postgraduate training abroad

[qtpie055]

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Does anyone have any information about getting postgraduate training (after med school or residency) somewhere abroad (esp. the UK) and know how this effects someone's overall regular training schedule (advantage or disadvantage?)

 

[Winged Scapula]

Does anyone have any information about getting postgraduate training (after med school or residency) somewhere abroad (esp. the UK) and know how this effects someone's overall regular training schedule (advantage or disadvantage?)

The first question really is, "what are your goals?"

If you simply want to experience the medical training system in another country but eventually work in the US, I'll tell you to forget it. Most residency training abroad will not be accepted in the US and you will have to repeat your training. There are *some* fellowships abroad which you can use in the US, but this presumes prior US graduate medical education.

If your goal is to work abroad perhaps permanently, then you would want to do your residency in the country of your choice. Be advised that as a non-citizen and one trained outside of that country, getting a training spot, especially in countries like the UK or Australia, you will be considered last for positions (ie, citizens trained in their country have first choice). Also be aware that the residency training period outside of the US is generally much longer than here - you work less hours per week (in most specialties) but train for many more years. There is no guarantee that you can train in any specialty you want - while there are specialties which are difficult to match into in the US, IMHO getting into a specialty training position abroad often involves a lot more subjectivity (ie, where you went to school, who you know, etc.) than here. Many specialties have a restricted number of positions (which faculty are loathe to increase because when you graduate you impinge on their patient population and potential income) and it is not unheard of for people to continue training in general medicine for years while attempting to get into something competitive (ie, ortho, derm, plastics - just like here).

However, all is not lost, and people do get into training positions abroad. If you wished to work in another country after finishing training here in the US, there are locum positions (see http://www.gmedical.org for more info) as well as specialist positions. In the UK you will be required to pass the PLAB before being eligible to work.

There are several threads in the Aussie International Forum here which deal with such issues - you might want to check those out for further details.