Chance of getting training post as Trauma surgeon in Australia

[vgortho]

Hi,
I am IMG,from India, completed post grauation training in orthopaedics with 5 years of experience in Orthopaedics and Trauma(Ortho).
1. Does the trauma fall under the A & E,? If so what is the chance of getting in to the trauma training programme( I mean , the demand/ position available)
2.If trauma falls under A & E, after working as a trauma surgeon, can we go back to orthopaedics?
3. Can I apply for the A & E position as trauma surgeon.
( In India, orthopaedicians take care trauma, there is separate A & E speciality training

I would really appreciate it if any one could guide me with this.
Thanks in advance

Looking forward for response

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[Ezekiel20]

Hi,
I am IMG,from India, completed post grauation training in orthopaedics with 5 years of experience in Orthopaedics and Trauma(Ortho).
1. Does the trauma fall under the A & E,? If so what is the chance of getting in to the trauma training programme( I mean , the demand/ position available)
2.If trauma falls under A & E, after working as a trauma surgeon, can we go back to orthopaedics?
3. Can I apply for the A & E position as trauma surgeon.
( In India, orthopaedicians take care trauma, there is separate A & E speciality training

I would really appreciate it if any one could guide me with this.
Thanks in advance

Looking forward for response

Unlike the US where there is a surgical sub-specialty of 'trauma surgery', there is no such thing in Australia.

When a trauma patient comes in, the orthopaedic surgeon, general surgeon, vascular surgeon etc are called in to operate as per need.

I'm not sure if the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons will recognise your training in India as equivalent to orthopaedic training in Australia (my guess is that they probably wouldn't).

So you may have to sit the AMC exams and re-do your internship and residency (usually 1-2 years), after which you can apply for a training position in orthopaedics (~5-6 years). Bear in mind that orthopaedic surgery is one of the most competitive fields of surgery to get into.

 

[redshifteffect]

Actually I'm not sure if you've heard about the "Trauma Surgeon" here in Oz who got into trouble in Melbourne.

Trauma surgery is available in some of the bigger centres, but I'm just not sure if it's a sub-speciality or just a fellowship option.

 

[vgortho]

Ezekiel20 & redshifteffect, thanks for your replies.
I am seeking for an opportunity at Australia, as there are lot of vacancies only in A & E, Will I be considered for the A & E position (Area of Need- for which I can apply without AMC examination)
Intern and residency - are these SHO positions?... available only in the training center?
What about the Locum jobs? Is it considered as internship?
Is there any separate application for the internship/residency application?

With my qs itself, you can know that I am totally unaware of the training system in Australia.
Atlast, what is the chance of me getting a SHO position in Orthopaedics and in A&E?

Thanks

 

[vgortho]

Unlike the US where there is a surgical sub-specialty of 'trauma surgery', there is no such thing in Australia.

When a trauma patient comes in, the orthopaedic surgeon, general surgeon, vascular surgeon etc are called in to operate as per need.

I'm not sure if the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons will recognise your training in India as equivalent to orthopaedic training in Australia (my guess is that they probably wouldn't).

So you may have to sit the AMC exams and re-do your internship and residency (usually 1-2 years), after which you can apply for a training position in orthopaedics (~5-6 years). Bear in mind that orthopaedic surgery is one of the most competitive fields of surgery to get into.

Yes, training in India will not be recognised in Australia.
As you said, getting in to the orthopaedic training is the toughest part. What about as a resident or as intern? Are there any restrictions -like working in higher centers/ Medical Universities or at any particular centers only being considered as Internship/residency?
Please clarify my queries?

 

[FunkyR]

Trauma surgery falls under general surgery in Australia.

Unless you want to become an orthopaedic surgeon with an interest in trauma.

You'd need to check with the relevant authorities but you might be able to skip the AMC exam if u get recognition of your ortho training by the college of ortho - they'll more than likely make you do some orth registrar time (?2-3yrs) and sit the ortho part 2 exam.

 

[FunkyR]

A&E training to become an Emergency specialist is a completely different path to surgery and you'd probably have to start from the beginning of A&E training. Like you mentioned you might be able to skip the AMC if it's deemed an area of need.

Yup, ortho is very difficult to get into. Many locals (after having done basic surgical training BST) end up doing non accredited service registrar jobs, often in the country, as well as research before getting on the program. The average time post BST to get in depends on the state but around 3 years is not unheard of. Being on overseas doctor it may be even harder. The selection criteria for locals has recently changed though, not sure how this will impact on the waiting times etc.

 

[FunkyR]

As for general residency jobs, if you choose that path, you'll probably have to sit the AMC. Generally locals get preference over overseas doctors for jobs, so theoretically you should be able to apply everywhere, but have a much better change of getting a job at a small/country hospital. Having said that there are a few overseas trained doctors at most large public hospitals. There might be some exceptions but like wise you'd need to check with the medical boards.

 

[redshifteffect]

What's happened with the new SET programs is that the poor old buggars doing BST are getting picked over in favour of the people straight out of medical school. Partly that's because so much of the criteria is based on references. It's much easier to get a 80% on a reference being an intern then as a registrar.

 

[vgortho]

Thanks for the info, FunkykR and redshifteffect. Research positions...? as research assisstant or as a volunteer? BST is it done only in the training center? or in any non accredited institutes also? I have completed part 1 & 2 of MRCS, just one more part. Is it considered equivalent to BST?
Thanks again for replies.....

 

[redshifteffect]

BST no longer exists, you an apply directly into the surgical speciality of your choice. Research is available in many forms, just depends on what you can get.

 

[vgortho]

I really appreciate your inputs.... thanks

 

[JohnnyRockets]

From what I know Australia is not an IMG friendly country, although better than Canada, very few IMG registrars have been promoted to the Consultant position that were not from the UK. Most IMGs are recruited to work in rural Australian regions. There is talk of a physician "shortage" but it depends upon who you ask, it really seems that GPs are the ones experiencing a shortage of personnel and rural physicians.