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Observerships

students observing work

The Department of Neurological Surgery offers unpaid observerships that allow students, physicians, and other individuals to learn about various aspects of Neurological Surgery.

If you are interested in observing, please consult our eligibility criteria, and if eligible please complete this application.

Apply to Observership Program

Eligibility Criteria

One of the following must apply.

High School

  1. Participating in the Dallas Mayor's program
  2. Participating in the Health Science Technology High School program
  3. Working on a school project that is related to the medical field
    • High school symposia and affiliation agreements required
    • Official letter on school letterhead written and signed by teacher endorsing and outlining project required
  4. For all participants:
    • High School students cannot enter the operating room
    • Participants under 18 years of age must obtain a signature from their legal guardian
    • Program duration will not exceed 2 weeks
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    • HIPAA, Infection Control, and Ethics training required prior to observation

Undergraduate

  1. Working on a school project that is related to the medical field
    • Program duration will be based on the school project time requirement (less than 30 days)
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
  2. Enrolled in the UTSW STARS summer research program, UT PACT, UT SHAPE, JAMP Accelerated undergraduate/medical school combined programs
    • Program duration will not exceed 30 days
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    • Ethics training required prior to observation
  3. Enrolled in the UT Arlington Engineering Boot Camp/Capstone Project
    • Program duration will not exceed one semester
    • May be required to provide up-to-date immunization records
    • Ethics training required prior to observation
  4. For all participants:
    • HIPAA and Infection Control training required prior to observation

UTSW Medical Student/Resident/Fellow

  1. Currently enrolled UTSW medical student or UTSW graduate student
  2. A trainee with PIT permit that was onboarded as a rotator
  3. For all participants:
    1. Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    2. HIPAA, Infection Control, and Ethics training required prior to observation
    3. Program duration will be based on the letter of agreement

International Graduate of Medical School

  1. Currently enrolled UTSW medical student or UTSW graduate student
    • Ethics training required prior to observation
    • Affiliation agreement required
  2. A physician at UTSW for a clinic research fellowship
    • Ethics training required prior to observation
  3. A physician who has completed specialty or subspecialty training
  4. For all participants
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    • HIPAA and Infection Control training required prior to observation
    • Program duration will not exceed 30 days

UTSW Employee

  1. Special approval has been obtained by the Office of Human Resources
    • Employee can observe up to 5 shifts per calendar year

Family Member of UTSW Employee

  1. A college student interested in or pursuing higher education in a medical profession
  2. A high school student interested or pursuing higher education in a medical profession
    • Approval by Surgical Services leadership prior to observation required; additional training may be required
  3. For all participants:
    • May be granted exceptions and allowed to observe; prior training may be required
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    • HIPAA and Infection Control training required prior to observation
    • Program duration will not exceed 2 weeks

Other

  1. Conducting/participating in clinical or translational research
  2. Requested by other hospitals to send their team for training
  3. For all participants: 
    • Up-to-date immunization records including a negative TB test within the last 12 months required
    • HIPAA and Infection Control training required prior to observation
    • Program duration will be based on the observership rotation and will not exceed 30 days
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