US Physician moving to Australia and back?

[cygne12]

Hi folks!

I'm a US citizen, went to medical school and did a 3 year Pediatric residency in the US from which I graduated 10 years ago. I am board certified by the ABP and currently doing part time locum tenens in Texas. My husband who has dual UK/US citizenship is the primary bread winner in the family. My husband's company has a branch in Brisbane and is offering him a senior management position there. The position would most likely be for 3-4 years, after which we would hopefully come back home to the US. Although we may be staying longer to get permanent residency as he has visited Australia in the past and loves the country.


I have several questions concerning the assessment of specialist recognition in Australia.

1) What level would the Australian Medical Council consider my status to be? (a)Would I be considered an Overseas Trained Physician with comparable training and experience at the specialist level and thus need to complete 12 months of practice under peer review? Or (b) would I be considered only "partially comparable" and required to do an unspecified time of more training as well as 24 months of practice under peer review?

2) If (a) seems more likely, what would my title be? I'm unfamiliar with the terminology. Registrar or consultant? Where would I do my 12 months of practice? In a local private or public hospital in Brisbane? Would I need to have a job offer before I go to Australia from an employer?

3) If (b) is more likely, what level of training do you think they would require? For example, 1-3 years of Advanced Training in a teaching hospital that has a General Pediatrics position, or would I have to repeat my Basic Training in Pediatrics again?

4) The RACP website says I would have to pass an RACP exam. Is that the same as the AMC exam?

5) If I were to pursue further Advanced Training in Clinical Genetics, how difficult would it be to find a position near Brisbane?

6) I'm also considering becoming a hospitalist, but not many hospitals want a purely pediatric hospitalist. If I were to additionally study general Internal Medicine, how difficult would it be to find a Basic Training program in Brisbane? If we moved back to the USA, would future US employers have a problem with my Australian training in Internal Medicine? Could I get board certified in IM back in the US?


Sorry this is so long and complicated. I'm just trying to keep all my options open and need as much info as I can get. This process ain't cheap! ($6900 just for the OTP assessment, not including the test, registration fees, etc)

I appreciate any help you all can offer. Thanks!

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[Dr.Millisevert]

1) You should contact the RACP for further information. They are the ones who will be making that assessment.

2) A registrar is the same thing as a resident in the states. A consultant is the same thing as an attending. If you were required to complete 12 months of "supervised training"... that would be at the level of a senior registrar aka chief resident or fellow.

3) Again, that will be up to the RACP to decide. Its best to contact them.

4) The AMC exams are the same thing as doing your US medical boards and obtaining an ECMFG cert. The RACP exam is the same as completing your US Specialty Board Certification exams.

5) hmm.. I'm not sure. You're best to contact RACP and ask them to provide you with contacts of people working in that area.

6) In Australia they use the term "resident" as well sometimes. (now I'm really going to confuse you). However, it means something different.

In Australia: a "registrar" is someone in an RACP accredited training post. Same as someone in a US accredited residency program.

In Australia: a "resident" is someone in a non-accredited position. This is sort of like a non accredited intern position in whatever department you choose. You are for all purposes doing the same job as a resident and get the same experience, but you don't get credit for it from the Specialty Board in Australia.

Basically if you take a "resident" position in Australia you will get paid and you will get good experience, but you won't get credit for it from the RACP (now if the US wants to give you credit for it.. that will be up to them). If you accept a "registrar" or "accredited fellowship" job then you will get paid and you will get credit from the RACP. (again now sure about the US, that is up to them).

The reason Australia has these non-accredited "resident" positions is so that some people who are not 100% sure they want to pursue a particular specialty.. it allows them to basically "try it out" for a year or more before they make up their mind so they don't waste others time and fill spots in training positions which others would be able to use. (if that makes sense).


Hope that helps.

Again.. bottom line. You have to go through the RACP. They will be able to guide you through the entire process. You just have to suck it up and pay the fees and become involved in their local groups. No matter where you go in Australia.. you will get paid more here (even as a non accredited resident) than you will in pretty much any US residency program.

 

[cygne12]

Dr Millisevert,

Thanks for wading through my question and attempting to a response. I realize it's not an easy question. I've called the RACP as you suggested and a very nice lady answered some of my questions.

Thanks again!