I hear its harder to get a residency spot for IMG???

[Dung]

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Hello,

I am going to be starting IMG medical student at the carribean and I am told that its getting INCREASINGLY difficult for us to come back to the US for ANY RESIDENCIES. Is these true??? I thought as a Ross graduate student (one of most prestigeious carrbean institustions), I will have about equal chance, almost, as the US students?

I am hoping to become a vascular surgeon or cardiac surgeon. I think its great to fulfill by life dreams. Please tell me the truth. Is it true that US policy will eventually make american medical graduate to residency spots 1:1? I don't want to have my dreams shatter.

Also, I am a green card holder, so I have all priveleges of US citizen. I am assured I will get first shots over those IMG's without green card, like people who only have visa.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[turtleboard]

Changes in healthcare financing in the United States will make it more difficult for IMGs to match to US programs. Currently some fields have up to 50% of their residents being IMGs (Anesthesiology comes prominently to mind).

General Surgery isn't what it once was, but I'm not sure how IMGs would match. This year was pretty bad for surgery because many, many prestigious programs had unfilled seats. Even so I doubt IMGs would match to terribly good programs. CT/Vascular is a tough fellowship to get for a US grad, and many of those guys do a lot of research during residency jsut to get into the fellowship.

Anyway Ross University isn't exactly the most reputable of the Island med schools -- that honor goes to St. George's University in Grenada. Your chances as an IMG, even if a Permanent Resident, are NOT equal to US MDs or DOs.



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Tim Wu.

 

[Neurogirl]

I wouldn't say it CAN'T happen, but it's going to be very tough...to say the least. Although recently it's gotten a little easier, I think categorical surgical programs are still pretty competitive. Kimberlicox addressed this issue in another thread. It seems like she stated that she saw NO FMGs during her interviews.

It is true that it's becoming increasing difficult for FMGs to get any residency, much less one in a competitive field. For example, some fields like neurology and anesthesiology used to be havens for FMGs, but even those specialties are becoming more competitve. For example, in past years, >70% of neurology positions were filled by foreign grads, but now it's <30%. In my interviews, there were usually some foreign applicants, but I never met a SINGLE Carribean student. Also, I've heard that anesth is becoming much more competitive.

Basically you will have TWO strikes against you. Not only will you have an Island MD, but you are not a US citizen. I know you have a green card, and you do have an advantage over those with visas, but you WILL be viewed as a foreigner. Even with top grades and board scores, EITHER of these disadvantages could be enough to keep you out of general surgery programs. Taken together, your chances are pretty slim. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I'm just being honest. If you are that determined to be a surgeon, don't go to the Carribean. Continue to improve your application so that you can get into a US school.

 

[kimberlicox]

I really haven't much to add to the terrific advice given by Neurogirl and Turtleboard, but its 11 p EST, everyone's gone to bed and I'm still on PST!

Despite what you may have been told at Ross, your chances of getting a US residency, regardless of specialty, are NOT the same or nearly that of a US graduate. There will be programs and specialties that essentially cut you out - not only as an IMG but specifically as a Caribbean grad.

Neurogirl was right - on my interviews, I was the ONLY IMG I saw interviewing for Categorical Gen Surg spots. I did see a few IMGs interviewing for Prelim Surg spots. Perhaps they had a quota of only 1 IMG per interview round, so as not to scare off the AMGs!

I am aware of some IMGs who are doing Categorical Gen Surg, and in particular a Ross graduate. I believe he did a Prelim year, "proved" himself and was taken into a the Categorical spot the next year. And I am sure there are many out there, especially at non-university programs.

General Surgery IS getting easier to get into - heck, even I got a spot! But as Neurogirl points out you have 2 strikes against you - 1) the IMG status and 2) Green Card. Fact is, while a Green Card is preferable over a J-1 or H-1 visa, it is NOT the same as being a citizen in the eyes of the programs, IMHO.

Cardiothoracics is one of the more competitive surgical fellowships and it may be difficult to get one should you not graduate from a university program. I am purely speculating here, as I honestly don't know for sure, but that tends to be the case for the more competitive training spots.

Finally, while I do believe that the US will eventually restrict residency spots, and may even severely curtail those offered to non-US citizens, I do not believe it will ever be 1:1 ratio as you noted. And I also do not believe that it will happen anytime in the hear future. I've been hearing about the 110% solution for probably 15 years now and it hasn't happened yet. Changes will be made and it is NO longer the heyday for IMGs it once was, and you can expect things to get more difficult.

If you can gain admission to St. George's or one of the commonwealth schools I think you will find matching into surgery relatively easier.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

[MD-PGY1]

Let me start by saying that I know several people from Ross in Catergorical General surgery spots including Uni of New Mexico, and Wayne state. I also know a ross grad in Orthopedics at Catholic medical center in NY. One of the leading surgeons on the Johns Hopkins Heart transplant team is from Ross.

Having said that, I have no doubt that these are the exceptions to the rule. My friends in surgery all scored >245 on both steps 1 and steps 2, and the guy in ortho-had to stay in NY in one of the crapiest programs in the country (no offence intended).

My advice would be to give your dream an honest shot, but re-evaluate it along the way and re-adjust your goals and expectations accordingly. If you dont want to do anything but be a cardiovascular surgery---dont go to a foriegn school, but if you want to give it a shot realizing your chances are slim to none, but being open to other fields of medicine more realistic for someone in your position, then go for it, there is no sign of the number of spots equalling the number of US grads anytime soon.

I have a friend who whent to the American Uni of the carribean and he wanted Neurosurg bad-he even did 4 months at the mayo clinic on the neuro surg rotation during his 4th year of med school, board scores greater than 99% and a US citizen, well it didn't work out for him but he is happy in his catergorical surgery position in a community hospital in California.

Goodluck