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SCOPE - Standing Committee on Professional Exchange
The Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) coordinates IFMSA’s international exchange program arranging clerkship opportunities for over 7,000 students every year. Exchanges are a unique opportunity for medical students to further their training by studying medicine in a different cultural context. The exchanges are coordinated by the national exchanges officers (NEOs). They oversee the local exchange officers (LEOs) at each participating medical institution in the USA and are responsible for signing the contracts with other member countries of IFMSA that allow the exchanges to take place.
A medical institution with an active local exchange committee hosts an incoming international medical student for each exchange. In return the clerkship, housing, board, and social program are provided for every US medical student participating in SCOPE. English is the only required language (there are a few exceptions so look in the country’s exchange conditions before applying) and first through fourth years are eligible. Because the exchanges are bilateral (you host an international student for every one you send), students from participating universities are given first priority. Students from schools without local exchange committees will be considered on an individual basis.
Find out if your local committee has a LEO (check the list below for branches where exchanges are active). If your medical school hasn't yet started exchanges, then you could be their first LEO!
For more information on how to start exchanges at your medical school, or for the contact
details of your LEO, contact the NEOs, Joshua Sahara, Preston Shumway, and Amy Saleh at
info@ifmsa-usa.org .
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1. General Exchange Conditions
a. Country and Organization
—In the United States, the International Federation of
Medical Students’ Assoctions – United States of America (IFMSA-USA)
coordinates the
exchange program on the international level through the NEOs.
Local exchange programs receive incoming through and give outgoing
information directly to the IFMSA-USA NEO.
b. National Exchange Officer (NEO)
Every country identifies a National Exchange Officer who coordinates the
exchange program for their country.
Please do not contact the other countries' NEO's directly as this will create
confusion and communication problems for you and for them!
c. Location
Refers to the city, town or village hospitals/ clinics available. The number of different sites accepting international students varies from county to country.
d. Times Available
Generally year round, but check the
country’s exchange conditions for details.
e. Eligibility
Any medical student in good standing
who is fluent in English or the language of the host country. Not
all countries accept preclinical students.
f. Types of Programs
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"Clerkship" generally is used to refer to the clinical curriculum
typical of 3rd and 4th year US medical education (i.e. Internal
medicine and medical subspecialties, surgery and surgical
subspecialties, pediatrics, etc). These are available in all
countries to 3rd and 4th year students, and in most countries can be
adapted to 1st and 2nd year students. Generally they are 4 weeks
long, room, board, and social program are provided. Application
forms are available through the Local Exchange Officer at your
school or by the NEO if you are from medical school without an
active local exchange committee.
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"Preclinical Clerkship" can be used to refer to curriculum typical
of the 1st and 2nd years of U.S. medical education, and is available
in many countries. Preclinical can also be used more generally to
refer to any program that is available to a preclinical student.
Like the standard clerkships they are 1 calendar month, room and
board is provided, and the same applications are used.
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g. Disciplines
Refers to the subjects offered at
each hospital clinic.
h. Duration of the Clerkship
Standard clinical and preclinical
clerkships are 4 weeks in duration. Many countries accept students
for a "calendar month" only, meaning the clerkship begins
on or near the 1st of the month and lasts 4 weeks.
i. Working Conditions
Refers to the weekly schedule with
hours in the hospital as well as call requirements.
j. Board and Lodging
Provided for participating students
on bilateral agreement.
k. Social Program
Many countries offer a social program
for visiting students that consists of cultural orientation,
touring, social activities etc. which enrich the students
understanding and experience of the country they are studying in.
l. Language
Participating students must be fluent in English or the language of the host country.
Some exceptions exist. Please see individual exchange conditions of the country.
m. Insurance
Proof of health insurance is required in addition to a traveler’s insurance such as .
Malpractice Insurance is generally not required or is covered by the home university
(it is smart to look into it), the Host University, or may be purchased separately.
n. Required Equipment
White coat and stethoscope.
o. Applications
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You must be a member of AMSA to participate in IFMSA-USA exchanges.
http://www.amsa.org/member/mbrapp.cfm
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General Documents needed for exchange (varies from country to country
those so please see specific country´s exchange conditions):
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Official IFMSA Application Form (both electronic and hard copies).
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4 passport sized photos
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Letter of Good Standing from the Dean
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Proof of health insurance
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Letter of motivation
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Check or money order for $100 made payable to IFMSA-USAs current outgoing NEO.
This is a non-refundable application fee.
Check or money order for the Local Program Fee for a bilateral exchange
(check with your Local Exchange Officer for the amount). This is a refundable fee
if a contract can not be signed for one of the countries indicated on your application
– so only indicate countries to which you would agree to travel.
Also be prepared to provide health insurance information, vaccinations records and
additional academic material (ie transcripts)
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p. Deadline
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Four months before desired exchange periods.
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q.Card of Acceptance / Card of Confirmation (Application timeline)
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The desired country is contacted and a contract is signed to host the student.
An electronic version of the application form is then uploaded to the IFMSA official database.
This form must be filled out the by student and then sent back to the hosting country.
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A Card of Acceptance (CA) is then generated for each accepted student.
The CA describes specific details regarding the each placement such as
dates, city/hospital, department, living arrangements, host student contact information, etc.
CAs are sent to students at least 6 weeks prior the beginning of their clerkship.
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A Card of Confirmation (CC) is to be filled out by the student
stating that they accept the assigned clerkship, that they agree to
the conditions and regulations of the exchange,
and providing details about their travel plans for the host country.
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r. Cancellations / Substitutions
In general students who cancel will not receive a refund and their
school will have to honor the bilateral agreement to host an international
student. If the student cancels with sufficient advance notice a substitute
student of the same sex may be found to take their place, from any participating US medical school.
In this situation, the student may receive a refund of the local program fee.
s. Evaluation Credit
Students who fulfill the requirements of the clerkship are provided with a
certificate of study specifying the discipline and dates. US schools may require their students to provide
the supervising attending and local exchange officer with a standard evaluation form.
t. Special Remarks
Any unusual requirements i.e. visa, vaccines, sleeping bag, work permit,
special language requirement, etc. Please check the unabridged exchange
conditions and the appropriate embassy. It is the student’s responsibility
to obtain visas or vaccines necessary for travel to chosen country.
Please
write to us if you have any questions:
neo@ifmsa-usa.org
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