Observership Policy

All trainees interested in an observership with a WSU program must apply at a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the rotation. See Observership policy for more information.

What Is The Role Of An Observer?
Observers may watch procedures, surgeries, patient histories and physicals. Observers may attend patient rounds, teaching conferences and utilize the medical library. Observers may not participate in any patient care activities or research as they are not covered under WSU liability insurance, are not licensed in the State of Michigan and are often on a visitor visa which would preclude any activity beyond observation. In essence, you may not question, examine, or scrub in on surgical cases of any patient.

What Is The Process For Becoming An Observer?
The Office of Graduate Medical Education (as well as individual staff physicians) receives hundreds of requests for observer rotations each year. In order to ensure an observer request does not conflict with other training in a department, applications for all observerships should be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Medical Education. The request will be recorded in our database and forwarded to the program director in the department the rotation is being requested. After we have reviewed your credentials and other training commitments (the number of rotators and medical students, etc), the program director will apprise the Office of Graduate Medical Education of their ability to accommodate the request.

This can be a rather lengthy process- please do not call repeatedly to check your status; GME will notify you if your request cannot be accommodated or send a letter of appointment for the rotation once it has appropriate approval. The approval process takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

What Qualifications Do I Need To Become An Observer?
To ensure all Observers meet a basic level of medical and clinical science knowledge, only applicants with valid ECFMG certification are eligible for appointment. This allows the experience to be of value to the observer and ensures the observer meets the basic qualifications to apply for residency training in the U.S.

How Long Is An Observership?
Rotations are 4 weeks (1 month) in duration. Due to the number of observership requests GME receives annually, a limit of two one-month rotations per person has been set.

Programs That Do Not Offer Observerships
Department of Internal Medicine

How Do I Apply For An Observership?
You must first contact the program which you wish to do your observership for availability. Then, simply complete the observer application and send to GME with the following: A copy of your valid ECFMG Certificate, CV, USMLE score report, and Medical School Diploma (as well as translation if not in English).

Observership and Policy Application

Send all materials to:

Office of Graduate Medical Education
WSU Residency Training Programs
Wayne State University School of Medicine
540 E. Canfield, Suite 1241
Detroit, MI, 48201