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Deadline for On-line Fellowship Applications Extended...
(posted 19 February 2004, updated 26 February 2004)

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General Information

Background Information

The FAIMER 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:

• Assisting international medical schools in improving and advancing the process of medical education.
• 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.
• Advancing the international exchange of information in the medical sciences and in medical education.
• Contributing to the promotion of international understanding and exchange among nations.

The Program

Up to 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:

• Reside and work in their home countries at the time of application, acceptance and initiation of the fellowship award.
• Have a graduate or professional degree.
• Hold an academic appointment as a faculty member in a school of medicine or postgraduate medical education institute.
• Be in a position of leadership with respect to curriculum and educational policies and procedures. Preference is given to mid-career applicants.
• Be willing and able to travel to the United States.
• Have at least three years of work experience as a faculty member in the home country following completion of their formal academic and clinical training.
• Demonstrate competence in written and spoken English.
• Have the endorsement of a home country medical school or postgraduate medical education institute for the proposed educational program.
• Have a position at 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, and a plan for utilizing the benefits of the 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 for review from each home country endorsing institution.

United States Host Institutions

Institutions in the United States 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

The interactive, web-based application is now available on this website; paper applications are no longer accepted.

The on-line application must be completed by the applicant. The Medical School Nomination must be completed by an official of the home country institution. The Reference Report must be completed by the applicant's immediate supervisor. It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit the Medical School Nomination and the Reference Report to the appropriate respondents.

If you experience problems with the on-line application, please contact the IFME program by e-mail (ifme@faimer.org), fax (215-966-3121), or by telephone (215-823-2105 or 215-823-2106). Telephone assistance is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States.

Review Criteria

FAIMER staff screens applications for completeness and for basic eligibility. 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:

• Professional qualifications of the applicant.
• Appropriateness and specificity of the educational programs proposed by the applicant and the endorsing home country institution.
• The home country endorsing institution's plans for and commitment to utilizing the benefits of the fellowship to meet identified needs.
• Assessment of the overall value of the fellowship experience to the individual, institution, home country, and global region.
• 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.

The IFME program is highly competitive. It is recommended that applicants and respondents submit their portion of the application in a timely manner.

Award Announcements

Applicants will be notified of the final results of the review of applications about three months after the closing date for receipt of complete applications (March 1, 2004).

Conditions of Appointment

Fellowship recipients must begin their educational programs in the same year in which the award is made.

Fellows are expected to be in good health at the time of appointment. They are required 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 up to a total of $2,000 toward the cost of health insurance for the Fellow and accompanying family members. The only allowance for 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

The interactive, web-based application is now available on this website; paper applications are no longer accepted.

If you experience problems with the on-line application, please contact the IFME program by e-mail (ifme@faimer.org), fax (215-966-3121), or by telephone (215-823-2105 or 215-823-2106). Telephone assistance is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States.

Other Fellowship Programs

FAIMER Institute

FAIMER also sponsors the FAIMER Institute, a 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 around the world.