IMGs in EM residencies?

[lawj]

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Any EM residents who graduated from a Caribbean med school? If so, how was the match process? Did you get in to your top choices?

I just got my final rejection letter from U.S. med schools today, and I'm really thinking about the Caribbean instead of going through this process again next year. Any feedback or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[elio]

l

 

[EMIMG]

I am a little further out than those that just matched but maybe those that did can shed some light on the subject. I will say that with more and more IMGs experiencing success during residency, the doors will continue to be open and in my estimation become easier for IMGs to get in.

However, my stats
Basic Sciences - 4.0
Clinicals 2 Bs (Psychiatry and Surgery elective)
Very strong personalized letter of Rec
Step I - 219
Step II - 234
Applied to about 47 programs
Interview offers to 4 programs
Wait-listed to 3 programs
Still waiting to hear one way or another from about 6 programs
Rejected from the rest
Ranked all 4
Matched my first choice

 

[Dukes]

Hi I'm from St. George's and just matched in EM. A lot of people I know from my class matched this year. Its quite doable but you do have to work pretty hard if are to have a decent shot. For IMGs there is a lot more emphasis on board scores. Also strong letters from well known EM Docs go a long way. The people I know with high board scores 240+ virtually all got their first choices and had some pretty good interview offers like Indiana, Yale, Harvard, Emory etc.. So as I said if you have to go abroad know that you will have to work pretty hard but you can acheive your goal. Don't get me wrong there is a substantial amount of discrimination out there. Some places won't even look at you regardless of how impressive your application is. While SGU doesn't get a list of what students matched until later here is an incomplete one a few of us compiled from asking around after this years match.

EVMS
George Washington
Syracuse
St. Lukes, (PA)
St. Lukes Roosevelt
UCONN (2)
Maimonides (2)
WSU-DMC 1
UF-Gainesville 2
Beth Israel NY
MLK Drew: 2
Henry Ford
WSU-Sinai Grace
Certainly some others out there.

 

[rossguy31]

I just participated in this years match. EM is possible as an IMG, but it is an uphill battle. I had good stats (4.0 basic sciences, 258 step 1) and previous paramedic experience, but only received interviews at about 40% of programs I applied to (applied to 50+ programs and offered interviews at 22). I could have had my top choice, but I coulpes matched and got my 2nd.

 

[lawj]

Thanks for everyone's responses.

 

[colforbinMD]

Agree with all the above. Same school as rossguy, less impressive stats, less impressive interview returns, still matched in a great program and happy as a clam.

 

[voronok45]

I am happy for all the guys that matched this year. I matched EM last year from SGU. Congrats to all the IMGs. You guys all did well. I heard about people interviewing in some of the top programs. Actually I was impresed with the match results for SGU. I think its becoming easier to match EM for IMGs. PDs are becoming more flexible in some of the programs. Former grads are opening the way. So all of you guys who matched in a program that never had and IMG work hard to show that we are on the same level. This will help the people that are following your footsteps. So to answer your question its possible to match EM from an IMG school. You have to work hard and get good board scores. If you have healthcare experience it will help you especially paramedics, ED techs, EMTs. Anyway congrats again to everyone who matched.