Request for Applications

Summary

An exciting international opportunity for graduate-level U.S. students in the health professions is now available. A limited number of fellowships are being offered through NIH's Fogarty International Center (FIC) to experience mentored clinical research training at top-ranked NIH-funded research centers in developing countries. This is a unique opportunity for the next generation of U.S. investigators to gain invaluable experience and training in global health issues and international collaboration.

This opportunity is designed primarily for students with advanced standing in a U.S. medical or osteopathic school, or enrollment in a doctoral-level program at a U.S. school of public health, optometry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, nursing or dentistry. Other Ph.D. students in the health sciences may be eligible on a case by case basis. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.

U.S. medical students must have completed their basic science courses and one year of clinical clerkship. U.S. medical students are encouraged to apply during their third year of medical school. Ph.D. students must have completed their coursework and be post-comprehensive exams prior to the beginning of the fellowship. Nursing students must have successfully achieved candidacy for the doctoral degree to be eligible.

Eligible candidates must have student status at the time of application, and candidates applying in their last year as a student must be graduating within the three months prior to the program start date (current applications have a start date of July 2009) to be eligible as a scholar.

Criteria for selection will include a strong interest in and potential for a career in international health and exemplary academic qualifications. In addition, students must have the academic support of their home institution and the support of a committed mentor.

Purpose

To provide unique clinical research training opportunities to U.S. graduate health professions students in international settings.

Objectives

This program will take advantage of the training opportunities provided by the development of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-associated networks for international research in infectious diseases, child health, mental health, cancer and other fields. Such international clinical research experiences during a student's formative professional life will encourage the pursuit of careers in clinical research.

Mechanisms of Support

Accepted trainees will be provided a stipend of $25,000 per year with additional funds to cover travel to-and-from the site, insurance, and educational materials. Each participating foreign site will receive funds for programmatic support, including mentoring and administration and some laboratory costs, and support of in-country trainee programs. Additional funds will be provided to support a trainee from the foreign site who will be "twinned" with the U.S. trainee.

Performance Period

If selected as a finalist, applicants will travel to Washington, D.C. (the program will only cover travel costs for finalists from their home airport to Washington, D.C.) for the Annual Program Selection Conference held on the NIH campus in early March, at which final selections will be made. After a three-week orientation program in July (also to be held on the NIH campus), trainees will start their year abroad August 1 (any change in the start date must be cleared by the principal investigator of the training program and the program officer at the Fogarty International Center). After completion of the research training year, the alumni trainees will continue to be mentored by their home institutions and will be asked to return to Bethesda, MD to present their findings at the next year's Annual Program Selection Conference. In addition, the completion of a brief annual survey about their current career decisions (outcomes such as training and research, awards, publications, and employment) will be required.

Eligibility

This information is new for the current application cycle.

This opportunity is designed primarily for advanced-level medical students at U.S. medical schools and doctoral-level students at U.S. schools of public health. Eligible students will be from:

• accredited schools of medicine
• accredited osteopathic schools
• accredited schools of public health
• accredited dental schools
• accredited nursing schools
• accredited schools of veterinary medicine
• accredited pharmacy schools
• accredited optometry schools

Other Ph.D. students in the health sciences may be eligible on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible candidates must have student status at the time of application. Ph.D. candidates must have completed their Master's-level coursework; all other professional doctoral degrees must have completed their basic science courses and one year of clinical clerkship prior to the start of the fellowship year. Medical students are encouraged to apply during their third year of medical school.

Criteria for selection will include strong interest in and potential for a career in international health as well as exemplary academic qualifications. In addition, students must have the academic support of their home institution and a committed mentor.

Where to Direct Inquiries

Please read Frequently Asked Questions concerning this program.

Additional questions about the program should be directed to: Tanya P. Smith Manager, FICRS Program Association of American Medical Colleges 2450 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 fic-fellowship@aamc.org tel: 202-828-0481 fax: 202-828-1125 Katy Carkuff Program Specialist, FICRS Program Association of American Medical Colleges 2450 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 fic-fellowship@aamc.org tel: 202-862-6206 fax: 202-828-1125

For information and questions about the Fogarty International Center please contact: Aron Primack, M.D., M.A. Fogarty International Center National Institutes of Health Bldg. 31, Room B2C39 31 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892 aron_primack@nih.gov

Submitting an Application

Applications will be available on this site starting in July 2009, and will be due in early December 2009. Applicants may apply to other fellowship training programs at the same time as submitting applications to the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Program. Please see the Online Resources page for information.

Review Process

An external review committee will evaluate all complete application packets (complete application packets will contain an application form, a Dean's letter, a letter of reference from a faculty mentor at the applicant's home institution, and a transcript).

Finalist applicants will be invited to the Annual Program Selection Conference held in early March on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Washington, D.C., where they will have the opportunity to briefly meet with representatives from domestic and international FICRS training programs. After these meetings, both the finalists and representatives will submit their preferences for individual assignments to a steering committee charged with making the final award decisions.