How Difficult Is It For A Foreign MD To Find A Residency Match?

[suzi q 38]

I have a student who is a physician in another country who has not been able to find a residency match in the U.S., despite all of his applications to various teaching hospitals. He is willing to move and work in any state.

He has two letters of recommendation from a medical school professor and from his attending physician in his country.

Any ideas, or should he give up his dream of becoming a doctor here?
Thank you.

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[Winged Scapula]

I have a student who is a physician in another country who has not been able to find a residency match in the U.S., despite all of his applications to various teaching hospitals. He is willing to move and work in any state.

He has two letters of recommendation from a medical school professor and from his attending physician in his country.

Any ideas, or should he give up his dream of becoming a doctor here?
Thank you.

There is sooooo much you're leaving out that it is impossible to comment on whether he should give up. For example:

-does he require a visa; if so, what type

- what field is he applying to

- what are his USMLE scores

- does he have any US clinical medicine experience

- does he have his ECFMG certificate

- how many programs did he apply to previously; how many times

- does he have a criminal record or anything that would prevent him from becoming licensed in the US

- how old is he

and so on...

 

[suzi q 38]

There is sooooo much you're leaving out that it is impossible to comment on whether he should give up. For example:

-does he require a visa; if so, what type

- what field is he applying to

- what are his USMLE scores

- does he have any US clinical medicine experience

- does he have his ECFMG certificate

- how many programs did he apply to previously; how many times

- does he have a criminal record or anything that would prevent him from becoming licensed in the US

- how old is he

and so on...

Thank you!

It's amazing that people reply so fast. Here is his information:


-He is a permanent resident of US

-He is applying in internal medicine and family medicine

-USMLE step1 225; step 2CK 246; CS 1st pass. Step 3 working on it.

-US clinical medicine experience: 2 months’ observation in private clinics with 2 letters.

-He is ECFMG certificated

-He applied for 180+ programs last year (California not included because his California letter was not ready) and it was his first try

-He has no criminal record

-He is 34 years old and his graduation year is 10 years.


Thanks again.

 

[hamstergang]

-He is 34 years old and his graduation year is 10 years.

He graduated medical school 10 years ago?

 

[Winged Scapula]

He graduated medical school 10 years ago?

If so, that's probably part of the problem as many programs put a limit, usually 3 to 5 years, after graduation.


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[suzi q 38]

He graduated medical school 10 years ago?

Thank you, I will ask him tomorrow.

 

[suzi q 38]

Yes. He is 34.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Ok next question - out of those 180 programs he applied to, how many did he interview at?

How many had a cut-off of less than 10 years since medical school graduation?