Misawa Air Base Hospital is proud to sponsor a one-year rotating fellowship program for interested Japanese physicians. Education is conducted in English and focuses on developing a better understanding of American approaches to medical care. Fellows work side by side with US Air Force physicians and learn both outpatient and inpatient medicine as well as assist as medical liaison between our hospital and local Japanese hospitals. This program is modeled after a similar programs at US Naval Hospital Yokosuka on Okinawa, which have trained hundreds of Japanese physicians since beginning in 1952 at the suggestion of General Douglas MacArthur. Goals of the fellowship are to:

• Introduce western medicine and science philosophy.
• Improve conversational and written medical English language skills.
• Prepare for certification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and other US medical licensing examinations.
• Improve history and physical examination skills.
• Understand the process of diagnosis and treatment decisions.
• Achieve familiarity with operating room protocols and sterile technique.
• Understand the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests.
• Assist US staff interaction with local Japanese hospitals.
• Assist communication with patients and families.

Japanese physicians are selected in September to begin training the following April. The year includes rotations in internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, aerospace medicine, radiology, orthopedics, anesthesia, and psychiatry. Interaction with local Japanese hospitals is a key component of the program, including opportunities to collaborate with our primary local referral center, Hachinohe City Hospital. A housing stipend up to approximately JPY 50,000 per month is provided, which is enough to rent a house or apartment in Misawa City. Fellow salary is approximately JPY 260,000 per month before taxes. No additional pay such as bonuses, overtime pay, or other allowances is provided. Fellows work 40 hours per week, primarily during normal hospital hours Monday to Friday, but are also responsible for covering 24-hour call including weekends and holidays in order to support urgent and emergent patient transfer to local Japanese hospitals. In general, call schedules are flexible and arranged by the chief fellow. Fellows will observe U.S. national holidays. Fellows are insured with health insurance for Japanese employees working on base.

Application Requirements

• Japanese citizen or permanent resident of Japan graduated from Japanese medical school before start of fellowship program.
• Complete written application below.
• Proficient in oral and written English.
• Complete a personal interview if selected

Application Process

Applications are accepted each year for the following year's fellowship class from April through August. Selected fellowship applicants will be invited for an interview in September. Complete an application form and return by e-mail to: 35MDG.Fellowship.Program@us.af.mil.

The medical group currently has open recruiting going on, for consideration for the fellowship program starting the following year on April 1.

Send all of following documents in one envelope to the address below:

1. Recent passport style photograph of yourself (official size not required).
2. USMLE scores, if available.
3. Two letters of recommendation in English sent from faculty members with whom you have worked. Additional letters are welcome but not required.
4. Current curriculum vitae, written in English.
5. Certified English translation of your university transcript.

We highly recommend applications be sent via "Kakitome" by Japan Post (Yuubin-kyoku) or "Kuroneko Mail Bin" by Yamato kyubin to ensure arrival in a timely manner. After mailing an application package, please notify us by e-mail with title "FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION (Your name)" to the address below. Include your full name and date application was sent.

Academic Curriculum

Externship Program

Misawa Air Base Hospital offers a weeklong externship program for selected Japanese medical students and physicians. The program is designed to provide exposure to American medicine and to introduce potential applicants to the fellowship program. A limited number of positions is available for each week the externship offered every summer. Externs will rotate through various specialties in the hospital with an emphasis on outpatient medicine. Depending on level of training, externs may have opportunities to see and examine patients under the supervision of staff physicians.

There is no fee for the externship program and externs will not receive pay. Externs may be hosted by a limited number of volunteer hospital staff members. If no host is available, externs will be responsible for arranging their own accommodations at a near-by hotel.

Applicants interested in the externship program should return the following information by e-mail to 35MDG.Fellowship.Program@us.af.mil:

1. Name
2. Date of birth
3. Address
4. Nationality
5. Name of the medical school attended or currently attending along with an English translation of the university transcript
6. Recommendation letter from a faculty member with whom you have worked
7. Personal statement about yourself and why you would like to participate in this program
8. If you are working as a resident or attending physician, please also include information about residency training and work experience.

Important note about e-mail addresses

Unfortunately, the US Air Force often blocks e-mails originating from some companies in Japan. This includes yahoo.co.jp and most Japanese cell phone company e-mail addresses. E-mails from gmail.com and hotmail.com addresses should not be blocked. If you are using a webmail type provider to send e-mails to the address listed above and do not receive a response, please try sending from a different address such as gmail.com or hotmail.com. Our e-mail address is: 35mdg.fellowship.program@us.af.mil