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Observerships & Visits
Qualified practicing physicians, ideally in early to mid-career, can apply for an observership experience in a clinical department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Applications must include a curriculum vitae and an official letter from the applicant's school of medicine certifying receipt of the medical degree.
Please note that medical students or physicians who have not yet completed their residency training in a specialty are not eligible to apply. Visits of less than two weeks must be arranged between the applicant and the individual physician at Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins International always welcomes groups and individuals who wish to tour the medical campus.
What is an Approved Observer?
Upon recommendation by the appropriate Chief of Service, and with approval of the Credentials Committee, physicians at the postdoctoral and faculty level who are not appointed to the Medical Staff at Johns Hopkins may observe clinical activities for educational purposes at Johns Hopkins Hospital as Approved Observers.
Because Approved Observers are not members of the Medical Staff, they may not participate in direct or indirect patient care or management. A limited number of such informal educational opportunities are available in clinical departments at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. As the name implies, an Observership is an informal observational experience and does not constitute training. Approved Observers do not receive any form of certification from Johns Hopkins for the time of their appointment.
Applicant Requirements
An applicant for an Approved Observer appointment must be a physician trained in a specialty represented at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Observers must be able to subsidize their stay in Baltimore during the period of the appointment.
Length of Stay
The length of appointment for an Approved Observer may vary from two weeks to not more than one year and depends on the supervising faculty member's availability and willingness to oversee this experience. Physicians visiting for a period of less than two weeks will be subject to the individual department's visitor policy. For international applicants, the application process may take from three to five months.
Specialty
Observers must be trained in a medical specialty that is represented at Johns Hopkins Hospital. When making the initial contact with Johns Hopkins, the applicant should be very specific about his or her area of interest within the specialty to ensure that the appropriate faculty member is assigned to supervise them should they be approved as observers. It is helpful if the applicant can name the specialist with whom he or she is interested in working. Observers should understand that, due to heavy faculty workloads and high demand for observership opportunities, some departments find it difficult to offer this appointment to all qualified applicants.
Language Capability
All observers must be fluent in English.
Fees
Depending on the clinical department, there may be a fee associated with Observership visits.
Application Procedure
All observers must be officially invited to come to Johns Hopkins Hospital by the chair of the clinical department or division to which the observer is applying, upon the recommendation of a faculty member within that department. Applicants can Contact Us if they cannot find this information or would like a recommendation of a possible faculty preceptor.
Applicants should submit a letter and the following information:
- Letter indicating the specific area of interest within the specialty and
goals of the applicant, as well as the time period when the applicant would like to come
- Curriculum vitae indicating training, research and publications
ECFMG information if available
- Mailing address and fax number for the applicant's School of Medicine
- Signed release form to obtain medical school degree
The above information should be sent to the Department Director and the Departmental Credentials Liaison. The clinical department will determine whether a faculty member is available to take on an observer at the time indicated in the applicant's letter. If the applicant already knows with whom he or she would like to observe, this information should be included in the letter.
The credentials liaison will contact the applicant regarding the status of his or her application and whether a faculty preceptor has been identified. If an Approved Observer opportunity is available, the credentials liaison will undertake the certification process and ask the applicant to complete several forms, including the Hospital's biographical information form providing minimum information regarding education, training and professional qualifications.
Certification is probably the most important part of the application process for all observers, therefore Item #4 above is very important. When a candidate is being considered as an Approved Observer, the department's credentials liaison must contact the applicant's School of Medicine and ECFMG authorities independently.
In order to certify the applicant's M.D. degree, Johns Hopkins will request a letter, in English on official letterhead of the applicant's School of Medicine, certifying that the candidate received a medical degree from that institution. The request is for certification of the M.D. degree, not subsequent postdoctoral training. A final response or invitation will be sent to the applicant after the certification process is completed.
Lodging/Accommodations
Once recommended and appointed as an Approved Observer, Johns Hopkins International can help applicants identify suitable lodging. Observers are asked to make their own lodging arrangements, as many locations require deposits in advance.
For Further Information
If you have further questions regarding Approved Observer appointments at Johns Hopkins Hospital, please Contact Us.
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