The Global Outreach Observership Program at the IU School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides qualified medical graduates the opportunity to learn more about our practicing pathologists and their purpose within the greater health care system through a robust interaction with anatomical and clinical pathology. The observership program is intended for national and international individuals seeking further pathology training which may lead to a residency position in the U.S. in the field of pathology.
Program Details
Pathology-focused activities during an observership rotation occur at the Indiana University Health Pathology Laboratory located at 350 W. 11th Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202. Our affiliate facilities include but are not limited to IU Health University Hospital, IU Health Methodist Hospital, Marion County Coroner’s Office, and IU School of Medicine on the campus of IU Indianapolis. The IU Health Pathology Laboratory has a cafeteria, break room, locker rooms, auditorium, pathology library and an autopsy suite. Parking is available at a daily cost at the building. Free parking is currently available across the street from the laboratory and along various side streets. IU Health provides a free shuttle to campus and affiliate hospitals. Any questions or concerns prior to or during the rotation should be directed to the education coordinator, who schedules all visiting learners in the lab.
Observers participate in routine practices and educational activities in the laboratory, including but not limited to sign-out cases, gross dissection, autopsies or clinical pathology. As schedules are created prior to the rotation, observers must select a desired sub-specialty. Observers will be assigned to a specific division/sub-specialty for the duration of their time with the department.
Observers are expected to attend daily morning and afternoon educational conferences and are welcome to attend lectures, grand rounds and any other learning opportunities within the department. Observers are added to an email distribution list once the rotation starts and receive communication from the residents regarding learning opportunity locations, times and topics. Observers can expect to interact with residents, fellows and attending pathologists during daily rotations in scheduled sub-specialties. Observers can expect to be in the laboratory Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET. As space allows, observers are given a cubicle in the residents’ and fellows’ room that will include a microscope and access to pathology resources.
Observers are encouraged to seek time with the director of the observership program as appropriate. Observers meet with the director at the beginning of the rotation. Observers will also be scheduled to meet with the director of the residency program during the rotation. Unless scheduled to work with the program director on a sub-specialty, observers are not encouraged to ask for a letter of recommendation from the program director but are encouraged to interact with the attending pathologists with whom they spend quality time.
The observership program provides no compensation, stipend or reimbursement. All arrangements and expenses, including but not limited to travel, lodging, travel documents, immunizations, health insurance and living costs will be the full responsibility of the observer. Upon the end of the rotation, the observer will no longer be permitted to access the IU Health Pathology Laboratory or its affiliate facilities. Observerships at IU Health Pathology Laboratory are strictly voluntary and can be terminated at any time by either the observer or the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Sciences, with or without cause.
Objectives
National and international medical school graduates may apply for consideration for a four week rotation in our department. We accommodate two week rotations if space allows. At the end of the rotation, the observer:
- Will be familiar with the functioning of the department of pathology and specific divisions of the department interact with each other.
- Will leave with basic understanding of the various processes involved in acquiring and processing and diagnostic interpretation of anatomic and/or clinical specimens.
- Will acquire basic knowledge of interpreting the morphologic findings as well as clinical results.
- Will have a clear concept of the importance of accurate diagnosis, reporting and communication with the health care providers in patient management.
- May participate in teaching, intradepartmental and interdepartmental conferences, and research projects to gain experience in order to function in an academic environment.
Application Process
All applicants will be directed to submit documents through an application portal that is found on the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine website. Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered for the program. Applications lacking any of the listed materials are not considered. Applicants will pick one subspecialty to complete their observations in.
- Updated medical curriculum vitae (CV)
- Medical school transcripts (translated if non-English)
- USMLE Step 1 score
- USMLE Step 2 score
- Headshot
Applications are accepted Jan. 1–March 1 each year via the application form..
Completed applications are forwarded to the program director for review. Applicants are accepted, waitlisted or denied via email from the education coordinator. Due to the extreme level of interest in the program for the limited numbers of spots, combined with space in the laboratory dedicated to medical school learners, we regret that we cannot accept all applicants.
Sub-Specialties
- Breast
- GU
- GI
- Head and Neck
- GYN Renal
- Heart and Lung
- Neuropathology
- Bone and Soft Tissue
- Dermatopathology
- Cytology
- Microbiology
- Blood Bank
- Chemistry
- Hemepath
- Molecular
Available Rotations
- May 5–June 1, 2025
- June 2–29, 2025
- July 28–Aug. 24, 2025
- Aug. 25–Sept. 21, 2025
- Sept. 22–Oct. 19, 2025
- Oct. 20–Nov. 16, 2025
- Jan. 5–Feb. 1, 2026
- Feb. 2–March 1, 2026
- March 2–March 29, 2026
- March 30–April 26, 2026
Approved applicants will receive a Letter of Invitation (LOI) via email indicating the block to which they are accepted. Applicants have seven days from receipt of the LOI to accept or decline the offer and agree to the terms of the program. Slots will be filled in the order they are received.
The observership program director expects accepted applicants to:
- Be proficient in the English language.
- Be financially able to incur all costs associated with the program, including but not limited to travel, lodging, insurance and living expenses.
- Have all applicable visas procured by the start of the rotation.
- Have all required immunizations prior to the start of the rotation.
- Agree to review and adhere to the policies, regulations and practices of IU School of Medicine and IU Health.
Observerships may be canceled by the participant at any point prior to the start of the rotation, but once canceled, the participant may not reschedule and the cancelation is final. Waitlisted applicants will be contacted if slots become available, giving as much time as possible to arrange for travel and lodging.