Frequently Asked Questions

Navigating the Unknown

The UTHealth Houston Space Medicine Fellowship is a pioneering two-year program designed to train physicians in providing acute medical care in space environments.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the fellowship:

Is this fellowship open to medical practitioners other than MD/DO?

  • Currently, the fellowship is exclusively available to physicians holding an MD or DO degree.

Do you have to be an American citizen to enroll in the Space Medicine fellowship?

  • Yes, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. This requirement ensures compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Are specialties outside of Emergency Medicine considered for this fellowship?

  • At this time, only physicians who have completed an ACGME-accredited Emergency Medicine residency program are eligible to apply. In the future, the fellowship may consider applicants from other specialties.

How many fellows are selected each year?

The program selects one fellow annually, ensuring personalized and focused training.

What are the application requirements?

Applicants must:

  • Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
  • Be board-certified or board-eligible in Emergency Medicine.
  • Be eligible for medical licensure in Texas and Florida.

What does the application timeline look like?

  • Submission Period: August 1st – November 1st
  • Interviews: Conducted from mid-November through mid-December, including sessions with UTHealth Houston and our commercial partners.
  • Final Selection: Announced in late December.

What are the key components of the fellowship?

  • Compensation: Approximately $140,000, reflecting half of a full-time faculty salary.
  • Clinical Duties: 14 attending physician shifts every other month at Memorial Hermann-TMC and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
  • Rotations and Training: Experience with major commercial spaceflight companies, aerospace engineering coursework, SCUBA diving for Extra Vehicular Activity simulations, and training in dentistry, interventional radiology, and regional anesthesia.

For more detailed information, please visit our Space Medicine Fellowship page.