foreign MD not getting a resiency

[NigMD]

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Hello all,

I completed Med School in West Africa in 2007 and moved to the U.S to complete a master's program and also get into a medical residency. Two years later, I have completed my master's program and applied for several residencies but with no luck still. I have started a PhD program this year hoping that would help with my application. So far i have still not been invited to any interview for a residency.

My dream is to work here in the U.S as a doctor but at this point i am starting to lose faith.

Is there any other route i can take to make it easier to get a residency? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[K31]

We're going to need more details.

What kind of master's program? Clinically related?

What have you done besides grad school? US clinical experience? Passed USMLE? If so, what score?

PhD doesn't really help all that much for getting into residency, especially the community programs that are more likely to take IMGs. It also takes time, and longer time since graduation is a definite disadvantage. That's if you are actually planning on finishing the PhD rather than just using it to kill time while applying.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Hello all,

I completed Med School in West Africa in 2007 and moved to the U.S to complete a master's program and also get into a medical residency. Two years later, I have completed my master's program and applied for several residencies but with no luck still. I have started a PhD program this year hoping that would help with my application. So far i have still not been invited to any interview for a residency.

My dream is to work here in the U.S as a doctor but at this point i am starting to lose faith.

Is there any other route i can take to make it easier to get a residency? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

1. You are at a huge disadvantage. The only thing that could help now would be for you to have a green card or citizenship. Then at least you would be at the level of Americans who go to school in other countries and the residency would not have to worry about filling immigration documents.

2. What regions are you applying to. Many rural areas accept people in your position every year. In fact there are programs staffed 100% by residents in your exact position so i dont know if youve been focusing on a certain area or are being too picky but At this point you have to be prepared to go to some rurual area and possibly in a specialty you do not want.

All the stuff you have been doing are things what people do to hell get into med school. Residencies dont care much about those things. Your masters and pHD do not make you a better clinicial.
I know its harsh but you have to start loooking into programs that most American grads do not want to go to cos regardless of how good you are, its much to big of a headache for a program to take you for them to do so instead of an American grad.

 

[rad0nc]

Is there any other route i can take to make it easier to get a residency? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

doing research at a residency program might help. What specialty?

 

[K31]

Never mind.

 

[Depakote]

moved to the appropriate forum... sorry, the thread got a little sliced and diced in transition. Fixed now.

 

[ROBINHO]

1. What specialty?
2. U need to do loads of externships/observerships so that somebodyu will vouch for your clinical knowledge
3. A masters and PHD doesnt really help. If u wanna do research it shd be at a major academic center where u will have some access to the faculty of that specialty
4. Where in West Africa? Ghana or Nigeria?
5. What about your scores

***Greencard/citizenship isnt a big deal. It helps at some of the smaller community programs but generally there are so many residencies out there who will sponsor a visa if u are a strong candidate