Pearls for FMG's starting residency

[shojimoji]

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Hey folks,
I'm going to be starting this upcoming June. Getting very excited and have been trying to work on my indian accent so it's not so obvious as I'll be training in the southern states. I had no issues with CS or observerships, but I have not had a lot of experience interviewing patients on a personal basis. I am working to improve my english skills daily as well as my ability to write and present notes in front of my husband as practice. However, please share any helpful tips that helped you excel in residency. I have heard of horror stories where FMG's get nickeled for silly mistakes. I just want to be a top performer and all-rounder come July so that I won't face any embarrassment. Thanks

 

[wolfvgang22]

Don't worry so much. You are starting residency in a year where the match was particularly competitive. Pat yourself on the back and enjoy not being on call for now! You will be fine as you already have a winning attitude by planning to work hard and are already aware of one area you plan to improve upon. Anybody that gives you trouble about your accent or learning in a mean way should be ignored.

 

[shojimoji]

Don't worry so much. You are starting residency in a year where the match was particularly competitive. Pat yourself on the back and enjoy not being on call for now! You will be fine as you already have a winning attitude by planning to work hard and are already aware of one area you plan to improve upon. Anybody that gives you trouble about your accent or learning in a mean way should be ignored.

Thanks it truly is a blessing after the way i poured myself into the application process and USMLE studying. I think i m going to focus on improving my wardrobe however. Macy's has some awesome sales and i plan on buying some comfy tory burch shoes to treat myself. my husband will probably have a fit when he sees the bill.

 

[splik]

also there might be some idioms or expressions you are not familiar with that are specific to the part of the country you are in etc, google is your friend, otherwise just ask!

 

[peppy]

I think the culture shock is really the biggest hurdle for FMGs. I'd suggest starting to follow some online news websites for the area you're moving to in order to pick up some tidbits about the culture and current events in that region. That might make it easier to connect with patients, as well as helping you pick up the unique slang/dialect that area might use.

For people coming to the south or Midwest, I'd say TRY ESPECIALLY HARD TO LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS. Making small talk about local sports is generally a safe topic.

 

[wannabie]

This will sound bizarre but consider talking to yourself and practicing on pronunciation and enunciation until you sound the way you wish to sound. I'm a native English speaker and I do this all the time in my car. I find that it helps me organize thoughts and I'm pretty sure it helped me in my interviews because I got a lot of compliments for how I conversed.

Alternatively you can also try to join your local Toastmaster's club.

 

[shojimoji]

Thanks for the valuable sheets of advice. I'll definitely do my level best to be an asset to the program. I will be matriculating in the south and I feel my strong Indian hospitality will be welcomed there.

 

[shojimoji]

also, i am preparing to give usmle 3, but i have forgotten so much as it has been quite sometime since i have studied. do programs want good scores out of fmg for this puprose, or is passing enough?

 

[DocDiva]

Thanks it truly is a blessing after the way i poured myself into the application process and USMLE studying. I think i m going to focus on improving my wardrobe however. Macy's has some awesome sales and i plan on buying some comfy tory burch shoes to treat myself. my husband will probably have a fit when he sees the bill.

I just treated myself to a shopping spree at Nordstrom to improve my wardrobe (luckily mommy felt very generous since I got into residency and footed the bill as a gift) My husband was not thrilled that my mother paid for anything... but then I handed him my Sephora bill and he had a chance to have a fit over that one 🙂

Go nuts - you deserve it

 

[milesed]

In the south, you may want to keep up (slightly) with NASCAR racing in addition to sports teams. Patients just want some common thread they can relate to you over. It can also be kids, family, hobbies, etc.

 

[psychattending]

also, i am preparing to give usmle 3, but i have forgotten so much as it has been quite sometime since i have studied. do programs want good scores out of fmg for this puprose, or is passing enough?

You have already been matched to a residency program. Passing is enough. Permanent licensure, state laws and local program rules are what is most important now. Some places have rules about by when you need to pass Step 3. If you are distant from clinical work, it will be easiest to pass Step 3 after you do a fair amount of neuro, medicine, and psych. I usually recommend to my residents that they take it after doing several months of internship (and not pushing it off to PGY2). However, don't forget that you will also be tested on other fields like ob, surgery and peds.

 

[Shikima]

also, i am preparing to give usmle 3, but i have forgotten so much as it has been quite sometime since i have studied. do programs want good scores out of fmg for this puprose, or is passing enough?

Passing is enough. Qualifies you for your full license.

 

[clusterF]

I disagree with those saying to not worry about it.
I think you should learn some basic things that may not have been taught in your medical school that have nothing to do with medicine and more to do with culture. Things like how people like to present, the SOAP note, certain acronyms. There are a lot of little things.

If you have done a couple of rotations at a US hospital, this shouldn't be a big problem. Otherwise you may even ask your residency for a 2 week rotation prior to starting there, especially if you are going to place where you are the only FMG.

 

[shojimoji]

I disagree with those saying to not worry about it.
I think you should learn some basic things that may not have been taught in your medical school that have nothing to do with medicine and more to do with culture. Things like how people like to present, the SOAP note, certain acronyms. There are a lot of little things.

If you have done a couple of rotations at a US hospital, this shouldn't be a big problem. Otherwise you may even ask your residency for a 2 week rotation prior to starting there, especially if you are going to place where you are the only FMG.

No there are several fmg in my class but I will practice and see if I can secure an observership Pryor to matriculation

 

[psychattending]

I disagree with those saying to not worry about it.
I think you should learn some basic things that may not have been taught in your medical school that have nothing to do with medicine and more to do with culture. Things like how people like to present, the SOAP note, certain acronyms. There are a lot of little things.

If you have done a couple of rotations at a US hospital, this shouldn't be a big problem. Otherwise you may even ask your residency for a 2 week rotation prior to starting there, especially if you are going to place where you are the only FMG.

My comment was specifically in response to his question about trying to get a higher score on Step 3. The things you point out are important things to know and will improve his performance during residency but have minimal impact on his ability to pass Step 3.

 

[medrest]

I googled and found a nice page where there are good tips for new docs. You can read them here www.becomeahospitalist.com/tips-for-new-doctors/

 

[clausewitz2]

Quick linguiatic things:

In the South, if someone says "bless your heart," they are being insulting.

If you are in the Mountain South, if you ask someone to do something and they say "I don't care to" they are actually assenting to your request.