3. Complete and submit the application form during the corresponding application  date.  We encourage candidates to apply as early as possible.

 

Due to the volume of interest to our program, you may submit an application to only one Period during a 12-month timeframe (regardless of rejection or acceptance into the rogram). 

 

2012 - 2013 Calendar Year

Application Periods Online application open date Online application close date Expected Notification of Final Decision

Period 1:January, February, March, April  2013

Closed

August 10, 2012

October 15, 2012

Period 2: May, June, July and August 2013

Closed

December 14, 2012

February 15, 2013

Period 3: September, October, November, December 2013

December 17, 2012

April 12, 2013

June 14, 2013

Requests for final decisions earlier than the notification dates listed in the last column above cannot be accommodated under any circumstances.


Next Steps

Upon receipt of your online application, a member of our center will follow up to collect:  

• CV in English
• One page personal statement addressing your interest in this program
• Two letters of recommendation, see FAQs for acceptable formats 
• Letter of verification of enrollment in a foreign program/employment at an
  institution 

Please have these documents ready when we request them.

Upon receipt of all documents, your application is considered complete. No additional documents may be included at a later date.
 

Your complete application will be reviewed during the corresponding period timeframe. You will be notified via email of the final decision.

Upon acceptance into the Observer Program, you will receive the following by email:

 

 

• A formal invitation letter to help you with visa formalities
• Final confirmation of your orientation appointment
Resource Guide to prepare you for your upcoming visit to Cleveland
• Necessary health requirements (if applicable)

 

 

 


A tentative schedule of your observership will be given to you by the hosting department on your first day.

On your last day, we will present you with a certificate of attendance in the Observer Program.

 


Frequently Asked Questions about this Program

Program FAQs offer answers to commonly asked questions about the International Physician Observer Program.

View Program FAQs

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