Program Overview
The International Physician Observership Program at Keck Medicine of USC provides a unique opportunity for physicians worldwide to engage with USC faculty, gain firsthand insight into clinical practices, and expand their professional networks. Participants observe USC physicians and residents in their specialties, deepening their understanding of cutting-edge medical care while fostering career growth and global collaboration.
Observership Program Specialties
- Breast Oncology Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Colorectal Surgery
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Hematology
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Medical Oncology
- Spine Surgery
- Transplant – Hepatology and Nephrology
Eligibility
- Education: Applicants must have graduated from a medical school with medical license in a foreign country.
- Employment: Applicants must be employed by a foreign health organization and upload a letter of recommendation from the employer or sponsor.
- Visa: Applicants must hold a valid US visa. An invitation letter might be issued after the observer is accepted.
- English Proficiency: To ensure a productive observership experience, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English.
- Program Length: Normally 1-6 months, special arrangement for longer or shorter programs are approved on a case-by-case basis.
Program Fees
- Application Fee: $300 (non-refundable)
- Tuition: Based on the required resources, the tuition will be calculated. The tuition covers the program administration, facility access and orientation, instructions, and program activities.
- Boarding, meals and transportation: The applicant and/or the applicant’s employer/sponsor are responsible for boarding, meals and transportation expenses. The international health office will assist with on-campus lodging options on a first-come, first-served basis.
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit their application and pay the application fee at least 30 days prior to their desired observership start date.
Applicants must either:
• Be recommended by a Keck Medicine of USC faculty member
OR
• Work with the International Health Department to identify a supervising physician
The International Health Department may arrange an interview with the applicant after reviewing the application. Please note that applicants may apply to only one specialty with one supervising physician at a time.
Note: If you are interested in joining Keck Medicine of USC as a visiting scholar, please be aware that this is a separate program requiring a different process. For further details, contact international@med.usc.edu regarding acceptance and application procedures before submitting your application.
Immunization Requirement
- MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella)
- Varicella
- TDAP
- Current Year’s Flu Vaccine
- TB Clearance
- Current Year’s COVID Vaccine
Dress Code
Observers are expected to dress in a professional manner. T-shirts, jeans, cutoffs, open-toe shoes, and other casual articles of clothing are not permitted. We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes.
Observers must wear a white lab coat while on the premises of Keck Medicine of USC. You will be responsible for bringing your own white lab coat.
Parking
Parking is provided at no charge. Observers must register their cars with Keck Medicine of USC Transportation Office by completing a form on the first day of orientation. When parking at Keck Medicine of USC, you must display your temporary parking permit on your car’s dashboard. Observers must park in the Valley parking lot (please refer to the parking map that you will receive on the first day of orientation).
For detailed instructions, please visit https://www.keckmedicine.org/parking/.
Working Hours
Clinic (outpatient) services are usually provided from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hospital services vary in each department. Your department coordinator will assign your working hours.
Meals
You will be responsible for paying for your own meals. Keck Caferia, located on the 1st floor of the hospital, is open during the following hours:
Monday – Friday:
6 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Lunch
4 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Dinner
Address: 1500 San Pablo St, 1st Floor, Keck Cafeteria, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Housing
Housing is not provided for observers. You will be responsible for your own accommodations. At your request, the program coordinator will provide you with a list of accommodations in the area.
For observers looking for campus housing, please note that we are located at the USC Health Sciences Campus, which is separate from the USC main campus (University Park Campus). Please arrange your accommodation accordingly.
Cancellation Policy
Once your observership has been confirmed by email, you are expected to complete your delegated observership. If cancellation is unavoidable, please submit your notification in writing at least 30 days before your observership is scheduled to begin. Please be aware that your application fee is non-refundable.
General Questions
If you have questions about your program or if a problem arises, please contact the International Observership Programs observership@med.usc.edu.
We look forward to your participation and hope your stay with us is an educationally rewarding one. If you have any questions that we did not answer here, please feel free to contact our office – we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Keck Medicine of USC reserves the right to terminate an observer’s program at any time in the event that the observer’s performance jeopardizes a patient’s well-being or if the observer is unable to achieve the objectives of the educational experience.