PA/ MPH

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chicagogal154

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I an IMG. I did not match twice. I am thinking of other options like PA or MPH.
Any suggestions what will help among the two to get into residency in future?
Do you know any IMG's who did MPH or PA and got into residency?
Your response is highly appreciated. Thanks..
 
Thanks Shikima for your response. I am more interested in clinical work than research work. That is the only thing which attracts me towards PA. Any thoughts about PA??
 
Thanks Shikima. I was thinking PA will open my doors to doing more clinical work in hospitals, getting more contacts with PD n others in residency selection faculty and if not at all, a well paid job after graduation.. I dont know have much knowledge about either of them.. Thanks for your advice..
 
It depends why you didn't match the first couple of times. Was it low Step scores, no USCE, no/poor US LORs, poor application strategy?

I don't think a PA program will help get into an MD residency, but obviously will allow you to practice as a PA. PA schools are not easy to get into. They often require a bachelor's degree and extensive PA shadowing. I'm not suggesting you don't apply to PA school, but don't assume you are a shoo-in.
 
MPH will not significantly improve your chances of matching in a residency program at this point.

If you can get into a PA program as an IMG grad (which you may not be able to do, I don't actually know the answer to this, you need to do your own homework), you will be able to practice as a PA. But it will not in any way improve your chance of getting an MD residency.
 
You didn't fail to match because of the lack of an MPH or PA degree. Neither will change what appears to be a flawed application.

But if I had to choose between the two, I'd venture that the PA is the better choice because it's an employable degree.
 
Thanks guys....I really appreciate for putting your thoughts on this.
I didnt match, I believe, was cz of my very low step1 score. I have had almost 1year of US Clinical experience but I guess it didnt help. Also, I cant change my scores. I understand getting into a PA is no joke either. It is equally tough like residency. I am just not sure between PA n MPH but I know my ultimate goal is to practice Medicine..
 
Thanks guys....I really appreciate for putting your thoughts on this.
I didnt match, I believe, was cz of my very low step1 score. I have had almost 1year of US Clinical experience but I guess it didnt help. Also, I cant change my scores. I understand getting into a PA is no joke either. It is equally tough like residency. I am just not sure between PA n MPH but I know my ultimate goal is to practice Medicine..
PA all the way. That MPH will do nothing to get you back onto the practice side of things. At best, you might be able to land a job in hospital administration. Since you've already completed medical school, you'll have pretty solid experience when applying to PA school. Just be wary of the schools that don't take former medical students (only one that comes to mind immediately is Yale, but I know there are others).
 
Hey Mad Jack.. Thanks alot for your response.
Sorry if you dont mind me asking a personal question. May I ask? R u already a PA?? I appreciate putting your 2 cents here..
 
Thanks guys....I really appreciate for putting your thoughts on this.
I didnt match, I believe, was cz of my very low step1 score. I have had almost 1year of US Clinical experience but I guess it didnt help. Also, I cant change my scores. I understand getting into a PA is no joke either. It is equally tough like residency. I am just not sure between PA n MPH but I know my ultimate goal is to practice Medicine..

What field have you tried matching in? Have you truly exhausted your attempts at a residency spot?
 
@ThoracicGuy: I applied in Peds and Family Medicine..I applied for two years but did not match. I have given all my steps exams and nothing to do as such to improve my application. I am applying for research and will apply for coming match too. I dont want to waste any more time in this whole match process which is whole one year..That's why thinking of applying to PA that will keep me in touch with clincal work and allow me to practice in the US..
 
@shiftingmirage : Thanks alot for your input..can you name some of them here or PM me.. I would really appreciate it. Im reading InsidePAtraining n other PA forums too..🙂
 
I have an MPH and it didn't help me much. But of course my credentials will be different from yours. I did it because I wanted to get into policy making. The only MPH that helps in an application is one from a big school like Harvard School of Public Health or with a huge thesis topic like HIV/AIDS. Some PAs such as a psych PAs can practice independently in some states like Maryland. It is a good avenue to consider for practice but won't get you into residency. But as others have said, it doesn't sound like you have exhausted all your avenues and attempts. IMGs take up to 4-5 yrs sometimes. Might be better to continue shadowing one of the physicians that you met during your clinical experience here.
 
I have an MPH and it didn't help me much. But of course my credentials will be different from yours. I did it because I wanted to get into policy making. The only MPH that helps in an application is one from a big school like Harvard School of Public Health or with a huge thesis topic like HIV/AIDS. Some PAs such as a psych PAs can practice independently in some states like Maryland. It is a good avenue to consider for practice but won't get you into residency. But as others have said, it doesn't sound like you have exhausted all your avenues and attempts. IMGs take up to 4-5 yrs sometimes. Might be better to continue shadowing one of the physicians that you met during your clinical experience here.
@imgtointern: Can you explain what it din help with?? Did you give USMLE and went for match after doing MPH?? My credentilas are very low step1 and step2-225 n cs passed first attempt with low step3 again but passed on first attempt. I would really appreciate you could give me some advice from your exprereince.. Thanks in advance..
 
Reading the bill, there seem to be some requirements to consider. Looks like the relevant section starts on bottom of page 8.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/pdf-bill/tat/SB716.pdf

334.036. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall
2 mean:
3 (1) "Assistant physician", any medical school graduate who:
4 (a) Is a resident and citizen of the United States or is a legal
5 resident alien;
6 (b) Has successfully completed Step 1 and Step 2 of the United
7 States Medical Licensing Examination or the equivalent of such steps
8 of any other board-approved medical licensing examination within the
9 two-year period immediately preceding application for licensure as an
10 assistant physician, but in no event more than three years after
11 graduation from a medical college or osteopathic medical college;
12 (c) Has not completed an approved postgraduate residency and
13 has successfully completed Step 2 of the United States Medical
14 Licensing Examination or the equivalent of such step of any other
15 board-approved medical licensing examination within the immediately
16 preceding two-year period unless when such two-year anniversary
17 occurred he or she was serving as a resident physician in an accredited
18 residency in the United States and continued to do so within thirty
19 days prior to application for licensure as an assistant physician; and
20 (d) Has proficiency in the English language;

IMGs may have a problem with (a) and (b). (d) may require TOEFL.
 
@imgtointern: Can you explain what it din help with?? Did you give USMLE and went for match after doing MPH?? My credentilas are very low step1 and step2-225 n cs passed first attempt with low step3 again but passed on first attempt. I would really appreciate you could give me some advice from your exprereince.. Thanks in advance..

How many programs did you apply to each of the past two years and how many interview offers did you get? Even with low step scores, they are still passing. Are there any other red flags in your application? Perhaps you aren't applying to the right programs or sufficient number.
 
@imgtointern: Can you explain what it din help with?? Did you give USMLE and went for match after doing MPH?? My credentilas are very low step1 and step2-225 n cs passed first attempt with low step3 again but passed on first attempt. I would really appreciate you could give me some advice from your experience.. Thanks in advance..

It didn't help in the sense that it didn't offset my poor performance with step 1. Nothing offsets a poor step performance. And as I stated before, if programs do consider the MPH, they like it if its from a big name school/university or with a major thesis project. I started taking the steps while doing MPH and applied after I finished and had worked for 1yr in the public health field. You score in step 2 is better than mine and I have attempts in step 1. So I feel you need to try again and apply to many many programs. What specialty are you applying for? MPH does help sometimes with Family Medicine and of course, Preventive Medicine. But with PM, you will need to do a prelim year and that again brings you back to the interview/match where your credentials will hurt you.

If you are set on doing an MPH be sure as to why because it is expensive and you will be tied in for 2yrs. I did it not just for residency but to be able to learn and have a path into policy making in the future. The good programs will also require you to take the GRE. Are you up for that? If you are, I would suggest that you try to get into a program at a big university that has a residency program of your chosen specialty as well and build contacts while doing your MPH. That is really the only benefit. The same for a PA program, if you are set on doing it. But remember even PA programs are expensive and it might be better to save that money for applications.

I would again suggest that you continue to shadow one of the physicians you met along your observership trail to stay active in clinical medicine.
Bottom line:
Does MPH by itself help get into residency? - Not always
Can you make MPH help you get into residency? - Maybe, depending on how you use it and what specialty you want to get into.
 
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