35th Medical Group Japanese Medical Fellowship

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 U.S. Air Force physicians and learn outpatient and inpatient medicine and assist as medical liaisons between the Misawa AB hospital and local hospitals. This program is modeled after a similar program at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, which has trained hundreds of Japanese physicians since its start in 1952 at the suggestion of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Goals of the fellowship are to:

• Introduce western medicine and science philosophies
• Improve conversational and written medical English language skills
• Prepare for certification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and other U.S. 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

Fellowship selections are made in August; physicians 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 of up to approximately 70,000 yen ($500) per month is provided, which is enough to rent a house or apartment in Misawa City. Fellow salary is approximately 266,000 yen ($1,900) per month before taxes. Additional pay, such as bonuses, overtime, and holiday pay, is provided. Fellows work Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week, primarily during normal hospital hours, but are also responsible for covering 24-hour call, including on weekends and holidays, to support urgent and emergent patient transfer to local hospitals. In general, call schedules are flexible and arranged by the chief fellow. Fellows 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 a Japanese medical school and completed PGY2 training before start of fellowship program
• Complete written application
• Proficient in oral and written English
• If selected, complete a personal interview

Application Process

For an application, send an email to usaf.misawa.35-mdg.mbx.35-mdg-fellowship-program@health.mil. Applications are accepted April – August each year for the following year's fellowship class. Detailed dates are included in the fellowship application, interview, and match timeline, which will be sent via return email. Applicants selected for the fellowship will be invited for an interview in September.  Applicants for the fellowship program may also apply for the externship program.
 
Send all following materials in one envelope to the address below:

1. Recent passport-style photograph of yourself (official size not required)
2. United States Medical Licensing Examination 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, in English
5. Certified English translation of your university transcript

 

Fellowship Program 35 MDG/SGH Misawa Air Base, Bldg. 99 Hirahata 64 Misawa City, Aomori-Ken 033-0012

〒033-0012 青森県三沢市平畑６４ 三沢米軍基地 三沢米軍病院 建物番号９９ 35 MDG/SGH インターンシッププログラム

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

Fellowship Program Documents 

Fellowship Application
Match Timeline

Academic Curriculum

Core Rotations		Elective Rotations
Internal Medicine	6 weeks	Urology	1-2 weeks
Pediatrics	6 weeks	Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)	1-2 weeks
Obstetrics and Gynecology	6 weeks	Dermatology	1-2 weeks
Family Medicine	6 weeks	Aerospace Medicine	2 weeks
Emergency Medicine	6 weeks	Radiology	2-4 weeks
General Surgery	4 weeks	Anesthesia	2-4 weeks
Orthopedic Surgery	4 weeks	Oral Surgery	2-4 weeks
Psychiatry	2 weeks	Optometry	2 weeks

 

Didactics
Staff Lectures	Once a week, noon – 1 p.m.
Fellow Case Presentations	Monthly

Open House

Click here for information about our Open House event.

Important note about email addresses

Unfortunately, the U.S. Air Force often blocks emails originating from some Japanese companies. This includes some third-party commercial sites and most Japanese cell phone company email addresses. If you are using a webmail-type provider to send emails to the address listed above and do not receive a response, please try sending from a different address.