USCE-How to apply/Vaccinations/ Is "observership" an USCE?/ FMG MD LORs
How to apply for USCE?
In order to apply for observership/externship send the USCE programs (I have blogged about the list of USCE programs earlier) an email mentioning your credentials and other info in brief. You can find their email addresses in the FRIEDA website.Then they would reply to you if interested. They would send you an application form and ask you to enclose copies of documents such as CV, USMLE scores, ECFMG certificate, vaccination records etc. You need to post all these things by mail. After processing your application, they will get back to you with the slots available. Typically it works like this. But different programs handle it in different manners. I have told you only what I had understood from my experience. If you had experienced something different please share it with us.
Some programs ask you to pay some application fees (Eg. 25$). Some dont. Some "paid" USCE programs ask you to pay the fees during the application itself. But some will wait until a month before you start your USCE.
Usually, if you have contacts things will move pretty faster and you can get an earlier date. Otherwise we need to wait a long time to start the USCE (especially the "unpaid" ones).
Regarding the vaccination, each program has its own list of vaccinations required. It is better to finish off all these things in our home country itself as it is expensive in the USA. You might need to get a antibody titre for these.
Some of the vaccinations commonly asked for are:
1. PPD
2. Hepatitis B
3. Mumps
4. Measles
5. Rubella
6. Chicken pox
I cant recollect anything more.
Doing an USCE in a residency program is better than a hospital which does not have any residency program.
Another frequently asked question is : "Do they consider observership as USCE?"
The answer is "yes" for some programs and "no" for the rest. It really does not matter whether they consider it as USCE or not. The reason is that it has become highly competitive to get a USCE, be it observership or externship. It is better to apply to all observership and externship programs and not to miss whatever opportunity you get to do USCE. Do as many USCE as possible. It looks good on your CV.
Does shadowing under a physician in his/her clinic help?
This helps you fill up gaps in your CV. It also helps if you are unable to get observerships or externships.
Things to do during USCE :
1. Try your best to impress the Attendings, residents, PDs, PCs while you do your USCE. Get as many Letters of Recommendation as possible.
2. Find out what research activities are going on in the hospital and try to participate in it.
If they are impressed, they might offer you an interview or who knows they might offer you a position right away! So be your best during the USCE.
Do they recognize Letters of Recommendations from MDs in USA who are Foreign Medical Graduates?
I guess it is not as better as an LOR from an American MD. But definitely it wont hurt if you have an extra LOR from a FMG MD in USA. The more LORs you get in the US , its better. Also, an LOR from FMG MD in USA is better than one we get from doctors in our home country.
I am not a frequent visitor to this forum. But thought my experience will be helpful for the guys here.
I have also posted on: “How did I get 26 interviews and prematched?” elsewhere in this forum
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Thanks.
