[Skip to Content]

4B Observership

Four week observships are available to qualified candidates to apply to for a $300 application fee and a $1,500 rotation fee.

In order to maintain security for the SUNY Upstate Medical University campus, privacy of protected health information, and the appropriate Employee Health clearance, visitors to University Hospital sites of service must be properly logged according to the policy of Visiting Health Care Providers, which covers individuals who are visiting the campus for the purpose of learning, training, observing, or delivering direct or indirect patient care for a brief period of time. Observership Privileges must be obtained for Visiting Health Care Providers through the Medical Staff Office. Observers will not be granted privileges for direct patient care.

Applications (see links below) and all supporting documents (as noted on the application) must be received 8 weeks prior to the requested start date to allow for processing. Please indicate on the application the preferred rotations and dates available. Our 4B inpatient rotations are four weeks in length and can be renewed for additional weeks with the consent of the Observership Coordinator and the Division Director.

Each rotation must be four weeks in duration, and must fit within the dates available. There is a $300.00 (US Funds) application fee which is non-refundable. A Certified Check or Money Order needs to accompany the application and should be made payable to the Psychiatry Faculty Practice, Inc. Personal Checks will not be accepted. Credit card payments may be accepted. Email leontiel@upstate.edu for information on how to pay by credit card.

The cost for each 4 week rotation is $1,500. Upon acceptance, and based on number of total weeks of approved rotation, payment must be received and processed prior to the first day of the rotation. You will be notified, by email, of either acceptance or denial of your application within 4 weeks of initial receipt. You may ask questions or check on the status of your application after four weeks have passed by emailing the Dr. Lubov Leontieva at leontiel@upstate.edu.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Applicants must submit a copy of their Medical School Transcript
  • Applicants must provide a Letter of Reference from someone they worked with in a clinical environment
  • Applicants must submit a one page letter of interest in psychiatry
  • Applicants must be available for a Skype/ FaceTime interview prior to your application's approval

4B Psychiatry Inpatient Observership Application Information

 4B Observership Application

Medical Staff Application Information

(To be completed if application is approved)

All costs associated with the application process (visa processing, travel, health clearance, etc) will be the sole responsibility of the applicant. Upstate Medical University is in no way responsible for processing costs. Applications will remain on file for a period of 12 months.

What our observers are saying

"Looking for opportunities to do rotations in psychiatry in the States is very challenging for international medical graduates. I’m really glad that I applied to do my observership at SUNY Upstate, as this program allowed me to deepen my knowledge of different clinical presentations and treatments of psychiatric disorders.  I was able to attend group therapies, treatment and family meetings. I became an integral member of the psychiatric team."

"The residents are very heartwarming and excellent team players. They enjoyed teaching me and guiding me during the rotation. The attending physicians on the unit provided me with constructive supervision, with reading material related to specific cases seen and always took the time to discuss the cases. The psychiatric patient population in Syracuse is very diverse which gave me a lot of insight on the challenges that healthcare facilities face while catering to their patients needs. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Leontieva and Dr. Megna for providing me with such an organized rotation. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for psychiatry rotations."

Top