Originally posted by richie:
HI i am a medical student in european country and i'd like to continie my medical education in US after graduation-especially in the area of cardiology. Would you be kind to point me the steps i have to make in order to do it(i.e. universities, requirements, financial aid/resources, etc.)? Thank you in advance!
Hi...
This is a particularly tall order and I would suggest that you check out
http://www.ecfmg.org for further information.
ECFMG or the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Grads is a centralized service for foreign trained physicians seeking to enter US-based residency or graduate medical education. There are several steps you will need to take (which are detailed further on the web site); in short:
Pass the US Medical Licensing Exam, Steps I and II (USMLE)
Pass the Clinical Skills Assessment (an OSCE)
Pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language - yes, REGARDLESS of your native tongue)
Possess a diploma from a school named in the WHO directory of medical schools
Completing the above satisfactorily will make you eligible for an ECFMG certificate which will, in turn, make you eligible to work as a resident in the US. Bear in mind that there is no guarantee that you will secure a spot - many programs have additional requirements - minimum USMLE scores, evidence of US or Canadian clinical experience (usually in the form of final year electives), letters from US faculty and California requires an additional letter from its Medical Board (http://www.cmb.org).
Passing the requisite exams will run you around $2700 USD (no including coming to the US for the CSA which is only offered in Philadelphia) and there is no financial aid available that I know of.
For a listing of available programs, please check
http://www.ama-assn.org/freida - this is an electronic database of GME programs in the US. This will give you information on location, contact person(s), number of spaces, application deadlines, etc. Cardiology in the US is a fellowship program; it is completed after a residency in internal medicine. Because of its highly procedural nature, it is very popular and fairly competitive - thus requiring excellent test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.
To participate in the centralized NRMP - National Residency Matching Program (the "match") you must enroll ($95 I believe)- see
http://www.aamc.org/nrmp for further information. To apply for residency programs you will need your medical school transcripts, scores on the US licensing exams, a photo, letters of recommendation (usually 3; from medical school faculty or physicians who have worked with you); and letter from the Dean of Students at your medical school.
Its pretty complicated so I would suggest checking out the ECFMG web site first and going from there.
Hope this helps.
[This message has been edited by kimberlicox (edited 01-11-2001).]
