๐ How to Get a Medical Observership in the USA: Full Guide (2025):๐ฉบWhat 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 by securing valuable Letters of Recommendation (LoRs).
Steps to Get a Medical Observership in the USA
1. Check Your Eligibility
Most observerships require:
- Status: Final-year medical students or graduates from an accredited institution.
- Language: Fluency in English (many now require OET or TOEFL scores).
- Legal: No current involvement in malpractice or legal issues.
2. Gather Required Documents
Ensure you have digital copies of:
- Updated CV/Resume (U.S. format).
- Medical school transcripts and diploma.
- 2โ3 Letters of Recommendation.
- Comprehensive Immunization record (including COVID-19 and Flu).
- Personal statement and passport/visa details.
3. Apply to Observership Programs
Research hospitals offering observerships
- AMA Observership Listings (The official American Medical Association directory).
- ECFMG Resources (For certification and program alignment).
- mymedschool.org/getting-an-observership (For specialized IMG guides and free resources).
4. Secure Your Visa
Most programs accept the following:
Note: Always consult the hosting institutionโs international office or the U.S. Embassy for specific visa requirements. U.S. Embassy for the correct visa procedures.
B-1 (Business Visitor): Most common for short-term observerships.
J-1 (Exchange Visitor): Typically for research or longer academic programs.
๐ Ultimate Guide to Medical Observerships in the USA (for IMGs)
๐ For the most updated list and instructions: mymedschool.org/getting-an-observership
๐ฅ Observerships at Large University Hospitals (Verified 2026)
| Institution | Details | Link / Contact |
| Dana-Farber / Boston Childrenโs | Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Most rotations require a direct invitation from a faculty member. | Contact Department |
| Cleveland Clinic | International Physician Observer: 4-week shadowing experience. Fee: $500. | Official Link |
| Cleveland Clinic | Global Clinical Observer: Highly qualified participants; 4-week program. Fee: $1,000. | Official Link |
| Johns Hopkins | Observers must independently secure a faculty sponsor first. | Policy & Portal |
| University of Pittsburgh | Critical Care Medicine (CCM): Shadowing in the ICU environment. | CCM Education |
| Sparrow Hospital / MSU | General Observership Program via Michigan State University. | Application Info |
| Beth Israel (Einstein) | University Hospital for Albert Einstein College. Check GME for openings. | GME Observerships |
| University of Chicago | Center for Global Health. Requires faculty sponsorship. | Global Health Info |
| UT Health Science Center Houston | Requires faculty sponsor and **$775** fee for foreign nationals. | Apply Here |
| MD Anderson | Integrative Medicine & Anesthesia. Fee: $2,000 + $500 deposit. | Observer Portal |
| MD Anderson | Pulmonary Medicine. Requires a specific invitation letter from faculty. | Department List |
| Thomas Jefferson | Summer Observership (July-Sept). Requires a letter from TJ faculty. | Program Details |
| GWU Hospital | International Medicine Programs (IMP). Note: Check availability. | GWU IMP Site |
| University of Miami | 3-month observership. Fee: $500 total. | Contact Olivia Cata |
| University of Washington | General clinical observation via the Department of Medicine. | UW Medicine Info |
| UCLA Health | 3-month Family Medicine (Spanish preferred). App fee: $750. | UCLA Program |
๐ฉบ Internal Medicine Observerships (IMG-Friendly)
| Institution | Details | Verified Link / Contact |
| Griffin Hospital | Top Choice: 4-week program. Requires ECFMG certification and USMLE Step 1/2 scores. | Apply Here |
| Cleveland Clinic Florida | Offers IM shadowing. Application windows open twice a year (June & Dec). | Official Portal |
| Drexel University | Physician Refresher: Structured 4-week onsite blocks in Philadelphia. | Drexel Observership |
| UT Health San Antonio | CLOSED: Wayne State’s sole-sponsored programs are not currently offering observerships. | RAHC Program Info |
| Hurley Medical Center | Combined Med-Peds: 1โ2 week observerships. Requires USMLE > 50th percentile. | Hurley Application |
| Einstein Philadelphia | Now part of Jefferson Health. Offers specialty-specific observerships (e.g., Urology/IM). | Jefferson Einstein Info |
| Mount Sinai Miami | Highly selective. Requires a current faculty member to “sponsor” the applicant. | Icahn School Portal |
| Mercy Hospital St. Louis | Facilitated via SSM Health. Requires background check and ECFMG (if applicable). | SSM Health Application |
| MedStar Montgomery | Strict health clearance required. Primarily for candidates in the matching process. | Health Requirements |
| Wayne State / DMC | CLOSED: Wayne State sole-sponsored programs are not currently offering observerships. | Status Page |
| Good Shepherd (TX) | Part of CHRISTUS Health. Requires an existing school affiliation agreement. | Lower Rio Grande Valley Program. Requires faculty approval and an application fee. |
๐ Other Observership Opportunities
| Institution | Details | Link / Contact |
| Boston Childrenโs | Pediatric subspecialties. Requires a current trainee status (Resident/Fellow). | Global Services Portal |
| AdventHealth Orlando | Formerly Florida Hospital. Managed via the GME Office. | Graduate Medical Education |
| Baptist Health So. Florida | Focuses on physicians from Latin America/Caribbean. | International Observerships |
| Washington Hospital Center | MedStar Health. Applications for 2026-27 open in late March. | MedStar Education |
| Harbor Hospital (MedStar) | Integrated with the Baltimore IM residency tracks. | Baltimore IM Residency |
| USF Health (Tampa) | Morsani College of Medicine. Uses specific application windows (e.g., MayโAug 2026 apps open Dec 1). | International Programs |
| Houston Methodist | Requires a faculty invitation before applying. 2โ4 week duration. | Global Education Portal |
| Allegheny General (AHN) | International Services. Requires a $300 fee and a sponsoring physician. | AHN Observer Policy |
| Jackson Memorial | Partnered with University of Miami. Very IMG-friendly for IM and Rehab. | JMH Medicine Portal |
| Moffitt Cancer Center | Integrated Mathematical Oncology (IMO) and clinical shadowing. | Moffitt Research & Training |
| Brigham and Womenโs | Specialized Radiology observerships. Weekly tuition applies. | Partnered with the University of Miami. Very IMG-friendly for IM and Rehab. |
๐ง General Surgery Observerships
| Institution | Details | Link / Contact |
| Association for Academic Surgery | Resource for surgical research and clinical networking. Annual congress held in Feb. | Surgical Resource |
| Columbia University | General Surgery Observership: $1,000 fee for 4 weeks. No patient contact. | Official Program |
| Cleveland Clinic Florida | Physician Observer: $500 processing fee. Applications open in specific windows. | Florida Surgery |
| Cleveland Clinic (Main) | Preceptorship Program: Clinical and surgical observation. Fee: $2,500+ for 4 weeks. | Preceptorship Link |
| Einstein Medical Center | Now Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia. Specifically offers Urology Surgery and Podiatric Surgery. | Jefferson Einstein |
| Mount Sinai (New York) | Icahn School of Medicine: Fee: $750. Mandatory: Must have a faculty sponsor. | Surgery Observership |
๐ฌ Other Surgery Observerships
| Institution | Specialty | Link / Contact |
| NYU Langone | Orthopedic Surgery | VIP Program: Requires a faculty sponsor. Apply Here |
| MD Anderson | Thoracic & Cardiovascular | Fee: $2,000 for professionals (Students/Trainees: $0). Max 90 days. Portal |
| Boston Childrenโs | Pediatric Surgery | Available to fully trained providers or active residents/fellows. Details |
| HSS (New York) | Orthopedic Surgery | Mandatory: Must independently secure an HSS host first. Academic Visitor Program |
| UPMC (Pittsburgh) | Surgical Critical Care | Multi-disciplinary shadowing. Check department availability. SCC Education |
| Stanford Surgery | Plastic Surgery | Global Surgery Program: $1,500 registration + $1,000/week (max 4 weeks). Official Site |
| Cleveland Clinic | Plastic Surgery | Part of the Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute. Fee: $500. International Observer |
| NYU Langone | Plastic Surgery | Hansjรถrg Wyss Dept. Requires approval from the Department Chair. Contact Info |