Our program for Research Exchange, partner to the program for Professional Exchange, allows students interested in medical research the possibility to experience research work in a foreign country.
  STANDING COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH EXCHANGE (SCORE)

Development Exchange Officer
(contact for starting new research exchange chapters) : 
Brandon Green - Oklahoma State University
email: ifmsainfo@gmail.com

National Officer for Research Exchange: 
Andrea Shaw - SUNY Upstate
Vasu Sunkara - University of Wisconsin - Madison
Nadia Gavrilova - University of North Carolina

NORE Assistants:
Amy Bamber - University of Wisconsin
Joshua Copeland - University of Virginia

E-mail: nore@ifmsa-usa.org 
 

  
  Description

What is SCORE?
SCORE stands for the Standing Committee on Research Exchange. It is an international research exchange program coordinated by member countries of the IFMSA. Over 500 medical students from over 50 countries worldwide participate each year. Each student travels to a different country, does basic science or clinical research projects for usually one month under the guidance of a university faculty member, and gets to interact with IFMSA medical students in their host country. If you are interested in doing research in another country, and also are excited about providing the same opportunity for foreign students at your school, then SCORE is a great opportunity to grow both as a student-leader as well as a student-researcher.

What are the chapters in SCORE in the U.S.?
In the United States, we have four active chapters. However, with our merger with AMSA, we expect to grow tremendously over the next few years. The chapters in existence presently are:

 
  • University of Virginia. Information about the medical school is available at: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/SOM/
  • University of Wisconsin. For further information about the Wisconsin chapter, please click here: University_of_Wisconsin.doc . Information about the medical school is available at: http://www.med.wisc.edu/
  • University of North Carolina. Information about the medical school is available at: http://www.med.unc.edu/
  • State University of New York - Upstate Medical campus.
    For further information about the SUNY chapter,
    please click here:SUNY_Upstate_CBF.doc .
    Information about the medical school is available at: http://www.upstate.edu/com/

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    How do I participate in AMSA/IFMSA-USA SCORE?
    There are two different ways: to go on a SCORE exchange, or to help build a SCORE chapter at your medical school. Exchanges are traditionally limited to chapters that also accept incoming international students. This is because the low fees we have for SCORE are based on ensuring bilateral exchanges between international member countries. So if you are at a school with a SCORE chapter, you apply directly to your local chapter. If you are at a school without a chapter, you will contact the national SCORE leadership at nore@ifmsa-usa.org. We have limited unilateral slots available for students without active chapters. This allows the student to go on an IFMSA SCORE exchange without an incoming foreign student reciprocating. However, these are limited to students who expressly state their interest and ability to start a new SCORE chapter at their medical school upon their return from the exchange.

    Our focus in SCORE is to help develop your leadership skills as a medical student, and to make you an active member of the international IFMSA network. So going on a SCORE exchange is more than doing research for one month in a foreign country. It means exposing you to your counterparts from around the world, providing you opportunities to grow as a student-leader on a global scale, and to give you the tools to shape your career through friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. Be a part of it!

    How much does it cost?
    The SCORE exchange has a $200 application and membership fee. If you are at a school that has an active chapter, you then pay the chapter fee. This fee usually is between $400-600. It is used to pay for room and board of the incoming IFMSA student. The same will be done for you at your host country. If you are accepted for the limited unilateral slots, you will be a unilateral fee that varies between countries. More information on these fees can be obtained on the IFMSA SCORE Database: http://www.ifmsa.net/public/searchredb.php

    		 
     
    If I am an international IFMSA student interested in coming to the U.S., what should I know?

    We welcome all interested students to apply for slots in the United States. Our emphasis in the AMSA/IFMSA-USA SCORE Program is to provide high-quality research opportunities to motivated and conscientious medical students worldwide. We seek students who will come to America with the intention of developing their scientific skills, and to work in an exciting research environment that rewards hard work and creativity. To be a successful applicant, we require strong English language capabilities and a background in scientific research.

    The letters of motivation are critical. Each letter should emphasize your interest in the project at a scientific level. Please discuss what medical coursework you have taken that makes you qualified to partake in the research project. Discussing your knowledge of the research by proposing different directions to take the project show your creativity and your command of the topic. As well, referencing what the scientific literature says on the topic is a means to discuss you have investigated more deeply into the field.

    The U.S. SCORE program focuses on building your skills as a future physician-scientist. For those not as interested in research, we would respectully recommend you apply for a position in a different country. We seek to give you the tools to become a better scientist, and while our programs emphasize an exciting and unique atmosphere, at the end of the day we do seek students to make the most of the experience by focusing on the research project and learning as much as possible about the scientific discipline.

    This is an example of a successful letter of motivation: letter of motivation .

     

    		 
     
    Comments on SCORE in the United States: SCORE Comments .
         		  
         

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