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| Professional Exchange : Exchange Conditions of LaMSA Latvia(Latvia) | |
| Level of studies | Clinical |
| Type of Clerkship | Clinical |
| Languages | English, Russian, in some departments also German; Latvian.
Student's skills of English must be confirmed by a certificate. N.B. For internal medicine, pediatrics and psychiatry Russian or/and Latvian is required as most of the population is non-English speaking. |
| Duration of Clerkship | 4 weeks or a calendar month. |
| Working Conditions | Duration of clerkship in total: 20 days, 6-8 hours a day (may vary according to departments).
In order to receive a certificate the student must attend 16 full days as a minimum. |
| Disciplines | 1) Surgery General
2) Surgery Vascular 3) Surgery Cardiothoracal 4) Surgery Plastic 5) Surgery Thoracic 6) Neurosurgery 7) Radiology 8) Anaesthesiology 9) Dermatovenerology 10) Intensive Care 11) Gynaecology/Obstetrics 12) Hematology 13) Infectology 14) Psychiatry 15) Cardiology – Invasive 16) Internal medicine - Cardiology 17) Internal medicine – Pulmonology 18) Internal medicine – Nephrology 19) Pediatrics 20) Neurology 21) Ophtalmology 22) Oncology 23) Otorhinolaringology 24) Traumatology 25) Orthopaedics 26) Pathology 27) Forensic medicine We do recommend all kind of invasive/surgical/”visual” departments: as it requests less communication with patient and you can focus on practical aspects and communication with the tutor. However, the listed disciplines are given as examples and we cannot guarantee their availability. Clerkship of gynaecology & obstetrics is complex. It includes a rotation: 2 weeks in gynaecology and the other 2 in obstetrics. When choosing the field of practice take in account that you have the greatest chances to be accepted for field where you already have theoretical and/or practical knowledge. Please note that it is not always possible to provide the clerkship at the 1st choice department! If it’s very important for you to be put in the 1st choise department (for example, to get an approval for your internschip in your university) please inform us about that at least 3 months before the clerkship If you are interested in more specific departments or internal medicine subjects please inform us about that at least 4 months before the clerkship so that we can find the best solution possible. |
| Periods & Towns | Available period year 2010: 5th July – 1st August; September
Available period year 2010: 4th July – 29st July; 5th September - 30th of September. N.B. You should arrive before the indicated start date, because that's the 1st day of your clerkship. All students are placed in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The location of the clerkship depends on the chosen department (different hospitals in Riga participate in the program). Departments of some fields are situated outside Riga but not more than 30 km or 1 hour by public transport away from the lodgement. |
| Application documents & deadline | The application includs:
* Electronic Application form * 1 filled-in paper IFMSA Application forms (with photo!) * 1 additional passport size photo * Photocopy of Identification paper (Passport or Identity card) * Valid Insurance Certificate or a document confirming the fact that student will have insurance coverage during the time of clerkship in Latvia. * Vaccination & screening documents (Hepatitis B antibody; HIV, MRSA, TBC status) * English language certificate * Letter of motivation (one for each chosen department!) * Deans letter/other official document confirming the fact that incoming student attends full time medical studies. * Other documents if requested by the hospital at which the clerkship will take place. AF deadline: 14 weeks before the beginning of the clerkship as latest! All the above documents must be sent on time, otherwise the clerkship can be canceled. |
| Digital documents required | NONE.
All documents in paper format must be sent to the NEO. |
| Card of Acceptance deadline (weeks in advance) |
8 |
| Card of Confirmation deadline (weeks in advance) |
4 |
| Insurance | Health insurance is required and must be arranged by the students.
Malpractice insurance |
| Pocket Money | None |
| Board & Lodging | Free on bilateral agreement.
Students are lodged in student hostels, shared rooms. Board mainly given in canteens close to the hospital. Board: One free meal per workingday. If there are any special requirements (vegetarian, food-allergy), please, inform us in advance! Unilateral exchange students pay 270 EUR on arrival. Rules&deadlines for unilateral students are the same as for bilateral! |
| Social Program | Organized social program during weekends. |
| Substitutions | Substitution can be made for same period and department. Notice of substitution should be sent by e-mail not later than 2 weeks prior to the arrival of the student.
For countries needing VISA, a substitution might be possible until 8 weeks before the beginning of the clerkship. |
| Cancellations | Must be sent by e-mail as soon as it occurs. |
| Visas | You DO NOT need a visa if you are from the EU.
More info available at www.am.gov.lv (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Incoming students who do need a visa are asked to contact LaMSA officials AT LEAST 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR CLERKSHIP due to receive the invitation letter (used when applying for a visa at the embassy). Considering visa issues, write us to: neoin.latvia@gmail.com ! |
| Special remarks | Take your white coat, stethoscope and SHOES to change in hospital. Fur surgical department and anesthesiology and obstetrics white pants too.
Certificate confirming a completed exchange receive ONLY those students who will have attended the clerkship and follow the local bylaws of exchange program in Latvia. DO NOT CONSIDER your exchange only for sight-seeing tour in Baltics! Don't forget to take Your students card/ISIC with You as it gives discount for visiting many objects of culture! N.B. Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is highly recommended! Because ticks are very common in Latvia (even in city parks!) and many of them are infected with encephalitis. Prophylactic vaccination may save you a lot of worry. Also vaccination against hepatitis A and diptheria is recommended. For any other information, please, consult www.lamsa.lv, neoin.latvia@gmail.com |
| More info Link | www.lamsa.lv |
| These Exchange Conditions are valid until: |
15-11-2010 |
| Last update of data (GMT) | 14/07/2010 |