What are the chances of a caribbean grad getting a competative fellowship like derm-path or cytopath? It is clear to me that being an IMG is a major disadvantage for obtaining residency, but is it still of equal importance for fellowships? Are USMLE scores of any relavance for fellowships? With 250's and 260's on the steps, I will hopefully be able to match into a "middle teir" program, which is great, but when it comes to fellowship will there be a way of "making up" for not being a US grad. I hate to sound so pessimistic, but it's better to know what obstacles I face before I try to get past them. Thanks.
fellowship for a USIMG
- Thread starter macrocyte
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Probably the most important thing you can do to get a fellowship is to try do do your residency at a program that has the fellowship. In the least you will make connections with important people in the field. Usually programs that can support a fellowship have experts. Pathology circles are small and people know eachother in a particular area. If the place does not have designated spots for their residency graduates (often do), at least you will rub elbows with someone who can write you a rec or pick up the phone and make some calls. Also doing minor research (if you have time) helps.
I think training at a decent place can diffuse the USIMG status.... however dermpath is competative for everyone. I think there are only 22 spots in the country. Dermatologists want them as well.
Find a place that is "mid tier" and has the fellowship in which you are interested. All this info. (where the fellowships are.)is available on FREIDA
I think training at a decent place can diffuse the USIMG status.... however dermpath is competative for everyone. I think there are only 22 spots in the country. Dermatologists want them as well.
Find a place that is "mid tier" and has the fellowship in which you are interested. All this info. (where the fellowships are.)is available on FREIDA
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You know what, qualifications, grades, board scores, extracurriculars, etc, are all well and good, but the best way to get a fellowship is to be the best resident you can. You can't always worry about who you have to compete with or making your resume more stellar. It only hurts you.
There are plenty of foreign grads (even non-US citizens) who get great fellowships every year. I am not sure about dermpath ones. It's true, having a resume and connections, etc, will be a feather in your cap, but being a quality physician, hard working, etc, is much more important to many.
Not many will hire a Harvard grad with a poor work ethic and miserable interpersonal skills, even if they have great "numbers." During applications for residency and med school, superficial qualifications matter more because the applicant pool is so much larger and there are fewer ways to actually rank candidates than actual numbers. But given the choice, that person would probably be passed over in favor of a hard working, intelligent person. Maybe I'm too much of an optimist.
There are plenty of foreign grads (even non-US citizens) who get great fellowships every year. I am not sure about dermpath ones. It's true, having a resume and connections, etc, will be a feather in your cap, but being a quality physician, hard working, etc, is much more important to many.
Not many will hire a Harvard grad with a poor work ethic and miserable interpersonal skills, even if they have great "numbers." During applications for residency and med school, superficial qualifications matter more because the applicant pool is so much larger and there are fewer ways to actually rank candidates than actual numbers. But given the choice, that person would probably be passed over in favor of a hard working, intelligent person. Maybe I'm too much of an optimist.
