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California

Observerships & Externships in California

18 clinical experience opportunities for International Medical Graduates in California.

18

Total Programs

4

Free Programs

16

Specialties

3

Program Types

Visiting Student (MD/DO) (10)Observership (6)Research Fellowship (2)
Multiple Specialties (2)Multiple departments (2)IM, EM, Radiation Medicine, Orthopaedics, Plastic Surgery (1)EM, Surgery, Medicine, Radiology, Anesthesia, Peds (1)Neuropathology (1)Multi-specialty (host-department dependent) (1)

Always confirm details on the official institution page before applying. Requirements, fees, and deadlines can change.

Visiting Student (MD/DO)

DGSOM UCLA Visiting Student Program

Los Angeles, CA
Not published; see VSLO catalog
Not published; see VSLO catalog

DGSOM (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) Visiting Student Program — VSLO. Open to fourth-year students at US LCME...

Multiple SpecialtiesVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

UC Davis School of Medicine Visiting Student Program

Sacramento, CA
Up to 8 weeks (4-week blocks via VSLO)
$300 per elective application (non-refundable)

UC Davis School of Medicine Visiting Student Program — fourth-year electives via VSLO. US LCME M4 only — UC Davis explic...

Multiple SpecialtiesVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

UC San Diego Visiting Senior Medical Student Program

San Diego, CA
4 weeks
VSLO fee; VESP scholarship up to $2,000 for eligible applicants

UC San Diego School of Medicine Visiting Fourth-Year Students Program (San Diego, CA). LCME-accredited US, Canadian, and...

IM, EM, Radiation Medicine, Orthopaedics, Plastic SurgeryCertificateVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

Stanford Visiting Clerkship Program

Stanford, CA
Maximum 4 weeks (one rotation only)
VSLO fee + Stanford registration and health-screening costs

Stanford moved fully onto VSLO for AY 2026-2027. Summer-quarter applications opened Feb 13, 2026. Strict 4-week cap.

EM, Surgery, Medicine, Radiology, Anesthesia, PedsCertificateVerified link
Observership

UCSF Neuropathology Visiting Scholars Program

San Francisco, CA
1 to 3 months
No fee; observer covers visa, immunizations, admin costs

UCSF Department of Pathology Neuropathology Visiting Scholars Program (San Francisco, CA). One of the largest neuropatho...

NeuropathologyVerified link
Observership

UCLA Health International Physician Observership

Los Angeles, CA
1 to 3 months
$750 non-refundable application fee

UCLA Health International Physician Observership Program (Los Angeles, CA) — David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) Int...

Multi-specialty (host-department dependent)CertificateVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

Loma Linda University Medical Center

Loma Linda, CA
2-4 weeks
$275 non-refundable processing fee

Loma Linda University SOM Visiting Students program. 4-week senior electives via VSLO. US LCME or COCA accredited medica...

Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, CardiologyVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Sylmar, CA
2-4 weeks
Free — county hospital

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center (LA County, San Fernando Valley) Internal Medicine — M4 sub-internships (general medicine...

Internal Medicine — Sub-Internships + IM Subspecialty Electives (UCLA David Geffen affiliate)VisaVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Torrance, CA
2-4 weeks
Free — county hospital

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Internal Medicine Sub-Internships and Advanced Clerkships for visiting US M4 students. LA Cou...

Internal Medicine — Sub-Internships and Advanced Clerkships (IM department at Harbor-UCLA / David Geffen SOM)Verified link
Observership

MSK MSO — Observership (San Diego)

San Diego, CA
Monthly
$1,000/month

Musculoskeletal Health Partners observership. $1,000/month. Open to IMGs with valid visas.

Neurosurgery, Pain Management, Internal MedicineVisaVerified link
Observership

UC Davis Health — International Observership

Sacramento, CA
1-6 months
Contact program

UC Davis Health International Observership Program (Sacramento, CA) — for CURRENTLY PRACTICING CLINICIANS ONLY. NOT suit...

Multiple departmentsVisaVerified link
Research Fellowship

UCSF — Postdoctoral Research

San Francisco, CA
1-5 years
Paid position — $60,000-75,000/year (UC scale)

UCSF Office for Postdoctoral Scholars (OPS) — central administrative office for ~1,400 postdoctoral scholars across UCSF...

Clinical Research, Global Health, Public Health, Outcomes Research, Health EquityVisaVerified link
Research Fellowship

Stanford Medicine — Postdoctoral Research

Stanford, CA
1-3 years
Paid position — $65,000-75,000/year

Stanford Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) — central portal for ~2,000 postdocs across Stanford schools/SLAC. MDs/MBB...

AI in Medicine, Biomedical Informatics, Clinical Research, Outcomes Research, Health Services ResearchVisaVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

UC Irvine Medical Center

Orange, CA
2-4 weeks
$300 per course (UCI extramural elective fee); + VSLO application fee

UC Irvine School of Medicine MD Program Electives (Orange, CA). US LCME M3/M4 visiting students via AAMC VSLO; INTL acce...

Multi-department M3/M4 extramural electives (Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Anesthesiology, other clinical depts); sites: UCI Medical Center Orange + VA Long Beach + affiliatedVerified link
Observership

USC Keck Medical Center

Los Angeles, CA
2-4 weeks
~$300-500

Keck Medicine of USC International Physician Observership Program (Los Angeles, CA) — administered by Keck Medicine Inte...

Internal Medicine, Surgery, Oncology, Urology, OphthalmologyVisaVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Visiting Medical Students

Los Angeles, CA
4-week senior elective (June-December)
Free

Cedars-Sinai's senior visiting student electives — 4 weeks, June through December. Currently hosts 837 medical student r...

All clinical specialties open to 4-week senior electives (June-December availability)VisaVerified link
Visiting Student (MD/DO)

UCSF Medical Center

San Francisco, CA
2-4 weeks
$300 non-refundable processing fee per elective + VSLO application fee; VESP scholarship up to $2,000 for eligible applicants

UCSF School of Medicine Visiting Student Program (San Francisco, CA). US LCME or COCA-accredited M4 students via AAMC VS...

Multi-department clinical + research clerkships (UCSF School of Medicine + affiliated teaching hospitals across San Francisco); 12-week cumulative capVerified link
Observership

Stanford Health Care

Stanford, CA
2-4 weeks
$1,500 for practicing physicians (varies by department)

Visiting Observer Program. Max 30 days in 12 months. Requires faculty host. Fees vary by department ($1,500 for practici...

Multiple departmentsVerified link

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