U.S. Residency Completion = Practicing Abroad opportunity?

[celts5]

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Hi, I am not a resident, not even a medical student. I am a semi-non-traditional pre med undergoing pre-reqs at a CC and hopefully the univ that I graduated from 2 years ago.

I am working as a Scribe part-time in the ER and was able to sit down with a family medicine resident for lunch. He was really cool and he went to medical school in Pakistan. ANyway, he told me that if you complete a U.S. Residency, you can pretty much practice anywhere in the world.

Is this true?

I am half filipino but raised in the states and am proud of being an american.. whoo.. but I also really want to understand the other side to my family. I know the working in the PI would mean a tremendous pay-cut compare to u.s. salaries however, I also know the life 'supposedly' is not as rush rush hurry hurry fast paced. I wonder if I could possibly practice there for a small amount of time and then come back to the U.S. .... who knows maybe even stay there, I'm not sure.

Have any of you residents desired to practice abroad temporarily? permanently? at all? What are you thoughts on the statement that a resident told me the other day? Has anyone done this? Do you know of people that have done this?


Edit* I am aware that student loans could bar someone from doing this to make payments, but if you planned on paying off your loans fast, even then could you go abroad pretty easily? Do foreign governments make way or at least make it easier to get work visa / citizen status?
Thanks for your input in advance!

 

[Mad Jack]

This is not true. Each country has their own physician licensing requirements, most of which require completion of a local residency or initial training period. Health care systems are complex, and regardless of your skill in regard to medical practice, you might have a very difficult transition should you not understand the way in which the system works, hence the frequent requirements for local internships/residencies regardless of prior training.

So basically, the answer depends on where you want to go.

 

[link2swim06]

Like most things in life "it depends."

You aren't going to be able to just go to another 1st world country with further testing and possibly another residency-like period.

Now if you want to go volunteer in a third world country, then yes, you can go anywhere you want (i.e. doctors without borders).

 

[celts5]

Thanks for your replies Link and Jack.

"it depends". is what I walk a away here. However, I was thinking of going to a 'third world country' if you will. It would be possible to go to another 1st world country and practice as long as i did another residency like period... interesting.

So American physicians don't get any priority to practice in another country that is 3rd world or that needs it. Foreign Embassy's would not help american physicians out with the visa process etc. ? My friend made it seem like a U.S. residency was well -liked and welcomed if that particular doc showed a interest in that country.

I understand that health-care systems are complex.

I do realize that this could be a rather back-wards request because i'm sure most foreign physicians are trying to do a residency in America. I'm sure the pay in america is significantly more than other foreign countries....

Thanks again.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Thanks for your replies Link and Jack.

"it depends". is what I walk a away here. However, I was thinking of going to a 'third world country' if you will. It would be possible to go to another 1st world country and practice as long as i did another residency like period... interesting.

So American physicians don't get any priority to practice in another country that is 3rd world or that needs it. Foreign Embassy's would not help american physicians out with the visa process etc. ? My friend made it seem like a U.S. residency was well -liked and welcomed if that particular doc showed a interest in that country.

I understand that health-care systems are complex.

I do realize that this could be a rather back-wards request because i'm sure most foreign physicians are trying to do a residency in America. I'm sure the pay in america is significantly more than other foreign countries....

Thanks again.

Visas aren't the thing that will keep you from working. Many countries have things similar to the USMLE that you must pass to even get a license. Many countries will also require residency training for that license. Perhaps some will recognize your training, but I wouldn't just count on it. Third-world countries will be easier to get through the legal requirements for licensing than first-world countries.

 

[Chicago2012]

I'm imagining someone going into an ER in France and just saying, "EVRYONE STAND BACK! I'M AN AMERICAN DOCTOR!"

 

[celts5]

I'm imagining someone going into an ER in France and just saying, "EVRYONE STAND BACK! I'M AN AMERICAN DOCTOR!"

I use to play soccer and in college and made some good international friends from all over the world.

Haha... I really meant 3rd world countries specifically the philippines.... but even then, i realize that most folks abroad are not as fond of americans as in the past. Hell, when Obama made his trip to the Philippines when he did his asian tour earlier this year (april of 2014) he wasn't received as well.

Our world / culture is changing so much. It's becoming so much more globalized, so many barriers have been broken down and I think the trend of liberal democracy is rapidly expanding save, a few countries in the Eastern part of the world... after 1989 and the fall of the berlin wall... our political system revolutionized so much... whoa this is going to far.

I also know that the general attitude of Europeans of americans is.... summed up in this statement... 'Americans.....' lol. But i bet the american system is more fast paced, compared to the French. However, the french probably don't value fast paced-ness over quality. My 2 cents...

 

[Chicago2012]

I know, but I'm just imagining the sense of entitlement people in this country get, and us doctors turn that up to eleven many times. Just look at the idea of "American Exceptionalism," or the idea that, in my words, translates to "This is a better country because America."

 

[tartesos]

It all depends.
There are places in Europe you can work with a us license( and in English) and the same goes for some Middle East places( those pay very well).
But for the most part you would need to fulfill medical requirements individual to most countries to practice medicine.
In some 3rd world countries in Latin America you need to work in an under served area for 1 year to obtain a medical license and so on.
Find out where you want to relocate...
And yes, American medical training is highly sought after in 3rd work countries, not so much in developed nations.

 

[jthedestroyr]

Some countries like the Philippines will let you challenge their local boards if you're US trained.

Although this is mainly meant for people that went to school in the Philippines than did residency in the US.

 

[drkristy85]

If you do a U.S. residency, you can make a lot of money working in many third world countries, just by advertising yourself as a U.S. doctor. The wealthy folks in those countries will flock to you. I don't specifically know much about the process required to practice in these countries. what I do know is what I have seen in my international travels. There are U.S. doctors who are expatriates, that "retire" to warm, tropical 3rd world countries, who live and practice there. They do advertise themselves as American doctors.

 

[AStark]

Medicine is not an especially portable field. To take one example, American anesthesiologists cannot practice automatically in Canada because they complete a shorter residency and hence are not necessarily even eligible to sit the Royal College exam.

 

[ferning]

It depends on the countries labor needs, most of which need well trained and are hard working physicians so visas are easier. Some require a short period of being precepted by a native physician besides the usual medical licensing verification (Australia). Their specialty boards make it a little difficult to protect their trade, but this can be sidetracked by a fellowship there or a hospital sponsor. Australia and Canada are not terribly difficult, other European countries I don't think are as in need and not as visa friendly.

These countries actually have governments that look out for the welfare of workers and don't have policies invite wages to be undercut by desperate immigrants (who get overworked as well). Fear of losing a visa and being sent back to your native poverty and violence keeps people working hard for low wages. The US's priorities are veru apparent when you compare its policies to Europe, Australia. Despite their fiduciary obligation to act in the best interest of its citizens. Unfortunately they keep our population too fragmented to do anything about it

 

[Señor S]

Good chance that they would defer to you.

Says who?

 

[Señor S]

Me.

Fair enough.

 

[clausewitz2]

If you graduate from one of 27 or so recognized US medical schools and complete a US residency, you can practice in Singapore without restriction. Very low taxes and a physician shortage at every level makes this rather an attractive option. It is not the Phillipines, but it is only a budget airline flight away from Manila on Cebu Air or what have you.

EDIT: Add in approximately 100% of the native populaion having some degree of English proficiency. Frankly, if they are in Singapore and have no English, they are most likely recently arrived from India/mainland China.

 

[jthedestroyr]

Singapore is much nicer than the Philippines.