Pulmonary Observership in the United States.

Subspecialty observerships may increase your chances to match into programs which have that specific fellowship if you were interested in it after residency. Many IMGs do use this trick to gain the program director's attention. Having a letter of recommendation LOR from a US subspecialist is a bless to many FMGs.

What do you need to have an idea about to get a strong LOR during a pulmonary elective, observership or externship?

Preparing for the Pulmonary observership it is good to gain knowledge in the evaluation and management of the following categories of disease:

1. Asthma
2. Atypical Mycobacterial Disease
3. Bronchiectasis
4. Cystic Fibrosis
5. COPD
6. Community acquired pneumonia
7. Chest x-ray interpretation
8. Chronic cough
9. Cystic Fibrosis and related cilia dysmotility disorders
10. Drug-induced lung disease
11. Interstitial diseases including sarcoidosis
12. lung cancer and solid pulmonary nodules
13. Lung-Transplant
14. Pre-operative pulmonary evaluation
15. Pulmonary complications of HIV disease
16. Pulmonary Function Testing
17. Pulmonary hypertension
18. Pleural disease
19. Pulmonary embolism

How and where do IMGs get observerships in the USA?

The international medical students and graduates get into electives, observerships and externships in ACGME certified programs to get US LORs accepted by the program directors through contacting the programs in the Applicantguide List.

If you have any question about USMLE, ERAS, NRMP, SOAP, Match or residency direct your questions to applicantguide@yahoo.com

Goodluck