IMG do not apply list

[gangz01]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am applying for cardiology fellowship this yr. Is there a list of programs that would not prefer IMG's or J1 visa. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dragonfly99]

There's no list, but some fellowship programs list on their web site which visas, etc. they will sponsor.

Also, it will probably be very helpful to you if you look at the names/med schools of the current fellows, which are often listed on the web site @many programs. If they currently have IMG's then it's a good bet that they accept some IMGs. If no IMG's are listed for all 3 years of the fellowship, then doubtful that you'll get in. It's still OK to have "dream programs" though, for anyone...it's just best to be realistic. Also, the super competitive programs (i.e. the Harvard hospitals, UC San Francisco, Washington U, Duke, etc.) don't usually accept people unless they have publications and are from one of the "top" medicine programs (i.e. such as those places and a few others).

 

[DrIM]

please check the folowing group, they have a IMGs do not apply list. May not be perfect but gives you an idea

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cardiology_Fellowship/

 

[Miradautas Vras]

Well, I don't get one thing. If an international grad is a part of a prestigious program, has done good during the residency and is not fuzzy abt visa issues, why'd the label still go against him/her? I am an international grad and can understand the prejudice as far as residency admissions go; did not do med school in this country, they can't rely on my creds. But after one performs commendably during the residency training,
i don't see why'd one be discriminated against.

 

[DrIM]

First of all, Cards fellowship is high in demand. Most of the AMGs prefers to go University programs. There is too much competetion within AMG at good programs.

IMGs will be given last prfernce after AMGs. Best bet for IMGs would be at their own program and sammler community programs.

If you lok at the program websites, some programs hardly have any IMGs for years in their programs. That too you will see people coming from particular institutions.

If you take an example of Brigham, MGH or Yale or DUke, vandy you see a pattern there. Hence as a IMG you should look for less competetive programs.

 

[Resident101]

I understand the frustration of other IMG's. However, the system here is far superior and more fair than other countries. I think AMG's and citizens in general should get preferance. After all, they have higher med school debts and should get some credit for being part the country (years of taxes) etc. I am the strongest supporter of immigration, and feel everyone deserves a fair shot. Compared with the England (for e.g.), the American system is much fairer and rewards hard work. Just my two scents.

 

[dragonfly99]

For what it's worth, there are some errors on that yahoo groups list. I know that some of those programs have or have had IMG's. The most important thing to check is whether they will sponsor your visa vs. not.

As far as the person asking why IMG's are still discriminated against even if they did well in residency, I'm not sure that's necessarily true. I'm sure it's true sometimes, but there are other reasons I think IMG/FMG's find it hard to get in. I know of several IMG's who got into top university programs. However, for anyone (IMG/FMG or AMG) to get into a good university program coming out of a community IM program (which is where most IMG medicine residents are) will be hard; those programs just don't have the name recognition, and some of them don't have a lot of critical care cardiac patients, etc. (thus the resident won't have as much exposure to taking care of those types of patients, and fellowship programs know that). Also, some medical centers/hospitals don't want to deal with sponsoring visas, or just don't have adequate resources to do so. It costs time and money to do that, they have to have secretaries/administrator types who know about those laws...basically it costs them money and it's a lot of trouble. They are probably thinking, "Why should we do this when we have US citizens and permanent residents who went to school here in the US beating down our doors to get in?". Also, some of the state universities, and university hospitals affiliated with them, have a mission to serve their states. So if U of North Carolina or U of Missouri has a mandate to take care of local residents and to educate the people of that state, they might take a person who is from North Carolina (or Missouri) over an outsider, be they an IMG/FMG or a US grad from some other locale. Also, the match rate for cardiology even for US grads is far from 100%. It is very competitive and lots of factors come into play - even perhaps where one attended undergraduate and medical school. Also, for some FMG's language and communicating with the patients is still a problem, although that's certainly not true of all.

 

[Obama]

Folks,

This is as fair as fair is. Lets give our best shot, if you have a passion for it, no one can stop you. I am an IMG/FMG..but best academic programs, here I come baby..

😉

 

[punk]

For what it's worth, there are some errors on that yahoo groups list. I know that some of those programs have or have had IMG's. The most important thing to check is whether they will sponsor your visa vs. not.

As far as the person asking why IMG's are still discriminated against even if they did well in residency, I'm not sure that's necessarily true. I'm sure it's true sometimes, but there are other reasons I think IMG/FMG's find it hard to get in. I know of several IMG's who got into top university programs. However, for anyone (IMG/FMG or AMG) to get into a good university program coming out of a community IM program (which is where most IMG medicine residents are) will be hard; those programs just don't have the name recognition, and some of them don't have a lot of critical care cardiac patients, etc. (thus the resident won't have as much exposure to taking care of those types of patients, and fellowship programs know that). Also, some medical centers/hospitals don't want to deal with sponsoring visas, or just don't have adequate resources to do so. It costs time and money to do that, they have to have secretaries/administrator types who know about those laws...basically it costs them money and it's a lot of trouble. They are probably thinking, "Why should we do this when we have US citizens and permanent residents who went to school here in the US beating down our doors to get in?". Also, some of the state universities, and university hospitals affiliated with them, have a mission to serve their states. So if U of North Carolina or U of Missouri has a mandate to take care of local residents and to educate the people of that state, they might take a person who is from North Carolina (or Missouri) over an outsider, be they an IMG/FMG or a US grad from some other locale. Also, the match rate for cardiology even for US grads is far from 100%. It is very competitive and lots of factors come into play - even perhaps where one attended undergraduate and medical school. Also, for some FMG's language and communicating with the patients is still a problem, although that's certainly not true of all.

I am an FMG, go to a university program, have visa issues and matched this year in a top west coast program this year (which had not taken FMG in last several years). I agree with dragonfly's comments. The visa is often the reason why several IMGs dont get invited. I personally recieved the least number of calls compared to other AMGs in my program. My strongest chance of matching was at my own program. And it is fair to expect that US citizens will be given a preference over the foreigners. That being said, US is the most fair country and everybody certainly has a chance. FMGs just have to put in more efforts

 

[dragonfly99]

If someone really wants to be a cardiologist and doesn't get in on the first try, then he/she should try again the next year, after improving the application. Many people have to do this (US grad and IMG/FMG). Most FMG's are younger than their US grad counterparts (or at least often they are) so in that sense they have a leg up already on finishing their training. Also, many US students have had to try more than once to get into medical school (a few years ago the acceptance rate into med school was around 30-35% - for acceptance to ANY medical school). I guess that might be true in other countries as well, but my impression was that some let in more people and then just let them wash out if they can't make it. For many US students, the road to med school and residency has been long and tortuous. So we (all applicants to fellowship) just have to deal with whatever challenges we have to deal with. For FMG's the visa thing is a big one.

 

[punk]

Best bet for IMGs would be at their own program and sammler community programs.

If you take an example of Brigham, MGH or Yale or DUke, vandy you see a pattern there. Hence as a IMG you should look for less competetive programs.

For a IMG, the best bet is definitely their own program if it has fellowships. The other smaller community programs are likely to take you if you do not have visa issues or are on J-1 visa.

Several of the FMGs are on H1b visa which require lot of paper work and are expensive for the sponsoring program. The big universities and the competitive programs have the resources and funding to file H1B visa for an FMG but interviews may be difficult to obtain because of their popularity amongst the US MDs. However, if as an FMG, you have done good work and published and your application gets reviewed at big university programs, and if they like what they see, then they will put all visa issues aside and will do everything to get you into the program. With this hope, all FMGs apply to all the big programs and hope for the best.

 

[Miradautas Vras]

Excellent and balanced point of view from dragonfly. 👍