AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS OF INDIAN ORIGIN (AAPI)

OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAM

American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) Clinical Observership Program aims to acculturate International Medical Graduates to American medical practices and help prepare them for Residency. The program follows the American Medical Association International Medical Graduates (AMA-IMG) section observership guidelines.

Definitions:

Mentor: AAPI members who are willing to act as mentors

Preceptor: Observer: Foreign Medical Graduates of Indian decent or Indian heritage

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates can apply by filling out the AAPI Observership Application and providing the necessary documentation. Applications will be reviewed by the AAPI Observership Committee and applicants will be accepted for 4-weeks rotation upon approval. By the end of the observership, both preceptors and observers are required to submit an evaluation form to the observership committee.

• An observer who is looking for a clinical observership will contact AAPI for this opportunity.
• AAPI will arrange clinical observership for the observer through its members who are willing to act as mentors.
• The observer will sign a contract with AAPI.
• The observer will pay a fee of $1,500 for the observership program to AAPI of which $1,000 will be paid to the institution.
• Depending on the performance of the observer, he/she might obtain a Letter of Recommendation from the preceptor.
• All observers will be awarded a Certificate upon successful completion of the observership program. 
• Observe how the preceptor physician interacts with patients, takes history, performs the physical examination, orders labs and imaging, reaches a diagnosis, and finalizing the management plan.
• Learn new bedside history taking and physical examination skills by shadowing U.S. trained graduates and board certified staff with different specialties.
• Study professional communication and interaction between the physician and all members of the health care delivery team and hospital administration.
• Understand and use American colloquialisms (slang, euphemisms, medical jargon, etc.).
• Observe the delivery of health care in a private practice, hospital or clinical setting.
• Introduction to and cultivation of the six competencies recommended by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Residents in residency training are evaluated based on these competences.

1. Patient Care

2. Medical Knowledge

3. Practice Based Learning and Improvement

4. Systems Based Practice

5. Professionalism

6. Interpersonal Skills and Communication

Requirements:

• Must be a graduate of an international medical school.
• Must Hold a valid U.S. visa, green card, temporary protection status (TPS) or be an American citizen.
• Passing at least one of the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) Step 1, Step 2 CK or Step 2 CS. However, few programs might require ECFMG certificate at the
• time of application. (I.e. completed step 1, 2CK, and Step 2CS).
• Send at least 1 reference letter by a physician practicing in the U.S. This can be a resident physician.
• Be proficient in English.

Fees:

There are no fees for AAPI Observership applications; however, some institutions require fees for the observership. The applicant will be responsible for these fees and has to pay

them after acceptance into an observership position.

Required documents:

• Completed AAPI observership application form
• Copy of a valid U.S. visa
• Copy of medical school diploma and medical school transcript
• USMLE scores and ECFMG certificate if available.

AAPI’s Role:

• Establish the Observership Program guidelines and selection criteria.
• Promote the program to interested observers and preceptors.
• Review observer and preceptor applications.
• Match observers and preceptors based on established criteria and prerequisite items. (Complete application, hospital/department chair approval, current visa, passing a certain USMLE test, etc.).
• Review preceptors and observers evaluation forms.
• Issue a certificate of successful completion to the observer.
• Support the application with institutional fees (if applicable).

Responsibilities of Physician Preceptors:

• Effectively communicate with observers about their roles and responsibilities while in the program.
• Assure that the observer adheres to the requirements of the program.
• Introduce the observer to the patient and obtain the patient’s verbal consent to allow observation of clinical interaction.
• Document in the patient’s medical record that an observer is present during the patient encounter after retrieving permission from the patient.
• Obtain prior approval from appropriate authority for the observation of surgery or other procedures (if applicable).
• Provide feedback and complete a formal evaluation of the observer.

Physician Preceptors must be:

• Licensed, preferably board-certified physicians who volunteer for a specified period of time. 
• Licensed physicians with current hospital privileges and permission from his/her
• hospital, office manager, or GME office to host an observer.

Responsibilities of Observers:

• Must show interest in the program and professionalism in their conduct and assigned tasks.
• Accept no compensation.
• Follow the rules and the regulations of the hospital, clinic, or private practice and follow the instructions of the preceptor physician at all times.
• Adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations.
• Participate in any prerequisite training (e.g., HIPAA) at the hospital, clinic, or private practice.
• Pay for actual costs of administrative or prerequisite items (ECFMG certification, passport, immunizations, etc.).
• Participate in the educational activities such as clinical tutorials, ward rounds, morning reports, and multi-disciplinary conferences.
• Observe the use of electronic medical information systems, health records, laboratory, and radiology reports, etc.
• Review clinical articles, posters, and publications per the discretion of preceptor.
• Arrange for transportation, meals, and lodging.
• Record observership hours and confirm your schedule and responsibilities with preceptor regularly.

Click here to download the application form for observers

Click here to download the application form for preceptors

To apply to the observership program, please fill the completed application form along with the required documents in PDF form to observership@aapiusa.org. Please put “Observership application enclosed for: First Name, Last Name” in the subject line. If you

have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at observership@aapiusa.org

* Application submission does not guarantee acceptance.

Observership:

Why?

1. Letters of recommendation in the specialty
2. Perceived commitment to specialty
3. Personal prior knowledge of the applicant
4. Evidence of professionalism and ethics
5. Leadership qualities.

Benefits:

1. Observe everything in the program·
2. Know attending physicians and residents well
3. Obtain excellent letters of recommendation or interview.

Risk:

Being observed.

Do’s:

1. Follow rules (volunteer department)
2. Introduce yourself
3. Ask for permission
4. Be professional
5. Wear proper attire.
6. Talk to every attending, befriend with every resident.
7. Ask/Answer questions at the right time.
8. Be appreciate

Don’t:

1. Brag or show off
2. Criticize
3. Complain
4. Being late or absent.

Observership when?

After step 2 CK

Preparation:

Are you ready?

Conversations

Clinical management and procedures: Watch video

Academic activities: Listen to medicine lectures

CV

Personal statement

How to apply:

1. Open application: Volunteer, house staff office.
2. Personal connection
3. Commercial observership.
4. AAPI.

What can you do during?

1. Sign out overnight.
2. Present a case.
3. Write a case report/ publish it.
4. Write a debriefing about the observation.

Requirements:

1. Flu shot (During flu season)·        
2. PPD
3. MMR antibody titer.
4. Proof of Indian decent or Indian Heritage.

References:

https://www.ama-assn.org/education/international-medical-education/observership-program-listings-international-medical

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/international-medical-education/physician-programs/physician-observer

https://www.aafp.org/membership/involve/constituency/img.html