IFME
International Fellowships in Medical Education
A program for medical scholars from abroad to study medical education in the
United States
2002-2003 Program Year
Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER)
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The International Fellowships in Medical Education (IFME) is sponsored by the
Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER),
which is a nonprofit foundation of the Educational Commission for Foreign
Medical Graduates (ECFMG®). The IFME program allows faculty from schools of
medicine abroad to gain access to educational opportunities in the United States
that are tailored toward specific home country needs. Fellows study aspects of
medical education that have the potential to improve and expand medical
education programs in their home country institutions and departments.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
IFME program objectives include:
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Assisting international medical schools in
improving and advancing the process of medical education.
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Facilitating placement of medical education
leaders from abroad in U.S. host institutions able to provide excellent
instructional experiences in areas of recognized home country need.
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Advancing the international exchange of
information in the medical sciences and in medical education.
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Contributing to the promotion of international
understanding and exchange among nations.
THE PROGRAM
Approximately twenty fellowships are awarded annually. Mentoring will be
provided by preceptors in basic medical and clinical science departments or
medical education departments in U.S. medical schools. Eligible areas of study
include: educational methodology, curriculum design, and evaluation systems.
This study may be conducted in departments of medical education or traditional
disciplines of clinical or basic sciences. Although the major emphasis of this
program is to learn educational processes, Fellows may concurrently pursue some
collaborative research interest with U.S. basic science or clinical faculty.
Under this program, fellowships are not provided for any of the
following: programs in basic medical or clinical research; degree-granting
educational programs; programs that require tuition payments; grants for
short-term courses or conference attendance; specialty training in residency
programs; clinical fellowships; training solely in clinical procedures; or
educational programs in schools of public health.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants for this program must:
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Reside and work in the home country at the time of
application, acceptance and initiation of the fellowship.
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Have a graduate or professional degree in a basic medical or
clinical science that is taught in a medical education setting in the U.S., or a
professional degree in education.
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Hold an academic appointment as a faculty member in a school
of medicine or postgraduate medical education institution.
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Have not less than three years of work experience as a
faculty member in the home country following completion of their formal academic
and clinical training.
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Document competence in written and spoken English.
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Have the endorsement of a home country medical school or
postgraduate medical education institution for the proposed educational program.
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Have a position in the home country medical school or
institution to which they will return upon completion of the fellowship.
DURATION OF PROGRAM
Programs range in length from six months to one year. Fellowships are limited to
a maximum stay of one year.
HOME COUNTRY ENDORSEMENT
Applicants must have the endorsement of an educational institution with which
they are affiliated. In order for the IFME program to fulfill its objectives, it
is essential that the home country endorsement include documentation of the
institutional and home country need for the proposed educational program.
Applicants and endorsing home country institutions are expected to certify that
applicants will return to the institution of origin or to a position that has
been designated for them upon their return.
Please note that only one application per program year can be accepted/or
review from each home country endorsing institution.
UNITED STATES HOST INSTITUTIONS
United States institutions that host Fellows must have an academic
administrative unit responsible for accepting Fellows, must arrange their
educational programs, and must ensure that appropriate supervision is provided.
Host institutions are asked to submit a program plan for the Fellow.
Most applications originate in the home country without a proposed U.S. host. In
this event, successful applicants will be matched with appropriate U.S. faculty
mentors by FAIMER. U.S. institutions interested in hosting Fellows should
contact the IFME program for more information.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applications are available on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/faimer.
Application materials are also mailed to eligible applicants in response to
requests, beginning in January of each program year.
Part 1 of the application is to be completed by the applicant. Part 2 is to be
completed by an official of the home country endorsing institution. It is the
responsibility of the applicant to submit the Reference Report forms to two
persons: one of the Reports must be completed by the applicant's immediate
supervisor; the other is to be completed by an individual chosen by the
applicant to provide a reference.
REVIEW CRITERIA
ECFMG staff screens applications for completeness and for basic eligibility of
applicants. An external Scientific Review Panel reviews eligible applications
and makes recommendations for awards. In reviewing applications and making
awards, consideration is given to the following:
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Professional qualifications of the applicant.
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Appropriateness and specificity of the educational programs
proposed by the applicant and the endorsing home country institution.
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The home country endorsing institution's plans for and
commitment to utilizing the benefits of the fellowship to meet identified needs.
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Assessment of the overall value of the fellowship experience
to the applicant, the home country institution, and the home country.
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Evidence that the applicant will be in a position to
implement the proposed educational improvements upon return to the home country
institution.
All applications are subject to the same review process and
require the same assurance regarding the availability of a position in the home
country upon completion of the fellowship.
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Applicants will be notified of the final results of the review of applications
about six months following the closing date for receipt of applications.
CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
Fellowship recipients must initiate their educational programs within one year
of receiving notification that the placement in a U.S. host institution has been
finalized.
Fellows are expected to be in good health at the time of appointment. They are
expected to devote full time to the educational program for which the fellowship
was awarded. Any substantial change in the educational program or a change in
fellowship institution requires prior FAIMER approval. All Fellows are required
to submit a mid-fellowship report and a final report upon completion of the
program.
FINANCIAL AWARDS
Fellowship allowances generally include a monthly stipend of $2,400, round trip
economy class airfare for the Fellow only, and travel to one scientific meeting
in the U.S., as appropriate. In addition, the program provides health insurance
for the Fellow and accompanying family members. The only allowance/or dependents
is health insurance coverage. The U.S. host institution receives a modest grant
of $5,000 of which $3,000 is an unrestricted grant for the host department and
$2,000 is for administrative costs related to the fellowship.
TIMETABLE
| AUG 2002 |
Part 1 and Part 2 of the application, along with supporting
documents and the two Reference Reports, must be received at ECFMG no later than
August 26. |
| NOV - DEC 2002 |
Review of applications by Scientific Review Panel. |
| FEB 2003 |
Announcement of Awards. |
| FEB-JUN 2003 |
Placements obtained in U.S. host institutions for awardees.
Programs must begin within one year of notification that the placement in a U.S.
institution has been finalized. |
Applications can be downloaded from the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/faimer.
Applications may also be obtained by written or phone request from:
FAIMER - International Fellowships in Medical Education
c/o EDUCATIONAL COMMISSION FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES
3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA
Phone (215) 823-2105 / (215) 823-2106, Fax(215)966-3121
OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
SHORT-TERM EXCHANGE FELLOWSHIPS
To strengthen and support the initial fellowship experience of former Fellows,
FAIMER offers short-term exchange opportunities to selected Fellows and their
U.S. mentors.
Criteria for selection will include:
- A minimum of two years of residence in the home country following the
Fellow's completion of the initial fellowship.
- Ongoing collaboration with the U.S. mentor since completing the fellowship.
- Submission of a design for utilizing the follow-up fellowship to enhance the
quality of medical education in the home country.
Requests for proposals are solicited on a yearly basis.
THE INSTITUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
MEDICAL EDUCATION (ICAME)
FAIMER also sponsors the International Consortium for the Advancement of Medical
Education (ICAME), which is currently offering Institute 2002.
The Institute is a yearlong fellowship program designed for international
medical school faculty who have the potential to play a key role in improving
medical education at their schools. It is uniquely designed to teach education
methods and leadership skills, as well as to develop strong professional bonds
with other medical educators from around the world.
Application materials and additional information on the
Institute are available on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/faimer.
Application materials may also be obtained by written or phone request from:
FAIMER - International Consortium for the Advancement of Medical
Education
c/o EDUCATIONAL COMMISSION FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES
3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA
Email: faimerinstitute@ecfmg.org
Phone (215) 823-2213 ; Fax (215) 386-3309
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