Fellowships for Foreign Anesthesiologists... Possible?

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JWebar

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Well... This is my first post. Guess I should start by introducing myself. Im a C1 Anesthesia Resident from Chile. I've been lurking the forums for a couple of weeks now and I can't believe that there was so many knowledge laying here without me knowing about it :O Anyway, thanks a lot for all the great posters here, "you da real MVPs!"

I wanted to ask you folks if you know anything about foreign anesthesiologists getting into fellowships in the US. I went as an intern to do a 1 month clerkship at the University of Chicago Medical Center and I loved it. So many great people willing to teach and you can't tell that you are working right in the center of the a ever changing field such as ours. As far as I can tell reading this forum, here is Chile we aren't that far (both in theory and practice) from what you guys are doing.

I still have 2 more years to go till' I graduate, but I want to know early if there is something "extra" I should be doing. Is there? What?

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance and sorry for my hopefully–not–that–bad english! :whistle:

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I found Chicago to be awesome but im only interested in a good solid program. I haven't had all my rotations so its hard to decide right now what I'll want to do. I've heard that the CCM fellowship is very useful for almost everything we do, I also like Regional a LOT.
 
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Are you going to finish residency abroad in Chile and then look for a fellowship in the US? If so, then I think you'll only be able to do the unaccredited ones: regional, trauma, transplant, Neuro, schedule/perioperative etc. I think you need to be board eligible to go through the acgme accredited fellowships (critical care, cardiac, pedi, OB, pain). That means you would need to do a U.S. residency first.
 
Are you going to finish residency abroad in Chile and then look for a fellowship in the US? If so, then I think you'll only be able to do the unaccredited ones: regional, trauma, transplant, Neuro, schedule/perioperative etc. I think you need to be board eligible to go through the acgme accredited fellowships (critical care, cardiac, pedi, OB, pain). That means you would need to do a U.S. residency first.

Yes, and the other question is what your long-term goals are. To practice here, you'd need a US residency.

BTW your written English is just fine, better than a lot of anesthesiologists who work stateside!
 
I would be fine doing a Regional fellowship. If you ask me now, my goal is to return to Chile and help the development of my "field" (whichever that is), but I can't say that after being there I could change my mind and want to stay.

Bummer about the accredited fellowships though...

BTW, thanks for your input!
 
I'm not sure anyone without a license would be allowed to participate in patient care. You can't get a license without doing internship and residency. You can't get into an internship without doing the usmle. You could probably come to the US as an observer. You will not be paid or be permitted to examine or interact with patients because of liability issues since you will not be insured for malpractice.


It's one thing to come here as a student. Whole different thing to be here as a physician.
 
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Do the steps and get ECFMG cert. Do your residency in Chile and apply to Non-ACGME fellowships approx 1.5 y before you finish residency. Some programs have non-ACGME fellowships alongside accredited ones and will hire out of the match. So you can also consider those (ex cardiac and peds). Go for your dreams!- just remember the grass is not always greener on the other side and you dream just might come true!
 
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I've seen some foreign grads to fellowships at my program (Cardiac and Neuro). They were attendings abroad, did fellowships at our large state-sponsored institution, then went on to do residencies at our program. I think the fact that we are a state school changes some of the visa regulations and possibilities.
 
This is interesting. I did my residency in the states and am now practicing in Europe due to family reasons. It's worked out well, thanks. But there are a couple of guys at work that keep telling me that it is possible to work in the states without doing a residency. I tell them great, go ahead and try it. That usually ends the conversation.

I have heard of some academic centers that will hire some European specialists if there is a need. Like an underserved area. Still, I don't believe this.
 
I have seen foreign fellows at my last 2 university jobs, from Europe and Japan. They definitely did not take the USMLE, etc. and they returned home after the fellowship. I'm not sure how that arrangement works as we don't have them in our department. I do know that, the ones I knew, were practicing surgeons in their home countries for several years before coming over for the fellowship and they were outstanding.
I have also seen, in my old department, a couple foreign faculty members from Europe who were working here for 2 or 3 years. I don't believe they took the USMLE, etc. either as they were not intending to stay and returned home after their time was up. They functioned as regular clinical faculty, engaged in research, etc. This was definitely not in an underserved area either.
There is some pathway, though I don't know the details.
 
You can do any training at any program, acgme or not, if they accept you for the position. It will be a non acgme spot, and you will have a hard time trying to practice in the US unless you are the Michael Jordan of anesthesia.
 
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