General Surgery Observership Program

 

***Please Note: General Surgery Observership Program is closed until further notice due to COVID-19***

 


Thank you for your interest in our general surgery program. Please note that we do not offer electives to residents or medical students whose medical school does not have an affiliation with Columbia University, but we can offer you a one month observership.

We also do not offer observerships during the months from March through June.  

Please note that this observership is a no patient contact, nor computer access program. It is strictly an observership. Once completed you will receive a certificate of observeraship complication.

The observership consists of – observing a surgeon who accepts you request, in the operating room – maybe during office hours and clinic – and to attend our Thursdays Dept. conference.

Please keep in mind that every surgeon may have their own schedule they may want you to follow – and depending on the case, you may not be able to view the entire procedure in the operating room – our patients safety is our priority. You are required to bring your white lab coat/jacket which must be wore in the hospital at all times – except when you are in the operating room where you are required to wear the hospital OR scrubs.  During patient rounds, your position is only to observe, with no patient contact. This means no shaking hands with patients or their families, standing behind the team while observing patient rounds – and asking questions at appropriate times.

If you are interested please sign the attach processing fee and send me your CV, a letter of recommendation from your Chairman, DOB, and copy of your passport, along with your OR scrub suite size (small, medium, large, x-large). Once I receive the signed processing fee form I will send you the list of surgeons to contact for observership approval. 

If you receive an approval, please forward it to me and I will send you the proper registration forms, which require a background check, medical surveillance screening and completion of the visitors form. This process can take up to three months for approval – but is not guaranteed.   

Our one month observership processing fee is $1,000.00, or $250.00 per week, which must be paid by a US bank check, or US money order, and made out to the Department of Surgery, Columbia University upon your arrival. 

If you are interested please contact: Doris Leddy – dl642@cumc.columbia.edu