Anesthesiology of IMGs

[beladona]

Hello guys! I'm a Brazilian medical student and I'm starting the whole process to be on the 2018 match. I know it's pretty soon to already know my specialty, but I'm really into Anesthesiology, and have a few questions for the ones that have enough patience to read it all

1. How hard exactly it is Anesthesiology for IMGs? I've heard it's kinda in the middle among the other specialties, but it's been rising in popularity, especially among the AMGs. Is that so? In the near future, what would be the real perspectives for IMGs applying for a placement?

2. California is really an impossible place for IMGs? I'm realistc considering options, and I'm in love with Cedars-Sinai Hospital, in LA. Does anyone have any information about IMGs acceptance in this program?

3. What's considered a competitive resume for an IMG? I understand it's the whole thing that's important, but the research experience would playan essential part on it? I say that because, unfortunately, my university is not that strong in research. By the time I graduate I'll only have 2 papers published in Brazilian periodics and 1 presentation in a national congress (in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery), which is rather week, IMO.

4. Do you think a 240+ ocorre on Step 1 and 2 CK would be enough to make my application stand out among the others?

5. How important it is the name of my home university in the process? Or for IMGs it's not a relevant thing?

Thanks in advance for your help! Feel free to add any other questions to these!

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[olivarynucleus]

Hello guys! I'm a Brazilian medical student and I'm starting the whole process to be on the 2018 match. I know it's pretty soon to already know my specialty, but I'm really into Anesthesiology, and have a few questions for the ones that have enough patience to read it all

1. How hard exactly it is Anesthesiology for IMGs? I've heard it's kinda in the middle among the other specialties, but it's been rising in popularity, especially among the AMGs. Is that so? In the near future, what would be the real perspectives for IMGs applying for a placement?

2. California is really an impossible place for IMGs? I'm realistc considering options, and I'm in love with Cedars-Sinai Hospital, in LA. Does anyone have any information about IMGs acceptance in this program?

3. What's considered a competitive resume for an IMG? I understand it's the whole thing that's important, but the research experience would playan essential part on it? I say that because, unfortunately, my university is not that strong in research. By the time I graduate I'll only have 2 papers published in Brazilian periodics and 1 presentation in a national congress (in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery), which is rather week, IMO.

4. Do you think a 240+ ocorre on Step 1 and 2 CK would be enough to make my application stand out among the others?

5. How important it is the name of my home university in the process? Or for IMGs it's not a relevant thing?

Thanks in advance for your help! Feel free to add any other questions to these!

You'll have to out compete people like me, American MD students, who also want this specialty, good luck.

 

[beladona]

Thanks a lot for your answer, mate! Be sure I'll do my best to stand out, don't worry

 

[narcusprince]

Hey bub.
I trained with some Brazillians at my residency program. Very good succesful anesthesiologist now. All of them had entered residency or finished residency in their home countries then did a year of research and then started a 4 year anesthesia residency. Its a long road if your willing to sacrifice you will make it. I would not want to ever leave Brazil..... See Sir mix alot!

 

[W19]

@beladona From what I have heard, even getting a FM or psych spot in CA is difficult, so it should be harder for an IMG to get into anesthesia. Even if you kill the boards (240+), don't bank only on a spot in CA.

 

[deleted171991]

@beladona, if you are not fixated on CA, you will get into a pretty good program with those scores. I know I did, and that was when anesthesiology was still competitive.

 

[GatorBait1548]

California is difficult. I am an ImG with similar scores. Id say the school does matter and if you have a resident in a particular program from that school it helps. Key for me was doing an away rotation at the beginning of 4th year. If they like you and you work harder than anyone else you will get a spot. Good luck.

 

[beladona]

Guys, thanks a lot for your help! Nice to have a view from inside the system. Much appreciated! Unfortunately, Brazil is turning into a nice place for holidays but not exactly to live, especially for doctors. So the sacrifice will be rewarding, for sure!

 

[Planktonmd]

Guys, thanks a lot for your help! Nice to have a view from inside the system. Much appreciated! Unfortunately, Brazil is turning into a nice place for holidays but not exactly to live, especially for doctors. So the sacrifice will be rewarding, for sure!

So you think the US is a better place for doctors to live?

 

[beladona]

For you guys to see how the situation in Brazil is not that favourable! As a resident, for instance, we have poor guidance from the beginning of most programs and have to work moonlights in shifts not related to the residency itself as a rule, simply because our income is ridiculous (it's about 800 USD per month, which even considering the particularities of each country is absolutely not enough for obvious reasons).

Also, we don't have the internship year, meaning that we jump right after graduating into a position where we're supposed to take decisions and responsibilities without the proper education for that. That's definitely one of the greatest reasons for me to get through the whole process: the specialist formation in our country is just terrible. Believe me, you guys, when I say you're lucky to be in the US!

 

[beladona]

Just a few last questions (promise!): I'm planning on doing 3 rotations of 1 month each in US in early 2017. Does any of you think it would be enough time to ask for LORs? Or just a month is too much of a short period for the staff to get to know us? Also, only letters from anesthesiologists would count to the application? Or ICU and GS attendings could be an option too?

Thanks again for your responses in here!

 

[GatorBait1548]

U can get a good LOR working with them for 1month. Letters don't have to be from just anesthesiologists. Probably best if they are not actually.

 

[Sonny Crocket]

Your best chance may be to do an away rotation at a lesser known program. Demonstrate that you are keen and easy to work with. I've seen lot of IMGs, in all specialties, do away rotations and observerships at "top programs" thinking a letter from there will give them a golden ticket in the match. It just doesn't work that way. You are still competing with american grads.

 

[beladona]

That's quite interesting Sonny! In fact, going for top unis was my initial idea, since the name of my home university won't mean that much in my application, and I even think it can weight it down. But my priority would be searching for hands-on clerkships, especially in Anesthesiology, since it's quite a procedural specialty, so I believe I need to show at least some basic technical knowledge to get some good LORs! Right? I'm really enjoying all this feedback from you guys, good to know the view from people closer to the whole proccess!

 

[Docuronium]

My thought would be that it'd be most important to demonstrate that you have a personality that gets along well with people in the department, and that you will be a good fit in the residency program to take care of what they need you to do. Very rarely does a medical student need to demonstrate that they have good hands or anything like that---that all comes with time. I'd do an away rotation at the place you feel you have the best shot at matching, not somewhere with a big name.