Clinical Observership Program

At a glance

• Free of charge. IMSA and the sponsoring physicians are volunteers and receive no fees.
• Each observership period is one month. You choose three periods that suit you.
• Apply at least six weeks before the first period you choose.
• Up to two rotations a year, with the same sponsor or different ones.
• Approved by the IMSA-USA Board in March 2025, proposed and directed by Omar Saab, MD.

Program background and purpose

The IMSA-USA Clinical Observership Program supports young Iraqi physicians and medical students in expanding their clinical knowledge, skills and exposure to the healthcare system in the United States.

Observers build their understanding of U.S. medical practice, patient care standards, up-to-date guidelines and interdisciplinary teamwork. Whether they return to serve in their home institutions in Iraq or go on to residency training in the United States, the program is designed to help their professional development and, in the end, patient care. The program applies the principles of inclusion, diversity and equity.

Program structure and fees

• The program is completely free of charge. IMSA and the sponsoring physicians receive no compensation or fees; all are volunteers.
• Some host hospitals or clinics charge their own administrative or institutional fees for observership placements. These are not collected by IMSA or by any sponsoring physician, and neither receives any part of them.
• The application asks whether you can rotate at a hospital or clinic that charges such a fee. Your answer does not affect selection or your chance of being matched with a sponsor.
• Acceptance is not guaranteed. Selection depends on sponsor availability, the specialty of interest, geographical preferences and other factors.
• Applicants may do at most two rotations in a calendar year, with the same sponsor or different ones.

Applicant responsibilities

• The applicant is fully responsible for securing a valid U.S. visa and meeting every visa requirement.
• All expenses of the observership are the applicant's own: travel, lodging, health insurance, meals, transportation and other personal costs.
• IMSA does not assume any financial or legal liability for the applicant's observership, travel, visa status or stay in the United States.

Legal and ethical conduct

• Observers must abide by all laws of the United States for the whole of their stay.
• Observers must follow every policy and instruction of the sponsoring physician and the host institution, during onboarding and throughout the observership.
• Observers must keep strict patient confidentiality and comply with all HIPAA regulations.
• No direct patient care or medical advice may be given by the observer, unless the host institution allows it and the sponsoring physician supervises it.
• Observers may not work in any clinical or non-clinical capacity while in the U.S., unless they are legally allowed to work in the United States.
• Taking part in clinical research is allowed only with the sponsoring physician's explicit approval.
• Observers must always accompany the sponsoring physician during clinical activities and ask permission before any observership-related activity.
• Sharing any information or photos on social media is not allowed without the sponsor's permission.
• Observers must not start or take part in discussions about religion or politics with patients, staff or anyone at the host institution during the observership.

Communication and privacy

• By applying, you give the IMSA-USA Clinical Observership Program permission to contact you directly, and to contact your references and emergency contacts if needed, at any point during the application process or the observership.
• You must not share or pass on the sponsoring physician's contact details without their explicit permission.

Questions

Write to observership.imsa.usa@gmail.com.

The IMSA-USA Clinical Observership Program accepts applications through two application cycles each year.

January application cycle

• January 1–30: applications accepted
• February 1–15: application review, interviews, selection, and matching with supervising physicians
• July–December of the same year: observership period. Accepted observers start their observership.

July application cycle

• July 1–30: applications accepted
• August 1–15: application review, interviews, selection, and matching with supervising physicians
• January–June of the following year: observership period. Accepted observers start their observership.

Transitional period

Until June 1, 2027, individual applications submitted through the IMSA-USA website may continue to be accepted and reviewed outside the regular application cycles. Beginning June 2027, the program will transition fully to the twice-yearly application cycle outlined above, and any application received outside the cycle timelines will not be considered.

Selection

Selection will be based on application review and a standardized interview process. Additional details regarding interview criteria and applicant evaluation will be provided as part of the application process.