The Office for Visitor Education Programs coordinates observerships at Massachusetts General Hospital for clinicians, researchers and other health care professionals.
The Office for Visitor Education Programs (VEP) coordinates observerships based on the needs and interests of each prospective observer and the availability of professional staff at Mass General. The observership program is designed for currently practicing clinicians and is not suitable for students or individuals seeking residency opportunities at the hospital.
Observerships are informal educational initiatives for health care professionals who wish to observe specific areas of clinical care at Mass General. Sample observership programs have ranged from 4-hour observerships within one department to month-long, interdisciplinary observerships that include many departments and faculty at Mass General.
Please be advised that in an observership, visitors will not physically engage with any patients or advise on any cases; visitors will strictly be observing / shadowing our professional staff. Participation in our observership program does not have any bearing on any pending or future internship / fellowship applications. The MGH observership program is not affiliated with any Harvard Medical School program(s). Mass General does not award medical education credits for observerships; upon successful completion of an observership program, visitors will receive a certificate of attendance (issued by the MGH Office for Visitor Education Programs).
Observership Program Requirements
Applicants to the VEP observership program must:
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of application
- Be proficient in English (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
- Successfully pass a criminal background investigation. Foreign nationals of countries or territories that do not allow for criminal background investigations to be conducted by US companies are ineligible to participate in the VEP observership program
- Receive satisfactory employment references / verifications
- Provide documentation of current immunizations:
- MMR
- Hepatitis B
- TB status (if there is a history of a positive PPD test, applicant must provide a chest x-ray report within the past year)
Fees (exclusive of travel and accommodations)
| 1 month (20 working days) | $7,200 |
| 3 weeks (15 working days) | $5,850 |
| 2 weeks (10 working days) | $4,800 |
| 1 week (5 working days) | $3,000 |
| Daily | $1,200 |
All fees must be paid in US funds 14-days prior to the observership start date. We accept cash, checks (drawn from US banks), Visa, MasterCard and American Express. We can arrange for wire transfers upon request (subject to additional banking fees).
Observership Application Process
Download, complete and sign the VEP Observership Application. Please return with the following:
-
Current copy of curriculum vitae (C.V.)
-
Statement of Purpose:
-
Desired dates of observership (typically limited to 1-month)
-
Specialty / sub-specialty to be observed
-
Detailed learning objectives to be achieved during observership
-
Two letters of professional reference from director-level supervisors on company / institution letterhead
-
Signed Observer Expectations Form
-
Completed MGH Occupational Health Form
-
$200 non-refundable application fee (in US funds). Application fee will be deducted from total amount due
The MGH Office for Visitor Education Programs requires a minimum of 6-weeks (from receipt) to process observership applications. Completed applications (including checklist) should be mailed to:
Massachusetts General Hospital
Office for Visitor Education Programs
55 Fruit Street, CAM326-5
Boston, MA 02114-2621
USA
Clerkships and Internships
The VEP office does not manage internships and/or clerkships.
- For information on internships at Mass General, visit Career Opportunities
- Medical students (domestic and international) who wish to participate in a clerkship program at Mass General should contact The Harvard Medical School Exchange Clerkship Program
Education and training at Mass General 
Learn how Massachusetts General Hospital continues to teach and inspire generations of health care professionals.
A wealth of educational opportunities
Massachusetts General Hospital offers specialized residencies and fellowships in each of our multidisciplinary care centers and clinical departments
