Old grad US IMG Looking for FM/IM Program Suggestions

[deleted1241299]

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Hi everyone,

I am a U.S. citizen IMG from California (YOG 2010) preparing for the upcoming Match cycle.

My scores are not the strongest (Step 1 Pass, Step 2 CK 214, Step 3 passed), but I have tried to strengthen other parts of my application through GI research at Loma Linda University, publications in GIE and AJG, U.S. clinical experience, observerships, volunteer work, and 2 years of medical assistant experience.

Last cycle I received a few interviews but did not match. Since then, I have passed Step 3 and am currently looking for another rotation and a new LOR before applying.

For residents and faculty: which Family Medicine or Internal Medicine programs have you personally seen interview or match older U.S. IMGs?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Hopefully others will post here with specific program suggestions.

2010 is a long time ago, I think you're going to find it challenging to get a spot. But, you did get interviews last cycle so that's some hope right there. The reason for the long gap is likely to matter to some extent. Research is something, but won't really reassure anyone about your clinical skills. GI research is a double edged sword for IM applications -- make sure you're clear in your application that you're not interested in a GI fellowship. If you are interested in GI, then honestly you need to change that expectation -- as an IMG from 2010 with those scores, and the program you're more likely to match to, that's just not going to happen. Won't matter for FM programs.

You didn't mention the timing of your USMLE exams, but hopefully they are within the 7 year window. If not, then that will be another challenge.

Working in your favor is your lack of need of a visa. The visa situation this year has been a nightmare, and I don't expect anything to improve for the next few years. Programs will be more interested in applicants who don't need a visa, for sure.

Best of luck.

 

[deleted1241299]

Tha

Hopefully others will post here with specific program suggestions.

2010 is a long time ago, I think you're going to find it challenging to get a spot. But, you did get interviews last cycle so that's some hope right there. The reason for the long gap is likely to matter to some extent. Research is something, but won't really reassure anyone about your clinical skills. GI research is a double edged sword for IM applications -- make sure you're clear in your application that you're not interested in a GI fellowship. If you are interested in GI, then honestly you need to change that expectation -- as an IMG from 2010 with those scores, and the program you're more likely to match to, that's just not going to happen. Won't matter for FM programs.

You didn't mention the timing of your USMLE exams, but hopefully they are within the 7 year window. If not, then that will be another challenge.

Working in your favor is your lack of need of a visa. The visa situation this year has been a nightmare, and I don't expect anything to improve for the next few years. Programs will be more interested in applicants who don't need a visa, for sure.

Best of luck.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response. I appreciate that.
I am not pursuing a GI fellowship. My GI research was primarily an opportunity to stay involved academically and strengthen my application. I understand that Internal Medicine may be a difficult path for me, and I will likely focus most of my applications on Family Medicine. I moved in here in 2014, and since then I have completed observerships, volunteer work, and worked in an allergy and immunology practice for nearly two years. All of my USMLE exams were completed between 2020 and 2026, so I am within the 7-year window.

Given that background, do you think I still have a realistic chance of matching into Family Medicine? Are there particular types of FM programs that you would recommend targeting?


Thank you again for your advice!

Hopefully others will post here with specific program suggestions.

2010 is a long time ago, I think you're going to find it challenging to get a spot. But, you did get interviews last cycle so that's some hope right there. The reason for the long gap is likely to matter to some extent. Research is something, but won't really reassure anyone about your clinical skills. GI research is a double edged sword for IM applications -- make sure you're clear in your application that you're not interested in a GI fellowship. If you are interested in GI, then honestly you need to change that expectation -- as an IMG from 2010 with those scores, and the program you're more likely to match to, that's just not going to happen. Won't matter for FM programs.

You didn't mention the timing of your USMLE exams, but hopefully they are within the 7 year window. If not, then that will be another challenge.

Working in your favor is your lack of need of a visa. The visa situation this year has been a nightmare, and I don't expect anything to improve for the next few years. Programs will be more interested in applicants who don't need a visa, for sure.

Best of luck.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Regarding programs, I don't have any 1st hand knowledge. You could review last year's match, looking for programs that didn't fill. Presumably programs that don't fill may be more flexible regarding their applicants.

Did you do any training (beyond medical school) in the country you got your degree? If so, a few states have an "assistant physician" pathway that allows you to work without additional training.

 

[deleted1241299]

Regarding programs, I don't have any 1st hand knowledge. You could review last year's match, looking for programs that didn't fill. Presumably programs that don't fill may be more flexible regarding their applicants.

Did you do any training (beyond medical school) in the country you got your degree? If so, a few states have an "assistant physician" pathway that allows you to work without additional training.

That’s an interesting option. I completed a GI residency in my home country and have also applied for a Limited Physician Permit in NY. We’ll see how things go.

Thank you!

 

[comp1]

I don't think you're going to find many people with first hand knowledge to pass on to you about this specific situation. It's quite rare and that's what is going to scare program directors. Given that, I'm wondering if something like moving to one of the 12 states that offer it and getting an Assistant Physician (words in that order) license might be helpful? I genuinely don't know if the jobs actually materialized with the licensing pathway, but if you're chronically unmatched, that would seem to reassure FM program directors a lot more than GI research. And yes, I do think FM and limiting yourself to brand new/rural/historically SOAPed programs is the way to go. (Generally avoid CA.) And have an amazing story for the gap, of course. The downside of all this is that California is definitely not one of the states that offers the Assistant Physician option, nor is it on the horizon.