FMG friendly programs?

[leviathan]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Anyone know where I can find information about programs that match foreign grads?

I know there are lots of programs that match American IMGs, but is it possible to get EM for foreign graduates who require J1 visa sponsorship?

I have excellent board scores, come from an EMS background, have a few publications, but I don't know if any of that matters or if it's worth applying.

 

[Hypomanics]

I think it's going to be really difficult even with an amazing app otherwise. Last year the only place I interviewed at that had IMG residents was St. John in Detroit and there was also an IMG interviewee at Akron. Both situations were American IMGs. Purely anecdotal, so probably not super helpful, sorry.

Also, I personally looked through all of the programs websites looking for where residents went to school. I don't remember where any other IMGs were, but there were a few here and there. I'd suggest doing this. There are >140 programs so it takes time, but it may be worth it to you. Some programs even have an archive of residents on their websites that may give you an idea of their history.

 

[Hamhock]

By IMG do you mean Canadian?

HH

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

EM has become increasingly competitive each year. There are so many excellent applicants from american schools that even a stellar FMG applicant has almost zero chance...

I will not tell you to not apply, but I would essentially apply to every school in the country and have a backup plan..

Not saying you are not as good or perhaps even better than some of the american medical school folks.... but thats just how things are.

Good luck...

 

[bravotwozero]

I second st. john's in detroit. This program matched a few IMGs this year. They have traditionally known to be friendly to IMGs and DOs, both of whom are, were, and continue to be well represented in each class. Don't know about any other programs. Of course, if you're coming from a canadian med school, I'd think that's a different story.

 

[iridesingltrack]

Anyone know where I can find information about programs that match foreign grads?

I know there are lots of programs that match American IMGs, but is it possible to get EM for foreign graduates who require J1 visa sponsorship?

I have excellent board scores, come from an EMS background, have a few publications, but I don't know if any of that matters or if it's worth applying.

I highly recommend doing an away rotation at a couple places you are very interested in and see how it plays out. I also recommend having a backup plan. If you have the chance to train in Canada and that is your backup then I would say that you can be a little picky in the US. Go exploring. But be realistic with the feedback you get while on away rotations.

That is my 0.02.

Iride

 

[leviathan]

Thanks for the feedback guys, sounds like it's not going to happen. Been on SDN and posting in the EM forums for almost 9 years now, can't believe I've finally come to the point of residency apps. Ironically it looks like I probably won't be matching to emerg. I happen to also really love IM and critical care as much as EM, which I should have a good chance at matching into. I think I'll probably be just as happy doing that instead so it's not worth spending all the time and money on applications to 2 separate specialties, when 1 of them is basically a lost cause.

If any of you consult me don't be offended, there might be just the slightest hint of jealousy in my voice when I come down to admit your patients. 🙂

 

[beanbean]

I did residency at UCONN and they have matched IMGs from Ireland, Israel, St Georges, and Ross in the past 5 years. All were US citizens. Not sure if there are any in this year's intern class.

Has your med school any info on recent grads that have matched EM?

 

[RafaTech]

Doesn't Canada have some good EM programs? Are you a canadian medical student? Why do you want to do residency in the US, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[EMIM2011]

About 10 to 20 Non-US Citizen IMGs match into EM every year.

 

[leviathan]

I'm a Canadian citizen but attended med school in the Caribbean. There are more opportunities for me in the US than Canada, although matching somewhere in Canada is still my #1 priority.

Re: 20 non-US IMGs. Thanks for the info, so there's a chance, but pretty slim.

 

[RustedFox]

I went to a Carib school and had a bunch of Canuck buddies there. They all did say kind of the same thing - "Maaan, we'd love to get into a US residency, as the opportunities to do 'what we want' are very few and far between."

I also remember the sentiment: "There's so much more money to be made in America (I always found it funny how they called it 'America' and not the US) if you're willing to put in the work.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no Canada-hater. Not by a long shot.

... and this is where the thread trends towards the perils and evils of "socialized medicine". G'head.

 

[leviathan]

I went to a Carib school and had a bunch of Canuck buddies there. They all did say kind of the same thing - "Maaan, we'd love to get into a US residency, as the opportunities to do 'what we want' are very few and far between."

I also remember the sentiment: "There's so much more money to be made in America (I always found it funny how they called it 'America' and not the US) if you're willing to put in the work.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no Canada-hater. Not by a long shot.

... and this is where the thread trends towards the perils and evils of "socialized medicine". G'head.

I plan on returning to practice in Canada if I end up doing residency in the US. The pay in the last decade has become relatively equal between our countries, and is probably higher in Canada for primary care.

 

[MSmentor018]

USF takes 1-2 every year

 

[inspirationmd]

Check out SIU. I know for a fact they have interviewed multiple IMGs and one of their rising 3rd years graduated from Ross.

 

[Groove]

Roughly 25% of EM matched applicants are foreign graduates according to latest data. We have a 99-100% fill rate in all programs. Do your own research instead of asking someone on here to do it for you. It's not hard to look up all the major foreign schools and go down the list of EM matches and where they matched systematically and write it all down. The majority of the 25% FMG are U.S. citizens but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Improbable if you are a foreign citizen, but not impossible. I would have plenty of back up plans. Don't put all your eggs in the EM basket.

I plan on returning to practice in Canada if I end up doing residency in the US. The pay in the last decade has become relatively equal between our countries, and is probably higher in Canada for primary care.

My personal opinion, if you don't mind me being blunt, is that you do not deserve an EM spot. You sound like you are a foreign grad/foreign citizen who plans on training in the U.S. (taking up a spot of someone who wanted to train in EM and stay in the U.S.) and then head back home. So, you want us to help you get you a spot in EM, pay taxes to Medicare that eventually pays for your salary and benefits while you're in training and you give neither us, nor the population that helped fund your training the decency to give back your EM skills in clinical practice as a practicing physician in the country that was generous enough to pay and train you?

No thanks.

If I were a PD, I'd never take you if I knew your ultimate intentions. I'd give the AMG and IMG U.S. Citizens who were staying to practice in their country the spot. At least then I know my taxes and GME funding are going towards an investment that will benefit the population instead of leeching from it. Nothing fires me up more than people admitting to what you just admitted. I feel the same way about the FMG with visa who received free medical education in their home European/Asian country and leeches training and salary from the U.S. with the ultimate intention on going back home as soon as residency is over. I think every single one of you should be forced to pay back your entire 3-4 year salary along with every penny of funding the program received from GME and it should be placed into SS.

 

[gasolino]

Metropolitan hospital in NYC I heard takes all FMG grads for EM

 

[Old Grunt]

By glancing at the resident list, it looks like Emory has taken 1-2 FMGs from the Middle East, specifically Saudia Arabia, in the past two classes. I don't know if that is helpful to you or not.

 

[OccupyTheED]

By glancing at the resident list, it looks like Emory has taken 1-2 FMGs from the Middle East, specifically Saudia Arabia, in the past two classes. I don't know if that is helpful to you or not.

I believe Emory has a standing arrangement to take one resident per year from Saudi Arabia so I'm not sure if they're FMG friendly outside of that.

 

[fengsoir]

Roughly 25% of EM matched applicants are foreign graduates according to latest data. We have a 99-100% fill rate in all programs. Do your own research instead of asking someone on here to do it for you. It's not hard to look up all the major foreign schools and go down the list of EM matches and where they matched systematically and write it all down. The majority of the 25% FMG are U.S. citizens but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Improbable if you are a foreign citizen, but not impossible. I would have plenty of back up plans. Don't put all your eggs in the EM basket.



My personal opinion, if you don't mind me being blunt, is that you do not deserve an EM spot. You sound like you are a foreign grad/foreign citizen who plans on training in the U.S. (taking up a spot of someone who wanted to train in EM and stay in the U.S.) and then head back home. So, you want us to help you get you a spot in EM, pay taxes to Medicare that eventually pays for your salary and benefits while you're in training and you give neither us, nor the population that helped fund your training the decency to give back your EM skills in clinical practice as a practicing physician in the country that was generous enough to pay and train you?

No thanks.

If I were a PD, I'd never take you if I knew your ultimate intentions. I'd give the AMG and IMG U.S. Citizens who were staying to practice in their country the spot. At least then I know my taxes and GME funding are going towards an investment that will benefit the population instead of leeching from it. Nothing fires me up more than people admitting to what you just admitted. I feel the same way about the FMG with visa who received free medical education in their home European/Asian country and leeches training and salary from the U.S. with the ultimate intention on going back home as soon as residency is over. I think every single one of you should be forced to pay back your entire 3-4 year salary along with every penny of funding the program received from GME and it should be placed into SS.

 

[FranticFrancis]

Diggin' up this post from 2012...
I'm a soon-to-be FMG and my plan is to train in US and live in US (no visa yet) . When applying to EM residency programs, will the PDs read my personal statement before throwing my application in the garbage?
My PS would state that my plan was to become an US-citizen and to practice in US for as long as my legs could help me to stand and walk.
I'm from the 2nd-best med school in my country (in south america), lets suppose I get 3 SLORS and good grades on USMLE with full certification (>240 steps 1 and 2ck, cs first pass and step 3 with good score aswell) do you think there's any chance of getting into a residency program with H1B visa?

 

[VentJockey]

A good portion of applications gets discarded without being reviewed. The software programs use to sort applications has filters, and they can simply discard people with certain visa status, or scores, with the click of a mouse.

 

[FranticFrancis]

In the Charting Outcomes of 2014 there are some interesting numbers.
It says right in the first page concerning EM that 370 independent applicants matched, against 1371 US seniors matching, and that 259 independent app didn't match, against 106 us seniors who didn't match.
Does anyone know how many of this 370 non-US seniors matching were FMG (Non-US IMG)? I mean, should I give up the idea of matching emergency?

I saw also another official document showing that only 22% of all EM programs accepted non-us IMG applications. It's one of the least fmg friendly specialties! Even plastic surgery accepts a greater rate of non-us applications (26% of all programs).

Does anyone knows a non-us IMG that matched EM and that would shine a light for me? I would be pleased if someone could show me either ends of this tunnel I got into - giving up or keep going. (I have other plans, I like ID/CCM, but I feel that I need to know how impossible it is to get to EM being a FMG)

EDIT: I just found out that 30 of the 370 non-US seniors who matched in EM in 2014 are Non-US IMGs. That's a pretty bitter-ungodly-hellish number, I'd say. Not so easy it seems. Damn it, Guess I won't be one of those immigrants that steal your job - at least not if your job is EM related.