MBBS/FRCS trying to work in the US

[pakdoc55]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everybody,

I am an ophthalmologist who went to medical school in Pakistan and completed the rest of my training in England. I have been practicing for over 40 years outside of the United States but unfortunately due to volatile political situations have been forced to move to the US and live with my children.

Is there ANY way that I can get somewhat involved with the medical field over again? Are there loopholes in specific regions of the US that would allow me to apply for residencies without taking the USMLEs? Obviously opthalmology seems far-fetched but I would be willing to get involved in primary care or work as a physician's assistant. I just do not want my qualifications and years of experience to go to waste and I feel like I am too old to begin completely at the bottom of the totem pole.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Hello everybody,

I am an ophthalmologist who went to medical school in Pakistan and completed the rest of my training in England. I have been practicing for over 40 years outside of the United States but unfortunately due to volatile political situations have been forced to move to the US and live with my children.

Is there ANY way that I can get somewhat involved with the medical field over again? Are there loopholes in specific regions of the US that would allow me to apply for residencies without taking the USMLEs? Obviously opthalmology seems far-fetched but I would be willing to get involved in primary care or work as a physician's assistant. I just do not want my qualifications and years of experience to go to waste and I feel like I am too old to begin completely at the bottom of the totem pole.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Before you can even look for a way to get any sort of training, you have to pass the step exams and become ECFMG certified. You can't become a licensed doctor without that.

Otherwise, I've seen some people that were surgeons in their own country that now work here as a surgical first assistant. I'm sure there is a training program for that, but it would likely be much quicker and easier to do. Not sure how easy your skills might translate to that, but it would be a consideration.

 

[heyjack70]

PA school is only 26 months and would be a good refresher to get into family medicine or urgent care.

 

[koikisi]

yeah i think you can work in Missouri under the supervision of a Physician.

Why don't you just study for USMLE and try to apply for Opthalmology if that's where your heart is? By the way, how awful are things in your home country really that you couldn't stay there or in England? Do you mind sharing particulars of what made you move? I've always been fascinated by the desire and sacrifice of so many MBBS physicians to come to the United States due to political issues and unrest. Just how bad is the situation, really?

 

[ThoracicGuy]

yeah i think you can work in Missouri under the supervision of a Physician.

Why don't you just study for USMLE and try to apply for Opthalmology if that's where your heart is? By the way, how awful are things in your home country really that you couldn't stay there or in England? Do you mind sharing particulars of what made you move? I've always been fascinated by the desire and sacrifice of so many MBBS physicians to come to the United States due to political issues and unrest. Just how bad is the situation, really?

No, you can't work in Missouri in that way.

 

[Chocolatedoc]

I know 2 Attendings who have not done USMLEs/residency and practice here. They applied for a waiver and got it. Granted, this was 10 years ago and these Attendings were professors back home (Europe) and were highly published.

 

[chocomorsel]

Do u really want to be going thru all this at age sixty plus? If u have to for financial reasons, I would echo getting first assist training or PA school. Otherwise, I would enjoy retirement and find hobbies.

 

[drkristy85]

surgical first assist is a great option

it's a good job and you will be able to use your surgical skills to do surgery....once the surgeon you're working for gets to know you and trust your skill set, they will let you do more of the surgery. I've seen first assistants get a lot of independence and they have a pretty cool job

 

[serimeri]

Can the OP teach Pharmacology at a medical school without getting a license? I think one of our professors for Pharm was not doing clinical work but IDK if they did any USMLE or PG training.

 

[kchan99]

When I was in med school, our pharmacology lectures were given by PhD pharmacologists. In fact, that was the case for most of our preclinical courses. We only had a limited number of lectures given by practicing physicians. For example, the intro to radiology lectures during anatomy were given by radiologists while the rest of anatomy was taught by basic science researchers.