Visiting Observer Program

To be a Visiting Observer, individuals must be at least 18 years old and one of the following:

• Medical Student
• Medical Resident
• Medical Doctor or similar medical professionals
  
  

Other types of observers may be allowed to observe but ONLY in clinics, not in the operating rooms.

All observers must be hosted by a faculty member. Placement is not guaranteed and subject to availability and discretion of faculty.

Stanford Hospital and Clinics visiting observer program only allows:

• Each individual may participate in one observation period within a 12-month span.
• The total observation period cannot exceed 30 consecutive calendar days per year.
• Observations are not conducted on weekends or holidays; however, these days still count toward the 30-day total.

Stanford is unable to provide or assist in obtaining visas for visiting observers. Typically, visiting observers enter the U.S. on a visitor visa or a business visa.

There is a fee for international visiting observers only. It is $1500 first week and $1000 for each of the following weeks for a maximum of 4 weeks.

Payment Due Date

Full payment is due by the date of final approval of observership.

Payment Method

International wire transfers, we will send the wire information when the payment is due.

Refund Policy

• In rare cases, the department may need to cancel a scheduled observation due to a change in the host faculty’s availability. If this occurs, the department will refund the full amount paid, or re-schedule the observation, if possible, or arrange for the observer to observe other faculty, if possible. The observer will be given a choice about this. If we fail to get the final approval on time, if the VO does not get a VISA, or if VO is sick or has unexpected circumstances that prevent them from travelling we will consider these on a case by case basis.
  

Locations

Stanford does not provide housing for visiting observers. Due to the high cost of housing in the Bay Area, accommodations can be expensive. Websites like Airbnb.com and Vrbo.com may help you find rental options. While there are several nearby hotels, they can also be costly. Some housing options are listed on Stanford’s website for your convenience.

For Parking and Transportation information please visit:

https://transportation.stanford.edu/

If you choose to park on campus, you will need to buy a permit at the link above. For questions about this please contact the number on their website.

Please visit our faculty webpage and review their areas of specialization and reach out to their AA to gain approval.

On the Visiting Observer Request and Inquiry Form the prospective observer will select a division or divisions and the faculty member(s) they would like to observe. 

To request an observation opportunity, prospective observers must receive approval from desired faculty and submit the Visiting Observer Request and Inquiry Form. 

The division will also provide details on the required forms and medical records and will manage scheduling during the visit.

Please note that submitting this form is a request only; the prospective observer will be notified if the requested faculty member is available to host and observership is approved.

Many faculty members cannot commit to hosting a visiting observer more than six months before the requested start date due to scheduling uncertainties.

We request 8 - 10 weeks advanced notice from desired dates of observation to check with faculty. Once an observer is accepted and submits all required documents and medical records, it typically takes at least is 6-8 weeks for processing and badge approval. 

Proof of the following vaccines and/or test results is REQUIRED for Clearance to Observe in Operating Rooms and Clinics.

Acceptable proof is a copy of official medical records with your name, date of birth, official stamp or doctor's logo, date of vaccine or date of test and test results.

All non-English records must be accompanied by a translation. The translation does not have to be “official”.

COVID-19: Evidence of full vaccination: 14 days after 2nd dose mRNA or 1 dose vector (approved for Emergency Use Authorization in the USA) and a booster vaccine (as of January 24, 2022)

Varicella (Chickenpox): Evidence of Positive Titer or of 2 Varicella vaccines. History of the disease is NOT acceptable.

Measles: Evidence of Positive Titer or of 2 MMR or Measles vaccines

Mumps: Evidence of Positive Titer or of 2 MMR or Mumps vaccines

Rubella: Evidence of Positive Titer or of 2 MMR or Rubella vaccines

Tuberculosis: ONE of the following within 365 days of start date (even if you have received a TB vaccine)

• TB Skin Test: TWO TB Skin Tests, 7 to 21 days apart: Evidence of two injections, with a reading and the result for each
• Quantiferon Test (QFT): Evidence of test
• Chest x-ray: Copy of doctor's reading of results
   

Influenza: (IF observing from November 1 to April 30) Evidence of flu vaccine for CURRENT flu season (dated Sept 1 or later)

If the observer is a physician practicing in the USA, they may provide a letter from their institution’s occupational health department listing all the required tests and vaccines.

For any other questions, please email Lillian Lee, Visiting Observer Coordinator for the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.