US IMG MD seeking DO

[TreeDoctor]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Just to give a little background, I enrolled in medical school after my Bachelor's, but only to please my parents. I studied at an Asian medical university.
I wasn't serious about it, just wanted to party and chill.

But, something happened along the way and I really learned to love medicine and enjoyed the patient contact we had. Whether or not I get to practice in the US, I plan on working as a doctor somewhere.

I realize that the Asian medical system is very different from the US one and matching into residency will be hard.

My practice test STEP1 is above average, but the odds of matching are probably 65% (+/- 5%) based on NRMP match data. (Good Step score but little US clinical experience and poor reputation medical school)


I was wondering, is it worth pursuing a DO degree (probably after an SMP)? (Maybe the 3 year primary care pathway)
OR
Is it better just to get some observerships in hospitals, and try for residency?


Happy New year and I wish all a decade full of success!

 

[deleted1000960]

It might be very difficult if you don't have a US citizenship or green card.

 

[TreeDoctor]

It might be very difficult if you don't have a US citizenship or green card.

I have that. Thankfully thats not an issue.

 

[Damson]

I have that. Thankfully thats not an issue.

You've already decided you don't want to practice over there in China/Taiwan/Jap/Singapore region, and want to come here?

 

[TreeDoctor]

Kazakhstan, yes I would prefer to return to the US.

 

[Goro]

Just to give a little background, I enrolled in medical school after my Bachelor's, but only to please my parents. I studied at an Asian medical university.
I wasn't serious about it, just wanted to party and chill.

But, something happened along the way and I really learned to love medicine and enjoyed the patient contact we had. Whether or not I get to practice in the US, I plan on working as a doctor somewhere.

I realize that the Asian medical system is very different from the US one and matching into residency will be hard.

My practice test STEP1 is above average, but the odds of matching are probably 65% (+/- 5%) based on NRMP match data. (Good Step score but little US clinical experience and poor reputation medical school)


I was wondering, is it worth pursuing a DO degree (probably after an SMP)? (Maybe the 3 year primary care pathway)
OR
Is it better just to get some observerships in hospitals, and try for residency?


Happy New year and I wish all a decade full of success!

Check out NYITCOM's emigre program, if they still have it. It's a more direct path for IMG-> DO.

 

[TreeDoctor]

Thank you for the advice Goro. I will check it out.

 

[hallowmann]

Thank you for the advice Goro. I appear ineligible to apply as a US-IMG, but will check it out.

Is your school recognized by licensing boards in all/most states? If so, I would just study heavily and do as well as you possibly could on the steps. Get your ECFMG certification and apply to residency. You'll be limited, but as a US-IMG with above average scores, you'll probably have a chance at FM or community IM.

No point going to school and paying that cost/time unless you fail to get into a residency program as an IMG.

 

[TreeDoctor]

No point going to school and paying that cost/time unless you fail to get into a residency program as an IMG.

Thank you for your advice.
After having passed USMLE I would be ineligible to apply to medical school again in the US, so I have to decide now.

 

[hallowmann]

Thank you for your advice.
After having passed USMLE I would be ineligible to apply to medical school again in the US, so I have to decide now.

Ineligible for US MD school perhaps, but not necessarily for DO school.

 

[TreeDoctor]

Thank you for that information. This whole process is quite complex 🙂

 

[zdbsy]

I know a MD graduate from China who attended NYITCOM program as Goro suggested and she's now practicing in Flushing NY. Not sure if passing USMLE step I will opt you out of this choice, if you really want to re-study, no harm to ask the school.

 

[TreeDoctor]

Moving Beyond NYITCOM,
What about all DO programs?

I've also spoken with some other IMGs and they are encouraging me to just pass take the USMLE and match, especially since I am focused on primary care and there is a shortage of those providers. This would save a lot of time or it could be wasted time.

 

[thumbz]

IMHO I would finish the steps and apply for residency assuming your school is recognized (I'm ignorant on this, but I believe it needs to be ECFMG recognized. Others, any help here would be appreciated).

Apply for 1-2 cycles, if you don't get a spot then you could apply the DO route. You'd need the MCAT and pre-reqs. But going strait to residency will save you so much time and money in the long run I would exhaust that option first.

Your English is great, so residency programs will love that. You don't need a visa, they'll love that. You want to do primary care, they'll love that. You didn't do rotations in the US - that's your biggest red flag. Some programs will still take a chance on you but be prepared to work your butt off as you're going to start behind the rest of your class, but your Step scores suggest you're smarter than average (at least at test taking) so you should be able to catch up. Try to grab a couple of observerships if you can