Old Canadian MD

[canadian1234]

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I am an old (my arteries are young, though 😀) MD who graduated from a Canadian medical school many years ago (1971). I have been out of ordinary general practice for more than 10 years.

I am looking at appyling for a independant license or a residency (family medicine, psychiatry, public health or ?) in the USA.

Would you recommend any particular programs or states where I might have the best chance of achieving this?

Thank you.

 

[Blade28]

What's your background? What was your residency training in?

 

[canadian1234]

I did a straight/mixed internship in psychiatry/medicine for one year in 1971. Back then, you could go into general practice after doing a one year internship: straight, mixed or rotating. Remember Dr. Kildare? I then did general practice for 15 years and alternative medicine up to the present time.

Are there programs that would see this experience/wisdom as an asset or must I apply to the less popular programs?

Are there other forums that address this situation?

 

[ahmad123]

It depends if you want to go back to "ordinary" practice or not.
If you want to deliver babies, manage cholestrol, work up chest pain etc. then I suggest you apply for a family practice residency here in the US. But keep in mind they(residency directors) will discriminate you because you graduated from med school for such long time.

If you are happy with practicing alternative medicine or if you want to practice urgent care then you can apply to individual state medical license (No need to do additional training or exams) .Each state has different requirements but I believe majority of states accept canadian license. So choose a state where you might want to live and call or send email to their licensing body and ask them if you might be eligible.
here is the link for state medical boards.
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2645.html
Another thing to consider will be is to contact the college of family practice in canada and see if you are eligible for their board certification. If you get board certified in family practice in Canada I believe (don't quote me on this) you can become board certified in the US. That way you are going to increase your marketability.
Hope this helps.

 

[canadian1234]

Thanks, Ahmad for your kind reply.

Are there any particular states where it is easier to get a license? I only have an educational license in Canada since my independent license was revoked for practicing alt medicine in a very restrictive province. How do you find out which resident program directors are more open minded or are not as popular amongst people seeking a residency?

 

[Winged Scapula]

EVERY state will ask you if your license to practice medicine has even been suspended or revoked. Your answer will also be asked by medical malpractice providers as well.

I don't know which states are easier to get a license in, but I understand PA, NJ (those two from personal experience), CA and Tx are amongst the most difficult. AK made a friend of mine appear before the board in person before granting a license; Az was pretty easy for me (not even any fingerprints).

 

[f_w]

- Some states require you to write a 'special purpose exam' (SPEX) if you are out of medical practice for more than 5 years.
- Be prepared to answer lots of questions. Having a license pulled in the past will certainly buy you a 'explain on separate sheet' and typically a personal interview with the board. Chances are, you will have to provide copies of the records from the disclipinary hearings that led to the revocation.

- As you have been out of practice for so long, you won't be able to get malpractice insurance without doing a residency. Also, no hospital will credential you. If you do a residency, those barriers can be overcome.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

In spite of the barriers mentioned above, I imagine that you might find an open reception in some psychiatry programs. If I were in your situation, I'd do some research and letter-of-inquiry writing now, and try to call or even set up face time with some program directors in the spring, after the current application/match season has passed. A late opening may materialize for you, but it would be more important as the groundwork for the next application season.

 

[canadian1234]

Dear Old Psych Doc,

Thanks for your super kind post. Might you or others know which psychiatry programs have a more flexible attitude toward my work to allow patients to know the advantages/disadvantages of recommended treatment and to have the right to choose alternatives? What is the general attitude to alternative medicine in the US today? (The attitude has become somewhat more accepting in Canada in the last 20 years.)