International Visiting Observer Program

Global Engagement at Stanford Surgery is pleased to announce the launch of its International Visiting Observer program. This is a unique opportunity for surgeons, surgical trainees, and surgical nurses to spend up to 30 days observing clinical practice side by side with surgical specialty teams that align with professional interests.  

Opportunities for Visiting Observers with Stanford Surgery include General Surgery, Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Microsurgery, Surgical Oncology, Colorectal Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Abdominal Transplantation, Pediatric Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Minimally Invasive Surgery, amongst others. In addition, observers can visit Stanford’s state of the art clinical anatomy facility and identify in research activities and collaborations.

Who is eligible?

Staff and consultant surgeons, Medical Doctors, RNs, surgical trainees, and final year medical students who are actively registered with an accredited medical school or health institution.

Registration fees:

Arranging a visiting observership requires a $1500 registration fee which will cover the costs of processing the application and the first week of the visit. We will require an additional $1000 for each working week you participate in an observership, up to a maximum of 4 weeks. Payments are accepted via wire transfer to Stanford Surgery. Fees may be waived under specific conditions.

Visiting Observer Process:

1. The first step is to identify a Stanford faculty member to host you as an observer. You can either contact the faculty whom you are interested in observing to seek their willingness and availability to accept you as a visiting observer, or you can coordinate directly with the program manager of Global Engagement at Stanford Surgery: Mohammed Al Kadhim to express your interest. Global Engagement can help connect applicants to an appropriate host faculty member in the field of their interest.
2. Once a Stanford Surgery faculty host agrees to be a host, please fill out this form.
3. Upon receiving the preliminary approval, you will be assigned a unique Visiting Observer number and we will electronically send you a package of documents that you must read, complete, sign and return to us by e-mail. The documents include a compliance agreement (visitor attestation to comply with Stanford rules and regulations), a privacy agreement, and a health questionnaire. Global Engagement will simultaneously work with the host faculty member to obtain similar host attestations and forms.
4. Global Engagement will require scanned copies of certain vaccination records in order to obtain your health clearance from the visitors health office. Please ask Mohammed Al Kadhim, program manager of Global Engagement, for the required vaccinations.
5. Once your health clearance is finalized, Global Engagement will obtain approval for observing surgery in the operation theaters specified by your Stanford faculty host. This will be the final approval needed for your visit.
6. At this point the approval process is complete. Global Engagement will send you the Stanford Surgery account information to make a wire transfer based on the duration of your visit. We will also send you an invitation letter with the dates of your visit to Stanford Surgery, which may be helpful if you require a VISA to the US. Global Engagement will provide a list of lodging options if desired, coordinate your obtaining a visitors badge and initial meeting with your faculty host, and confirm your program agenda. At the end of your observation we can provide a certificate of participation in the visiting observer program at Stanford Surgery if desired.

Things to keep in mind:

• Stanford Surgery will not cover travel, transportation, lodging, or meal costs.
• VISA procedures are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
• There is no financial compensation from Stanford for the observership.
• Due to regulations, there is no hands-on patient involvement; the role of the observer is to watch and learn.
• A sponsoring Stanford faculty must be willing to host and supervise the observer.
• Approval from the Visiting Observer office is not guaranteed.

For questions:

Global Engagement at Stanford Surgery will guide you throughout the process and ensure you submit the required documentation. Your contact person for any questions is Mohammed Al Kadhim, Program Manager of Global Engagement at Stanford Surgery: kadhim2@stanford.edu.