a qUeStiOn

[DeVyne]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello!
I'm an international medical graduate and currently preparing myself for part 1, last night this idea crossed my mind, i want to see if its possible but do not know where/who to ask. I'd appreciate it if someone could direct me!
What would I need to do to study medicine in the States? Is it possible that I get accepted in a university based on my degree? I have completed my medical studies, but would like to study medicine in the States so that I get a better chance at applying for whatever speciality I want, as some specialities are just out of the question for img's. Would anyone know if it is possible for me to get accepted at m3, or m4? or maybe even m1! whatever it takes!
thanx in advance : )

 

[DrMom]

moving to gen'l discussions for IMGs forum

 

[leorl]

Wait... you have already completely med school...but you want to complete it AGAIN in the US, just for a chance at a US residency? That sounds insane to me. Why don't you just go the USMLE route...get good scores on USMLE 1 & 2 (CS & CK), and apply for the match. You could do some observerships/electives in the US prior to applying.

go to www.ecfmg.org for more info.

 

[BellKicker]

I don't have any real first-hand knowledge of this but I'm almost sure it's not allowed to do a second MD degree at a different school. You could, of course, not tell them about your previous degree (and ace all the classes) but like Leorl says, why would you?

Hell, you could do one residency and then another in the time it would take for you to fill out all the prerequisites, apply and get accepted.

 

[Skip Intro]

I don't have any real first-hand knowledge of this but I'm almost sure it's not allowed to do a second MD degree at a different school. You could, of course, not tell them about your previous degree (and ace all the classes) but like Leorl says, why would you?

Two problems with this:

(1) On your AMCAS application, there is a question you must answer that asks if you have not matriculated through any other medical programs anywhere. If you are caught lying on this, it is grounds to have your application terminated and you may be prevented from applying again. Not sure what happens if you answer "yes" (i.e., whether or not your application is automatically thrown out).

(2) If you've taken any of the Steps, there will be a file on you at ECFMG. You would not be eligible to re-take Steps in a U.S. medical school anyway, especially if you passed already.

There is only one option at one school I know of, and that is the transition program that New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) offers. If you are a foreign-MD, you can go to NYCOM for three years (two of pre-clinical, one of core clerkships) and graduate with a D.O. degree. In doing so, you are eligible, as a D.O. and NOT an MD, to participate in the Osteopathy and Allopathy matches after taking the COMLEX (with/without the USMLE). You will subsequently be licensed as a "DO" in the U.S., regardless of your status as an MD from another country (although, I have personally known of at least one attending who went this route and writes "Jane Doe, MD, DO" on her business cards, the stamp that has her license number (i.e., for stamping hand-written notes in charts), and her prescription pads).

Again, if you're school is recognized in the WHO database, you are eligible for ECFMG certification, you are able to get the residency program in the field you desire, and you can get a license in the state you ultimately want to train/practice in, why would you do this?

-Skip

 

[DeVyne]

So what i can do is put in all my efforts with the usmle and hope i get accepted in the field i want? That puts me a bit down considering the fact that the specialities im interested in are not really img friendly : ( so i was thinking that if i get accepted in the US at a med school and just get to study the last year or last 2 years then that way i'd be an american medical graduate which would make my work a whole lot easier! but i guess i was dreaming the wrong dream! I'll wait and see what happens when im done with the exams!
Thanx a lot guys, and the best of luck to all of you!

 

[leorl]

Devyne, don't be so depressed 🙂 Yes, chances are more difficult, but nothing is impossible! 🙂. Give it your best shot, and if it doesn't happen, it wasn't meant to be. But there is never just 1 path to achieving what you want, and likewise, there is not only 1 prize.

 

[Skip Intro]

so i was thinking that if i get accepted in the US at a med school and just get to study the last year or last 2 years then that way i'd be an american medical graduate which would make my work a whole lot easier!

DeVyne,

You can always try to transfer... and I emphasize the word "try". I know of only a very few people that have successfully done this from a foreign-based medical program in recent years, and the "penalty" (e.g., having to repeat a year, sometimes two) may not be worth it in the long run. The U.S. schools have really closed the door to the non-LCME transfers, which used to occur quite a bit in years past.

Still, you also have to consider the fact that many of the U.S. grads who want to go into the competitive fields will not get their shot either, unless they are at a Duke or Stanford or Wash U (etc.). Just because you're at a U.S. allo school does not mean you automatically get the "pick of the litter", so to speak, when it comes to residencies.

Either way, just crush the boards and listen to what Leorl, who happens to be a very smart and very wise person, says as well.

Good luck!

-Skip

 

[hndrx1a]

What about transfering from lesser known caribbean school to better known, as SGU, ROSS, etc...possible?