0) Quick triage (IMG)
- UMMSM Visiting Students (VSLO externships): NOT for international medical school students.
- UMMSM states: “Students of international medical schools are not accepted for clinical externships.”
- https://med.miami.edu/medical-education/visiting-students
- Main IMG routes: IMI (Medical Student Program / Elective Program for Medical Graduates / Global Observership) and UHealth Clinical Observership Program (UHealth-only; sponsor required)
1) Program options (what exists)
B) IMI Medical Student Program (international-facing)
- Stated activity: “clinical electives” + rounds/clinics/case presentations/lectures/seminars; faculty evaluation at end
- Typical duration: 3–6 months; year-round
- Visa: B1/B2 (“Participants travel on a B1/B2 visa.”)
- English requirement: TOEFL iBT 79–80 OR paper 550
- Admin fee: charged (amount not publicly listed)
- Some listed requirements are explicitly “Latin America and the Caribbean only” (for example voluntary faculty interview; transcript/1-year clinical rotations language)
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/centers-and-institutes/international-medicine-institute/education-and-training/medical-student-program
C) IMI Elective Program for Medical Graduates (IMG/physician elective-style)
- Target: physicians (page mentions Latin America/Caribbean + “across the globe”)
- Duration: 1–3 months, year-round
- Visa: B1/B2
- English (TOEFL) requirement: TOEFL iBT 79–80 OR paper 550
- TOEFL waiver if: passed any USMLE OR English is language of instruction at medical school
- Lead time: apply 9–12 months in advance (limited space)
- Deadlines (fixed windows listed): June/November sessions packets due Jan 31 → results Mar 15; December/May sessions packets due Jul 31 → results Sep 15
- Admin fee: charged (amount not publicly listed)
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/centers-and-institutes/international-medicine-institute/education-and-training/elective-program-for-medical-graduates
D) IMI Global Observership
- For: qualified foreign medical students and physicians
- Duration: 1–3 months
- Note: description is explicitly observational (“observe the activities…”) and cites participants from Europe and Asia.
- Contact: [email protected]; 305-243-6826 / 305-243-9200
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/centers-and-institutes/international-medicine-institute/education-and-training/global-observership
2) UHealth Clinical Observership Program (separate from IMI)
- Scope: UHealth facilities only
- Not Jackson Health System (JHS): JHS observerships are separate; contact [email protected]
- No direct patient care (observer-only; not employment; no credit/licensure/board certification)
- Sponsor required (confirmed sponsor needed before initiating online application)
- Timing: submit complete application ≥3 weeks before start (firm)
- Duration limit: online application warns max 12 weeks (reject if longer)
- Fees: UHealth states no administrative fee, but departments may charge their own fees
- Requirements (high-yield): background check + health screening (details in handbook)
- Application: https://umiami.vsyslive.com/pages/app/observer
- Info page + contacts: [email protected], 305-689-5407 — https://umiamihealth.org/en/healthcare-professionals/medical-staff-services/clinical-observership-program
3) Department-specific observerships (examples with published fees/requirements)
Radiology (Interventional Radiology) Observership
- Length: min 1 week; max 2 months
- Fee: $150/week
- Contact (MDs): [email protected] | 305-585-5778
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/departments/radiology/education/observership-program
Neurosurgery — Observership (international + domestic info on same page)
- Max length: 90 days
- Observer-only (explicitly: no direct patient contact)
- Fees (published): application process fee 250 (max 3 months); extension fee $250; refunds final/non-refundable
- International routing notes: international medical students may be accepted for 1 month via Harrington (Latin America) or IMI Global Observership; contact Olivia Catá ([email protected]; 305-243-6826)
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/departments/neurosurgery/education/visiting-medical-students-and-observers
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Observership
- Length: up to 3 months
- Requirements include (per page checklist): 3 LoRs, letter of intent, passport + visa copy, immunization proof, diploma, certified USMLE score copy, HIPAA form, elective program form
- Apply via Harrington/IMI pipeline (page instructs submission to Harrington Programs)
- Contacts: [email protected]; [email protected]
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/departments/pathology-and-laboratory-medicine/education/training-programs/observership-program
OB/GYN Observership (medical-student focused)
- Observer-only: “does not involve… patient care or contact”
- Not accepting physician observers currently (per page)
- Lead time: arrange ≥90 days in advance
- Tuition (stated): $250/month (page lists for observers)
- Source: https://med.miami.edu/departments/obgyn/education/observership
4) Notes for Chinese IMGs / non–Latin America applicants
- IMI pages say some requirements apply to Latin America/Caribbean only → confirm eligibility for China in writing, especially for the Medical Student Program
- Hands-on level is not fully explicit on IMI pages; UHealth and many department pages explicitly define observer-only / no patient care
5) Key contacts (copy/paste)
- IMI / Harrington / Global Observership: [email protected] | 305-243-6826 / 305-243-9200
- UHealth Clinical Observership (UHealth-only): [email protected] | 305-689-5407
- JHS observerships (separate): [email protected]
6) What is NOT publicly clear ([Check Date])
- Exact IMI administrative fee amount (both student + graduate pages say fee is charged, but do not list amount)
- Whether IMI elective-style experiences permit any direct patient interaction/documentation vs strictly observation (confirm by email)