📘 How to Get a Medical Observership in the USA: Full Guide (2025)
🩺 What is a Medical Observership?
A medical observership is a clinical experience opportunity where international medical graduates (IMGs) or students observe patient care in a U.S. hospital setting without direct clinical responsibility. It helps familiarize participants with the U.S. healthcare system and enhances residency applications.
📋 Steps to Get a Medical Observership in the USA
1. Check Your Eligibility
Most observerships require:
- Final-year medical students or graduates from an accredited institution.
- Fluency in English (some may request TOEFL).
- No current involvement in malpractice or legal issues.
2. Gather Required Documents
Commonly required documents include:
- CV/Resume
- Medical school transcripts and diploma
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Immunization record
- Proof of English proficiency
- Personal statement
- Passport and/or visa details
3. Apply to Observership Programs
Research hospitals offering observerships. Tailor each application to the institution’s department and specialty. Use platforms like:
4. Secure Your Visa
Most programs accept B-1 (Business Visitor) or J-1 (Exchange Visitor) visas. Always consult the institution or U.S. embassy for correct visa procedures.
🌍 Ultimate Guide to Medical Observerships in the USA (for IMGs)
🔗 For the most updated list and instructions:
mymedschool.org/getting-an-observership
🏥 Observerships at Large University Hospitals
| Institution | Details | Link/Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center | Cancer and Blood Disorders Center | Contact the department directly |
| Cleveland Clinic | International Physician Observer Program – $500 | Link |
| Cleveland Clinic | Global Clinical Observer Program – $1000 | Link |
| Johns Hopkins | Contact department directly | Website |
| University of Pittsburgh | Critical Care Medicine | Website |
| Sparrow Hospital / MSU | General Observership Program | Website |
| Beth Israel (Einstein) | University Hospital for Albert Einstein College | Website |
| University of Chicago | Requires faculty sponsorship | Website |
| UT Health Science Center Houston | Requires faculty sponsor. Application | |
| MD Anderson | Integrative Medicine, Anesthesia/Critical Care | Visit |
| MD Anderson | Pulmonary Medicine | Requires a letter from faculty |
| Thomas Jefferson | Requires a letter from the faculty | Website |
| GWU Hospital | General Observership | Website |
| University of Miami | 3-month observership; contact Olivia Cata | OCata@med.miami.edu |
| University of Washington | General Program | Website |
| UCLA | 3-month Family Medicine Observership (Spanish-speaking preferred) | Website |
🩺 Internal Medicine Observerships (IMG-Friendly)
| Institution | Details | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Hospital | IMG Observership Program | Info |
| Cleveland Clinic Florida | Internal Medicine Program | Website |
| Mercy Hospital St. Louis | Mercy Health Partners | Website |
| MedStar Montgomery | Only to matched candidates | Website |
| Wayne State/DMC | Internal Medicine Program | Website |
| St. John’s Mercy Medical Center | Internal Medicine | Website |
| UT HSC San Antonio – RAHC | Lower Rio Grande Valley Program | Website |
| Drexel University | College of Medicine | Website |
| Hurley Medical Center | General Observership | Website |
| Mount Sinai Miami | General Program | Website |
| Good Shepherd | Medical Center | Website |
| Einstein Medical Center | Philadelphia | Website |
🌐 Other Observership Opportunities
| Institution | Details | Link/Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Children’s Hospital Boston | General Pediatrics | Website |
| Florida Hospital Medical Center | Residency contact: Nicole Yates | Nicole.Yates@flhosp.org |
| Baptist Health South Florida | General Observership | Website |
| Washington Hospital Center | Internal Medicine | Website |
| Harbor Hospital | General Observership | Website |
| University of South Florida | General Program | Website |
| Methodist Hospital | General Observership | Website |
| Allegheny General Hospital | Contact: (412) 359-5269 or aghint@wpahs.org | Website |
| Jackson Memorial Hospital | Jackson Health System | Website |
| Moffitt Cancer Center | Tampa, FL | Website |
| Brigham and Women’s | Radiology | Website |
🧠 General Surgery Observerships
| Institution | Details | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Association for Academic Surgery | Surgical Observership Resource | Website |
| Columbia University | Surgery | Website |
| Cleveland Clinic Florida | Surgery | Website |
| Cleveland Clinic | Surgery | Website |
| Einstein Medical Center | Philadelphia | Website |
| Mount Sinai | New York | Website |
🔬 Other Surgery Observerships
| Institution | Specialty | Link |
|---|---|---|
| NYU | Orthopedic Surgery | Website |
| MD Anderson | Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery | Website |
| Children’s Boston | Pediatric Surgery | Website |
| Hospital for Special Surgery – NY | Orthopedic Surgery (Requires faculty host) | Website |
| University of Pittsburgh | Surgical Critical Care | Website |
| Plastic Surgery | Varies by institution | Check the respective institutions |
Observerships at Large University Hospitals
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
- Cleveland Clinic International Physician Observer Program fee $500
- Cleveland Clinic Global Clinical Observer Program is designed for 12 “highly qualified participants” for “a four-week shadowing experience” fee $1000
- Johns Hopkins: “We recommend that you directly contact the department you’d like to observe.”
- University of Pittsburgh Critical Care Medicine
- Sparrow Hospital/Michigan State University Program
- Beth Israel Medical Center, University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- University of Chicago Center for Global Health Clinical Observer. Requires faculty sponsorship.
- University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, offers observerships once a faculty sponsor is identified. The application is here and requires a fee to apply.
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Integrative Medicine, Anesthesia/Critical Care)
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Pulmonary Medicine)
- Thomas Jefferson (applicant must have a letter from a Thomas Jefferson Faculty member to be accepted)
- George Washington University Hospital
- University of Miami Observership Program (Foreign nationals may be eligible for a 3-month Observership Program). Contact Olivia Cata (OCata@med.miami.edu)
- University of Washington
- UCLA Family Medicine three-month Observership program. Geared towards candidates who speak Spanish.
Observerships at hospitals with Internal Medicine Programs that have taken a large % of IMGs
- Griffin Hospital Program
- Cleveland Clinic (Florida) Program
- Mercy Health Partners/Mercy Hospital St. Louis
- MedStar Montgomery Medical Center only matches candidates.
- Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center Program
- St John’s Mercy Medical Center Program
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Lower Rio Grande Valley RAHC Program
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Hurley Medical Center
- Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach Florida
- Good Shepherd Medical Center
- Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
Other Observership opportunities
- Children’s Hospital Boston
- Florida Hospital Medical Center Program
- Contact Nicole Yates, Residency Coordinator, Nicole.Yates@flhosp.org
- Baptist Health South Florida
- Washington Hospital Center
- Harbor Hospital
- University of South Florida
- Methodist Hospital,
- Allegheny General Hospital–Western Pennsylvania Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program call International Services (412) 359-5269 or e-mail: aghint@wpahs.org
- Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health System ProgramMoffitt Cancer Center – Tampa, FL, and here Children’s Hospital BostonBrigham and Women’s Hospital Radiology
General Surgery Observerships
- Association for Academic Surgery
- Columbia
- Cleveland Clinic Florida
- Cleveland Clinic
- Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
- Mount Sinai, New York
Other Surgery Observerships
