Vitreoretinal Research Fellowship / Observership for IMGs

I used to say 'ophTHALmology', stressing on 'THA', which most of my American resident colleagues found tough to understand - they corrected me to pronounce it as a rolling tongue "OF-thu-MAW-lugy" - with 'u' pronounced similar to first a in "America"....lol..just some petty trivia ;-)

I personally know an IMG, an Opthalmic Surgeon from India, who entered a Neurology residency and then switched to an Opthal Residency at the same program after impressing the program director with research in Neuro-Opthal ...well you can get creative within your range of patience ;-) ..but here's a good opportunity to take advantage of, especially for IMGs who have completed Opthalmology in their home coutries and wishing to set foot into a Opthalmology residency in the USA. The prestigious Rush University Medical Center offers a research fellowship and observership that does not need USMLEs

Here's what the website says:

"International candidates who would like to participate in a research-based fellowship/observership can apply for a one-or two-year fellowship and will be considered separately. Please e-mail our Fellowship Coordinator at the address below and clearly indicate "RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP / OBSERVERSHIP." A license is not required for this program."

Maybe it would even be good for IMGs who have not done any Opthal residencies but plan to try their destinies in the US for the same...

Contact information here

...and yes they also take in ECFMG certified Opthalmology-completed IMGs for Direct Fellowships without a need for US residency

Observerships at Univ of Washington Med. Ctr

"Clinical observational activities must be independently arranged by the student seeking this type of experience. The Medical Director’s Office does not coordinate communications or other arrangements for students seeking observational activities."

Doing the ground work of finding and persuading a faculty for an observership is left to you, The document does have a link to the departmental faculty listing. Once your luck shines on this, you gotta fill up an application form which inlcludes immunization status info

- Click here to download Application form

AAPI launches Observership Program

AAPI Launches Obeservership program

AAPI stands for "American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin",

Application Fee: $100 non-refundable
Program Fee: $ 500 upon acceptance

Read other details and application form Here

Observerships at St. Luke-Roosevelt

A good residency program for most specialties, this is what's mentioned on St. Luke's GME website:

"St. Luke’s-Roosevelt welcomes individuals interested in doing Observerships, with the understanding that Observers will be here on a voluntary basis, have no direct patient-care contact and not be eligible for academic credit from St. Luke’s-Roosevelt for the experience.

Individuals interested in setting up an Observership, must first contact the Department directly to determine whether they will be able to accommodate them for the period being requested. Upon obtaining Department approval and scheduling the period of the Observership, please consult the documentation listed below:"

Read More on the St. Luke-Roosevelt website

Observerships at Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Michigan

Probably amongst the largest residency programs in the USA, DMC along with Wayne State University have many hundreds of residents training in various specialties at any given time.

"Rotations are 4 weeks (1 month) in duration. Due to the number of observership requests GME receives annually, a limit of two one-month rotations per person has been set. "

How to Apply ?

"Complete the Observer application and send to GME with the following: A copy of your valid ECFMG Certificate, CV, USMLE score report, and Medical School Diploma (as well as translation if not in English) to:

Attention Observership Application
Office of Graduate Medical Education
9C – University Health Center
WSU/DMC Residency Training Programs
4201 St. Antoine
Detroit, Michigan 48201"


Download their Observership Policies & Application Form Here