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10 Tips to Match Into a Top Canadian Residency Program

1. Aim for More Than 280 on MCCQE1 To secure a spot in a top Canadian residency program as an International Medical Graduate (IMG), it is crucial to prioritize achieving high scores on the MCCQE1. Now, if you believe this is common knowledge, let me delve deeper into the subject. Canadian medical graduates often aim for a passing score on the exam, spending less time preparing compared to IMGs. However, as an IMG, it becomes essential to recognize that program directors lack a comprehensive means to assess your candidacy. While program directors may claim they won’t consider scores, I firmly believe that scores play a significant role. It is vital to set your sights on obtaining exceptionally high scores. A passing score on the MCCQE1 is 226, but your target should be at least 260, ideally reaching 280 or higher. The reasoning behind this lies in the assumption that if a candidate performs remarkably well on the MCCQE1, it sends a positive message to the program. It indicates that you are an outstanding candidate with a solid foundation of medical knowledge. From the program director’s perspective, choosing such a candidate implies that they would excel in the residency program, making everyone’s lives easier. Does this perspective make sense to you? Shifting your mindset to that of a program director, rather than an applicant, can significantly benefit your chances. https://imgsecrets.com/video-mccqe1-mov-2/ 2. Make Your Letter of Intent a Story You have to submit a letter as a part of your residency application for the Canadian programs. Craft your letter of intent as a captivating story. When the program director lays eyes on it, the initial three or four lines should pack such a punch that they are compelled to read the entire letter. Starting with mundane details would only deter them from delving deeper, ultimately diminishing your chances of being matched significantly. Instead, enthrall them by showcasing your excellence as a candidate and sharing your unique background. Highlight the specialized skills and attributes that you bring to the program. Can you envision the impact this approach could have? By engaging the program director from the very beginning, you increase the likelihood of leaving a lasting impression. If this concept isn’t crystal clear to you, fear not. I specialize in assisting IMGs in writing exceptional personal statements. If you’re interested in receiving my assistance, feel free to visit my website at www.imgsecrets.com. There, you’ll find all the information you need to access my services and elevate your letter of intent to new heights. I Need Help With a Letter https://videos.files.wordpress.com/nXBibJHg/video-story.mov 3. Highlight Your Negatives but in a Positive Way When crafting your personal statement for the Canadian Programs, it’s essential to address any negative aspects while highlighting how they make your situation unique. I will give you a specific example. Suppose you come from a program in your home country where you lack any research experience, particularly in the realm of video research. In your personal statement, explicitly mention this absence of research experience and emphasize how the program you are applying to can provide unique opportunities that will contribute to your success. Highlight how these new learnings can enable you to give back to the program by becoming highly productive in terms of research. By acknowledging and addressing potential shortcomings in this way, you demonstrate self-awareness and a proactive mindset. It showcases your ability to adapt, learn, and contribute positively to the program, emphasizing the value you can bring to the research endeavors within the program. Does this explanation clarify the importance of addressing negatives while emphasizing unique circumstances and the potential for growth? https://videos.files.wordpress.com/AJu1Jrfs/video-no-research.mov 4. Medical School Performance Record The Medical School Performance Record (MSRP), commonly referred to as the Dean’s letter, holds immense significance as a mandatory requirement for your application when you apply for matching into Canadian Residency programs. However, it is widely acknowledged that not all Deans are eager to write these letters. Nonetheless, it is crucial to ensure that you obtain an exceptional letter from your Dean, one that effectively showcases your capacities and capabilities. Furthermore, while the Dean’s letter is crucial, obtaining a letter from your specialization, even if it is from your home country, can significantly bolster your application. It doesn’t necessarily have to come from a high-ranking individual within your hospital, but having someone speak about your clinical knowledge and experiences holds great value. This becomes particularly crucial in surgical specialties, as surgeons pay close attention to such details. By securing a letter from someone who has observed you in clinical practice, you provide a tangible testament to your abilities and dedication. These insights serve as compelling evidence of your clinical prowess, validating your qualifications for the residency program. In summary, prioritize obtaining an outstanding Dean’s letter, despite the challenges, and consider acquiring a letter from your specialization to strengthen your application further. Remember, surgeons, in particular, value firsthand accounts of your clinical work, so make sure to garner support from those who have witnessed your skills in action. https://videos.files.wordpress.com/e76BTq03/video-dean.mov 5. Excel as a medical student As a medical student, it is crucial to excel in your medical school or medical college. As you are planning ahead to match in a top Canadian Residency program there are some things you should keep in mind. The significance of achieving higher scores and accumulating awards cannot be overstated, as these achievements speak for themselves. When reviewing your application, residency programs take note of your exceptional performance, recognizing you as an outstanding candidate. Ultimately, programs seek individuals who possess exemplary clinical knowledge and skills, while also minimizing any potential complications. They desire professionals who can seamlessly carry out their duties and demonstrate remarkable productivity in all aspects of their work. It truly is as simple as that. To ensure you present a comprehensive application, make certain that your transcripts are readily available. These documents are a mandatory requirement and provide valuable insights into your academic performance. Additionally, if you have the opportunity to undertake clerkships or

How to become a consultant in Canada without residency as an IMG?

How to become a consultant in Canada without residency as an IMG? There are three ways International Medical Graduates (IMGs) can directly be a consultant in Canada without repeating residency all over again. Hospital Based Consultant Province Based Specialist Royal Collge Specialist In this article, you’ll discover detailed insights on accessing the province-based specialist pathway and achieving success as an IMG as I share my personal experience. Let’s delve into the topic together and explore the valuable information awaiting you. What are the steps to get into province based specialist path? Here is a guide outlining the steps to enter the province-based specialist pathway: Ensure you have completed your medical school/college training from a WHO-recognized institution. If you are unsure about your training, you can click this link to access additional information about your medical school/college. Successfully complete your post-graduate training/residency training in your home country, gaining the necessary experience and expertise in your field. Obtain a specialization certificate in your area of focus, validating your advanced knowledge and skills. Apply for a clinical fellowship position in Canada, which allows you to further enhance your training and gain exposure to the Canadian healthcare system. Once you have secured a clinical fellowship position, you can enter the province-based specialist pathway in Canada, where you will have opportunities to practice and specialize within your chosen province. By following these steps, you can progress towards your goal of entering the province-based specialist pathway in Canada and pursue a rewarding career in your desired field. How do i get into a clinical fellowship in Canada from my home country? The first step in pursuing a clinical fellowship in Canada involves applying to the desired program. To begin, research and identify the Departments of your specialization in Canadian universities that offer fellowships. Click this link to find out how to find clinical fellowships and other jobs in top Canadian Universities. Once you find a suitable fellowship, you’ll compose a professional email address to the Department Chair and the fellowship program director. This email should include the following A powerful cover letter A comprehensive CV, and Your profile photo, all aimed at making a strong impression. It’s important to avoid sending a generic email merely expressing interest in a fellowship, as it may not yield a response. Instead, your email should be crafted meticulously to captivate their attention. Your aim should be to entice them with your impressive CV and a compelling personal statement, prompting them to call you for an interview. I understand that many IMGs face challenges with their CVs and writing personal statements. If you require my personal one-on-one assistance in editing your CV and personal statement, click the link below. I need help with my CV/Personal Statement How does an interview for province based specialist path look like? Once the hospital expresses interest in your application, they will invite you for a video interview. Congratulations on reaching this stage! Reaching the stage of being called for an interview is a significant achievement. During the fellowship interview, the focus will be on various aspects of your background and interests. This includes your motivation for moving to Canada, your passion for the specific specialty, and your aspirations upon relocating. It’s crucial to utilize this opportunity to highlight your unique professional and personal experiences that are relevant to the position. Emphasize the different perspectives you bring to the table and how they can contribute to the field. This is your chance to showcase your individuality and how it aligns with the fellowship’s goals and requirements. If the interview goes well and the hospital likes you, you will be offered a clinical fellowship. Congratulations! I’ve received messages from IMGs who have successfully secured clinical fellowships, and I commend you on this significant accomplishment. I need mock interview to boost my confidence and increase my chances for getting selected What happens if i get selected for a fellowship in Canada? Congratulations on your selection for a fellowship in Canada! As you embark on this exciting journey, there are a few important steps you need to take to ensure a smooth transition: Credential Evaluation: It is crucial to have your credentials evaluated. You can initiate this process by applying for credential evaluation on Physiciansapply.ca. They will carefully verify your credentials and provide you with a report. Medical License: As a clinical fellow, you will need to obtain a license to practice in Canada. Depending on the province where you will be undertaking your fellowship, you will send all your required documents to the respective regulatory body. For example, if you are pursuing a fellowship in Ontario, you would submit your documents to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) for the issuance of a training license. Visa/Work Permit: It is essential to start working on your visa paperwork. This will be issued by Immigration and Citizenship, Government of Canada. You will need to apply for a work visa that allows you to engage in your fellowship activities in Canada. This visa is typically a work permit, which enables you to legally work in the country. By completing these necessary steps, including credential evaluation, obtaining a medical license, and acquiring the required visa/work permit, you will be well-prepared to embark on your fellowship journey in Canada. https://videos.files.wordpress.com/yhxZI8gF/video-pg-training.mov Can my spouse and children join me to Canada? Spouse: If you have a spouse accompanying you, it’s important to know that your spouse may be eligible to obtain a dependent visa. This visa would allow them to join you in Canada and, in addition, they can apply for an open work permit. The open work permit enables your spouse to seek employment in various job sectors, subject to certain restrictions and regulations. This provides your spouse with the opportunity to work in Canada and contribute to the household income or pursue their career goals, within the established guidelines. Children: If you have children, they are eligible to receive a dependent visa, allowing them to accompany you to Canada. Once

How to Become a Doctor in Canada as an IMG?

There are 4 pathways to becoming a doctor in Canada as an International Medical Graduate (IMG). I have personally seen IMGs take these pathways and I will share my experience here. These are Traditional pathway Job-based pathway Atlantic Province program pathway Clinical fellowship pathway Repeat Residency Province-based specialist pathway Royal college pathway Let’s jump to find out more about each of these. I Need Help to Become a Doctor in Canada 1. Traditional Pathway The first and perhaps the commonest pathway to becoming a doctor in Canada as an IMG is the traditional pathway. I have seen many IMGs take this route. Essentially they apply for Canadian permanent residency from their home country. They apply for residency matching in Canada after finishing their medical training in their home country. Here are the steps for this: Medical College/School Recognition: Make sure your medical school or college is recognized by World Health Organization. This is easy to check. I have included a screen recording example below from Google. You go on a website called World Directory of Medical Schools. You click on search the medical directory and then you see all these options now because I am an IMG from India, I’m going to say India in the country and I’m going to say New Delhi in the city. The very first thing that opens is All India Institute of Medical Sciences now I click on it and go to sponsor notes I see two options one is Canada the other is USA this means if I’m a graduate of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi India, I am good to move to Canada. You can check your medical college or medical school anywhere in the world similarly. Credential Evaluation: The next step is your medical degree should be verified by the Medical Council of Canada. For this, you have to submit all your credentials like a medical degree, internship certificate, and PG training (if applicable) on this website called physiciansapply.ca. Medical Council of Canada using a third party will verify all these documents to make sure they are genuine. This does cost a lot of money but it’s part of the process. Below is the screen recording of Google and physiciansapply.ca Knowledge Check: The next thing is checking your medical knowledge, so this takes the form of two different exams Medical Council of Canada qualifying examination part one or the MCCQE1: This is a computer-based one-day examination that checks your medical knowledge based on MCQs. I have included a screen recording of the MCCQE1 website. NAC or the National Assessment Collaboration: This is a one-day OSCE-based exam. This is structured similarly to USMLE Step 2 CS, but thankfully the USA has moved away from this and instead uses the OET. Since Canada is still doing NAC, the expectation is you pass this examination. I have included a screen recording of the NAC website. Apply for PR: As you’re working through the above steps simultaneously you must plan to get your Canada permanent residency (PR). Canada offers PR on a point-based system. You could start your application right from your home country. CARMS Matching: Now let’s assume you get your Canada PR and you’re through with all the above steps, the next step is you apply through a website called CARMS for matching in a Canadian Residency program. Complete Residency Training: Residency training is variable depending on your specialty and is based on requirements by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. I will give some examples below: Family Medicine 2 years Internal Medicine 3 years Pediatrics 3 years Anesthesiology 5 years Radiology 5 years Pediatric Surgery 7 years Clear Royal College Exams: Congratulations, you have accomplished the last step and you’re now a fully certified doctor in Canada. Obtain a License: The next step is you need to obtain a license to practice in any province of your choice where you want to work. During your residency training your license will be called a training license, but once you have a full license you can work as a consultant in your specialization. It is long, it is complicated, and it takes time, but this is how the process is. Once you’re certified by the Royal College of Canada getting a license is pretty straightforward. After this, you have the choice of opening your own clinic (of course depending on your specialization) or joining a small clinic, or an academic practice. Ultimately, this would be your choice. 2. Job-Based Pathway The second pathway to becoming a doctor in Canada as an IMG is to first move to Canada through a job. This is the option I personally suggest IMGs take. Although this is more difficult, to begin with, it makes life easier in the long run. Here are some job examples: Research Associate Research Fellow Research Assistant Lab Assistant Medical Lab Technologist Dental Assistant Any job you may like to do Here is what you should watch to be eligible for obtaining PR through Canadian Experience Class Skilled job Be on the job for at least 1 year Paid job Here is how you should apply for these jobs. Simultaneously you prepare for applying for matching by doing the following steps: Make sure your medical college is recognized by the World Health Organization Credential evaluation MCCQE1 exam NAC Exam CARMS Matching Residency Royal College Exams Licensure The benefit of this approach is, you’re already in Canada, you understand the Canadian system, make connections, and get to know Canadian Consultants who can write a letter of recommendation. All this will help you match into the Canadian Residency program much more successfully than the first option. 3. Atlantic Immigration Program The third pathway to becoming a doctor in Canada as an IMG is the Atlantic immigration program. This is where IMGs focus to go to four Atlantic provinces in Canada. This is called the Atlantic program because these provinces are located right next to the Atlantic Ocean.

How to Look for Paid IMG Jobs in Canada?

I will walk you through the process of finding a skilled job as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) in the top 17 Universities with Medical Schools in Canada. Whether you are an experienced IMG or a fresh graduate, these IMG jobs in Canada will help you gain Canadian experience through which you become eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency through the express entry pathway and enjoy a high quality of life. Navigating the vast landscape of training programs and IMG jobs in Canada can be a daunting task, especially with medical universities located in only 8 out of the 13 provinces. But fear not! I am here to guide you through the process of finding these sought-after positions with ease. In this article, I will provide you with invaluable tips and insights on how to discover the best training programs and IMG jobs in Canada. From research jobs for fresh graduates to clinical fellowships or consultant jobs for experienced physicians, we’ll explore the different types of opportunities available to you. So sit back, relax, and let me show you how to unlock your full potential in Canadian Universities. Help me Find a Job Alberta The province of Alberta has the following 2 Universities where IMG jobs are available. University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine is in Edmonton in the province of Alberta. This is one of the top five universities in Canada. This is a great University and if there is an IMG Job and you’re able to get into, will be great for your career. Edmonton is a beautiful place and I personally know of IMGs practicing there. This is the screenshot of the University of Alberta website. If you click this link and go to the University of Alberta faculty of medicine and Dentistry website, you can click on the Departments and Institutes to find the links to individual departments. If you are a fresh graduate, you could explore basic science departments. One example is the Department of Pharmacology. They may have many laboratory research opportunities which will give you Canadian experience through which you can be eligible for an express entry pathway for permanent residency. University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine The University of Calgary is in Calgary, in the province of Alberta. Below is a website screenshot for the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. You can go to the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine by clicking this link here. On this page, if you click on the list of departments, it will give a drop-down list of all the departments. Many Departments mention the research and clinical opportunities that you can explore to apply for a fellowship. British Columbia University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine This is located in the beautiful city of Vancouver. I have been to Vancouver and have enjoyed visiting. In general, this is a competitive place and you may have difficulty finding a spot but the good news is that there are IMGs who are working there. Never hurts to try! Recently one of my IMG friends visited the University of British Columbia and he said the campus is amazing. Here is the University of British Columbia website below which you can get to by clicking this link. I spent quite a bit of time on the website but I could not find departments easily. When this happens you could use the help of google to find the departments. Manitoba University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine The University of Manitoba is in Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba as the name says. You can get to the University of Manitoba School of Medicine by clicking here. Once you are on this page, you can scroll down to find the departments where you can look for jobs. You will find the below page from where you can explore the Departments you are interested in. New Brunswick There are no medical schools in the province of New Brunswick. Newfoundland and Labrador Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine The Memorial University of Newfoundland is in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The population of this province is approximately half a million. There are probably more people in a small city in India like Udaipur or Vellore! I have not personally come across IMG’s going to Newfoundland, but that does not mean it’s not happening. What I’m trying to say is this might be a great opportunity for you because I cannot imagine a lot of competition in places like this. Newfoundland can be a very cold place because this is the easternmost province of Canada right next to the Atlantic Ocean. If you are wondering if Canada is very cold? then yes you are right! You can go to the Memorial University Website by clicking on this link here. Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador Once you are on the University website, you can click on the link that says “Disciplines and Divisions”. The Memorial University website is user-friendly and easy to find things around. Northwest Territories There are no medical schools in the province of Northwest Territories. Nova Scotia Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine Dalhousie University is a large University located in the province of NovaScotia. I have relatives in Halifax, Nova Scotia and I have heard great things about Nova Scotia from them. You can get to the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine website by clicking the link here. Below is the screenshot of the website. Dalhousie UniversityIn this screenshot, if you click on departments under the faculty of medicine, this will give options for you looking for IMG jobs in Canada. Nunavut There are no medical schools in the province of Nunavut. Ontario The province of Ontario has the most Universities. Approximately 40% of Canada’s population is clustered in the province of Ontario. University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine The University of Ottawa is located in the province of Ontario. Ottawa is the capital of Canada, it’s a beautiful city. I have been there

How to Use ChatGPT for USMLE Preparation?

ChatGPT has passed USMLE. I tested ChatGPT for 4 weeks to find out how to ace USMLE using ChatGPT. I will share my experience on the 5 ways you can use ChatGPT into your USMLE preparation starting today and that too for free! If you are in Canada, you can use the exact same principles for MCCQE1. Let’s jump to find out right away from the article below with screenshots. If you are interested in an actual demonstration with video screen recordings of how actually ChatGPT helped with USMLE, watch the video from the link below. Click Here to See How You Can Get Help What is ChatGPT? I have to tell you about ChatGPT first, which is especially important if you have not heard of this. ChatGPT is also known as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer and is an artificial intelligence chatbot. This was recently developed by a company called open AI in November of 2022. You can ask ChatGPT any question, it’s going to answer you like it’s a real person except that everything is happening through chatting or texting. You can use this on your phone or on your laptop I honestly got excited but also scared when I tested ChatGPT. The number of things it knows and it can do is unbelievable. ChatGPT was tested on various topics and so far has passed the following exams: USMLE Examination Law Examination Business Examination This makes ChatGPT a Doctor, Lawyer & Business Entrepreneur. My focus here is on Doctors and I will give you 5 ways I tested ChatGPT to ace USMLE. Whether you plan to enter the USA to do a residency, direct fellowship, or come in directly as an attending physician, through the alternate entry path program, you will need to ace USMLE. How to Use ChatGPT? To get ChatGPT, the first thing I did is to go on google and search for ChatGPT. Then I clicked the very first thing that said “Introducing ChatGPT – OpenAI”. Once I clicked on this link, this is the screen that came up next. On the screen above, I clicked on “Try ChatGPT” at the bottom left of the screen. Once I did that, the next screen asked “Verify you are a human”. Of course, I had to sign up and log in. I realized this can be done either by logging in or Signing up using an existing google account. This is where the magic happened. ChatGPT Interactive Screen[/caption] There are two options to use ChatGPT. One is free and the other is a paid version. At this time it costs $20 a month to use the paid version. I however used the free version and this is what I am going to show you here. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of this becomes a paid tool! You can do this on your phone, laptop, desktop, or any compatible device. 1. How to use ChatGPT to generate sample USMLE questions? Sample USMLE Question 1 Yes, I asked ChatGPT to give me sample USMLE questions. I typed a question “Give me a sample USMLE question” on the ChatGPT text tab and hit the return button on my Mac computer (enter button on windows). This gave me a sample question within a span of a few seconds along with the answers and explanation! Here you see. USMLE Sample Question 2 Then I decided to be more specific about the way of questions I asked ChatGPT. I typed Give me a sample USMLE question that is difficult and is about thoracic surgery. My idea was to include two specific keywords here – difficult and thoracic surgery. I couldn’t believe what I got – A sample USMLE question that was both difficult and related to thoracic surgery, along with the options and an explanation. Try this for yourself and I bet you will be surprised at what you will see. A word of caution: although ChatGPT is giving the answer, I can’t say for 100% sure this gives the right answer every time. On one question, I tested it gave me an answer that was not in agreement with the USMLE official website. Then I told ChatGPT that the answer should have been different. Believe it or not, ChatGPT apologized for the wrong answer and gave me the correct one. Either way, the point I am making is just to be cautious. Make sure you have your concepts really solid because as you can imagine, you cannot blame ChatGPT if you get the answers wrong!! These were just two simple examples that I showed but you can use the same concept for any specialty and any question that you want to generate. In fact, this will be a lot more high yield for topics on Biostatistics Population health Psychiatry, etc. 2. How to use ChatGPT for answer explanations to USMLE questions? Sample USMLE Question 1 I found USMLE sample questions on USMLE.ORG. This website has many questions with answers but with no explanation. So I tested the utility of ChatGPT’s explanations it gave for questions from the official USMLE website. I searched for USMLE Sample Questions on Google. Then I clicked Step 1 Sample Questions. With this, I entered the USMLE official website and clicked on sample test questions. I accepted the cookies. Below are the sample test questions that the USMLE website had. I clicked on this question that says social sciences communications. I liked this question since this is asking for the most appropriate initial statement by the physician, it’s not asking for treatment. Questions on treatment are easily answered by International Medical Graduates (IMGs), but, these types of concepts related to the practice in my experience where international medical graduates (IMGs) have some difficulty compared to US graduates. In this case, I already knew the correct answer is Option “A” based on the answer given below. But I assumed I don’t know why the correct answer is option “A” but not the other options. This is where I tested

How Can IMGs Get Pre-residency Fellowship in the USA?

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) can get pre-residency fellowship in the USA by applying to those programs that offer a medical fellowship in the USA hospitals. These IMGs can apply after their post graduate and specialty training in the home country. I have seen many IMGs do this to gain US clinical experience and subsequently use this experience to apply for residency matching of their choice. Let’s jump to find out more about this pre-residency fellowship including the types, where to apply, how to apply, what is the pay and many more. Click Here For Help Finding a Fellowship What types of pre-residency fellowships are available for international medical graduates (IMGs)? There are two types of pre-residency fellowship. I have seen IMGs being successful getting into residency using either of these. Clinical Fellowship Research Fellowship If you think about these, your ultimate goal in this example is to match into residency. This fellowship will help you do that. Clinical Fellow: If you come in as a clinical fellow, you will have to be ECFMG certified which means you have to complete the following USMLE Steps USMLE Step 1 USMLE Step 2 CK OET (Occupational English Test) I recommend, based on the IMGs I’ve seen, that you also complete your USMLE step three. Then this will help you get an H1-B visa & get an independent license when the time comes. When you come in as a clinical fellow, you will be given a training license. So, once you have step three, this will also help you get an independent license because step three is a must for you to get an independent license which is what consultants used to work as. Research Fellow: The second option is a research fellow. If you are interested to move into the USA and yet to complete USMLE, then this is an option you can explore. not completed their USMLE yet. But this is a short-term fellowship. If you want to get back to residency, you have to still complete all the USMLE steps, which can be done while you’re doing your research fellowship. Typically research fellowship for those who have completed medical college and have research experience although the latter is not a must. I have seen some IMGs get residency directly from their home country this is those IMGs who have already finished the residency training, but for the most part, most IMGs will require some kind of experience in the USA. So, when you’re going through your clinical fellowship or research fellowship, you can do the following to make yourself competitive for residency matching. Develop great relationships with US consultants & program directors Attend conferences Publish manuscripts Present lectures Work hard towards your goals Use this as US experience What kind of pre-residency fellowship should IMGs apply for? I have seen IMGs apply for all types of fellowships. In general, it is wise to pick a fellowship that is not very competitive. This means the fellowship specialty should not be very well known. I will give you an example in anesthesia. Fellowships like pain medicine, pediatric anesthesia, cardiac anesthesia are desirable and may be competitive to get. This keeps changing depending on the demand. If cardiac anesthesia stays the most desirable anesthesia fellowship for lets say 5 years, the next 2-3 years it may go down in the number of graduates seeking this. In general, you can pick a fellowship like clinical anesthesia which in my humble personal opinion may not be chosen by many IMGs. Spend time to find fellowships like this. This way you can increase your chances of getting a fellowship. Where can IMGs apply for a pre-residency fellowship? Well, not all the programs will take IMGs. Although getting into a fellowship from your home country is not super easy, there are some steps that can be taken to increase your chances. Pick cities where US graduates are less likely to go to. If you think of New York State, it is obvious to think of New York City but this can be competitive and put you at a disadvantage. Instead, pick a city that is not well know. For e.g. in New York State for example, Buffalo & Upstate New York are some options you can explore. Apply a similar strategy for other cities. Is this super easy? NO. But your chances will be much higher here than bigger and well known cities. Niagara falls is in Buffalo and you can get there so frequently. When i lived in Toronto, Canada i used to visit Niagara Falls very frequently & Niagara-on-the-lake and loved it. Pick specializations that are less well known. [videopress NHF8pux4] How much salary are IMGs paid for pre-residency fellowship? I will explain this based on whether this is a clinical or a research fellowship to make it easy for you. Clinical Fellowship: The salary you’ll be paid as an IMG clinical fellow directly coming from your home country will be equal to any other US graduate doing a clinical fellowship. Here are the differences. [table id=35 /] After your fellowship, the goal is to get back to residency in the USA or Canada. I encourage you to explore the alternate entry path program that you can read about here. [videopress KSpnjBdG] How do I apply for pre-residency fellowship as an IMG? To apply for a fellowship, whether it’s research fellowship or a clinical fellowship follow this steps. Write to the Chair or the Head of the Department and copy the program director in an email. Keep the email brief and mention that you have attached the following One page personal statement Curriculum Vitae (CV) ECFMG Certificate (if applying for Clinical Fellowship) The personal statement is just a one-page summary about yourself, where you’re going to highlight all your accomplishments and then give a summary of what you are looking in the fellowship and how the hospital will benefit because they want to hire you. The CV has to be very nice and crisp without

10 Elite US Hospitals Open Doors for IMG Observerships

Observerships are informal experiences provided to IMGs and will not involve patient contact. They are limited to one to two weeks and sometimes can be offered for a longer duration. Many of these observerships help you get into residency or fellowship at reputed US & Canadian Hospitals. I will give you a list of 10 Elite US Hospitals that accept International Medical Graduates (IMGs) for Observership. These Elite hospitals have been consistently ranked as one of the top by US News World Report. I will give you a link to apply for each hospital and tell you how to apply. The hospital requirements may vary but have a lot in common, which I will summarize for you. This list is not exhaustive and has 8 pediatric and 2 adult hospitals as examples. The observership opportunity is provided for all specialties. This observership is available for IMG consultants IMG Fellows IMG residents IMG medical students Let’s jump in to find out more about the hospitals and how to apply. Click here For Help Getting an Observership 1. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is the oldest Children’s Hospital in the World established in 1885. It is also one of the largest and most prestigious children’s hospitals in the World. CHOP is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university, and provides state-of-the-art pediatric care. When I say Ivy League Universities, these are reputed universities in the US, and in fact, most US graduates want to do their training in Ivy League universities. CHOP has an international observership program that accepts eligible IMGs for observership. CHOP provides observership in all pediatric subspecialties. Rotating through CHOP as an observer is considered prestigious. You can apply for the CHOP observership program as an IMG at this link. There are certain restrictions specific to CHOP that you can check on this website. 2. Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston Children’s Hospital, is located in Boston, Massachusetts. This is affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Most people in the world have heard of Harvard University. Here is the link to where you apply for an observership at Harvard Medical School. You might have read during your medical school or during your USMLE/MCCQE1, that hydroxyurea is a medication used for sickle cell disease. I read that this drug was first used for sickle cell disease at Boston Children’s Hospital. [videopress P6A41dtm] 3. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Ohio The next on the list is Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, located in Cincinnati in the state of Ohio. This is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s is an outstanding hospital. This was built in the 1800s. You must be familiar with the oral polio vaccine right called the Sabin vaccine. This was discovered by Dr. Albert Sabin at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Here is the link to apply for an observership at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 4. Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas The next elite hospital on the list is Texas Children’s Hospital located in Houston, Texas. This is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine within the Texas Medical Center. Texas Children’s has some limitations on what the purpose of observerships should be. Some hospitals may have this, but other hospitals may not. When you apply to an observership as an IMG, be upfront about what you’re trying to get out of this observership, and what your ultimate goal is. You can apply for an observership at the Texas Children’s Hospital using this link. 5. Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine Next on the list is the Children’s Hospital of Colorado, which is located in Aurora, Colorado. This is a more than a 100-year-old hospital. This is affiliated with the University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine. In fact, Colorado is an excellent place for any winter adventurous activity. So if you are into any of this, you can explore Colorado. You can have a great vacation there plus do your observer trip. You can apply for an observership at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado using this link. 6. Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, California Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) is affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. CHLA was established in 1901 and is one of the Elite US hospitals. CHLA has been consistently ranked amongst the top 10 pediatric hospitals by the US News World Report. You can apply for an observership at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles using this link. 7. Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio The next on the list is Nationwide Children’s Hospital. This is a children’s hospital located in Columbus in the state of Ohio. Nationwide is affiliated with The Ohio State University College of Medicine. This is, again, a more than a hundred-year-old hospital that provides you with various opportunities to rotate through many specialties. You can apply for an observership at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio using this link. 8. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Stanford, Palo Alto, California. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital provides opportunities for a lot of different observers. Lucile Packard was established in 1991. Although fairly new compared to other examples on this list, Lucile Packard is an elite hospital affiliated to the Stanford University Health System. You can apply for an observership at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA using this link. The list so far is all children’s hospitals. This will still make you competitive for both pediatric and adult residency programs. Of course, there may be a few programs that put a restriction on how you can use this experience and whether you could use this towards your benefit to apply for residency or fellowship or not. 9. Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia Now I’m going to give you two adult hospital examples. Next on the list is Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. This is part of the Jefferson Hospital Network in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Below

Specialties Difficult For IMGs to Match – 2023 Update

I analyzed the most recent National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data for PGY1. Based on this and my own experience as an IMG of many years in the USA, here are the 11 specialties that are difficult for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to match. This information will help you focus as you’re going through the matching process. Thoracic Surgery General Surgery Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Anesthesiology Plastic Surgery Dermatology Obstetrics Gynecology Medicine-Pediatrics Emergency Medicine Orthopedics ENT On the other hand, there are also many IMG friendly specialties. I have left the list of these IMG friendly specialties that you can check here. Let’s jump to find out the match rate and more information about these specialties that are difficult for IMGs to match. What are the Specialties Difficult For IMGs to Match? The following 11 specialties are difficult to match based on my NRMP data analysis and my own experience. I have excluded combined residency programs which in my opinion are not popular amongst IMGs. 11. Thoracic Surgery, Match Rate 6% Here is the specialty number 11 that is difficult for IMGs to match and it is thoracic surgery. Only six percent of IMGs matched into this. The number of spots in thoracic surgery is also very less. Due to a combination of the low percentage of matching and less number of residency spots, the number of IMGs who are successful in thoracic surgery is less. Thoracic Surgery also offers an alternate pathway for certification where outstanding specialist IMGs can directly become board certified without repeating residency all over again in the USA. [videopress D1us1iFM] 10. General Surgery – Categorical, Match Rate 5% The next specialty is surgery, as a categorical residency. If you’re not familiar with this term, categorical residency means that your internship plus residency will all be done in one hospital. So essentially, you’re in one program. Only five percent of IMGs matched into surgery. I personally know of Surgeons who are IMGs and given the number of spots in surgery, five percent matching I would say is still pretty good. 9. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Match Rate 4% The next specialty is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Only four percent of non-us IMGs matched into this. The number of spots for this is also less I’m not sure if this is driven by a lack of knowledge about the specialty or just that IMGs are not interested 8. Anesthesiology, Match Rate 4% The next specialty is anesthesiology. Only four percent of IMGs matched into anesthesiology. Anesthesiology does have more than a thousand Spots. I’m an anesthesiologist, and I have personally seen many IMG anesthesiologists. Based on my experience that anesthesiology is still an IMG friendly specialty, but it is difficult to match because it’s a desirable specialty and many U.S graduates do want to do anesthesiology. I think that probably might be the reason why many IMGs have not been successful in matching for anesthesiology. Anesthesiology offers an alternate entry path program for outstanding IMGs to directly become a specialist in the USA without repeating residency all over again. I have the details of this pathway that you can check here. 7. Plastic Surgery, Match Rate 4% The next on the list is plastic surgery. Only four percent of IMG is matched in plastic surgery. I have rarely come across an IMG plastic surgeon. Plastic Surgery is a desirable specialty for U.S. graduates which makes the competition stiffer. Also, the number of plastic surgery spots is very less. These in effect make plastic surgery a difficult specialty for IMGs to match. 6. Dermatology, Match Rate 3% The next specialty on the list is Dermatology. Dermatology is another desirable specialty for IMGs but only three percent of IMGs are matched into Dermatology. I’m really surprised by the number of Dermatology residency spots available, it’s less than 50. I didn’t imagine the spots to be so less. I have come across IMGs in dermatology but looks like it’s not very common. 5. Obstetrics & Gynecology, Match Rate 3% The next on the list is obstetrics and Gynecology (ObsGyn). Three percent of IMGs matched into ObsGyn. The number of OBGYN spots is more than a thousand. Given that three percent match Into ObsGyn, the total number is more. I have personally seen IMGs ObsGyn. [videopress KOh791e6] 4. Medicine-Pediatrics, Match Rate 3% The next specialty is a combined medicine Pediatrics Residency program. Three percent of IMGs have been successful in matching into this program. Coincidentally I recently met a combined medicine-pediatrics resident who told me the Residency program is mainly focused on Primary Care. Typically, these residents pick either medicine or Pediatrics as one of their primary focuses but they do continue to see patients of all ages. 3. Emergency Medicine, Match Rate 2% The next on the list is emergency medicine where two percent of IMGs were successful in matching into this Residency program. Emergency medicine does have a few thousand spots, so two percent of a few thousand is still a pretty good number. I have personally seen emergency physicians who are IMGs. Emergency Medicine also offers combined residency programs with Anesthesiology & Family Medicine. 2. Orthopedics, Match Rate 1% The next specialty which is difficult to match is orthopedics, only one percent of IMGs are matched into Orthopedic residency. I have come across IMG who are orthopedic surgeons but the number is quite less. The good news is orthopedic surgery offers an alternate entry path program. 1. ENT, Match Rate 0.5% Finally, the number one specialty which is difficult to match for an IMG is ENT. Only point five percent of total residents are non-us IMGs. I’ve been thinking if I have seen any IMG ENT physicians I have personally not come across any but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. This article was initially published in IMGSecrets.com, If this appears anywhere else this is a stolen content. Bottomline Check out the other important articles What visa do you need to move to the USA as an IMG? ECFMG 2024 Update Book An Appointment

Top 11 IMG Friendly Specialties in the USA – 2023 Update

The most International Medical Graduates (IMG) friendly specialties in the USA are Internal Medicine Family Medicine Pediatrics Emergency Medicine Pathology This is based on my analysis of the recent NRMP data which is the National Resident Matching Program data. With this, you will know where to focus your effort as you’re going through the matching process. Let’s jump to find out more about what percentage of IMGs matched into these top 11 IMG-friendly specialties in the USA. Dr. Rajeev Iyer MBBS, MD, FASA Associate Professor of Anesthesiology The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA Who are International Medical Graduates? International Medical Graduates are graduates of medical school from outside the USA or Canada. The NRMP classifies two types of IMGs: US IMGs and Non-US IMGs. US IMGs are those who are typically US citizens and most of them live in the USA. They just step out of the U.S. to do medical school or Medical College and then they come back to the US to do residency and they continue their life in the U.S. Non-US IMGs are those graduates who basically have lived all their life outside the U.S. They finish their medical school or residency in their home country or elsewhere. They then move to the USA on one of the following Visas: J-1, H1B, or an O1 visa. Non-US IMGs must obtain ECFMG Certification to be eligible for matching. ECFMG has announced that starting in 2024, the process for medical college verification will change. I have an entire blog on this that you can check out here. In the USA, Non-US IMGs take the following paths Do a residency Repeat their residency after their residency from the home country A few outstanding IMGs certify through the American Board of Medical Specialties Alternate Entry Path Program. What are the top 11 IMG Friendly specialties in the USA? I will give you the list of IMG Friendly specialties based on NRMP Data along with the approximate match rate I calculated. This data is for PGY1 or the internship year. 11. Diagnostic Radiology, Match Rate 8% Diagnostic Radiology is one of IMG’s favorites. Eight percent of non-us IMGs matched into Diagnostic Radiology. However, I am surprised that the number of residencies spots for Diagnostic Radiology is less than 200 at least according to the recent NRMP data. Although eight percent of IMGs matched into Diagnostic Radiology, the number wise would be pretty less since it is proportional to the total number of residency spots. Radiologists are diplomates of the American Board of Radiology. 10. Family Medicine, Match Rate 9% Family Medicine is another IMG’s favorite. Nine percent of IMGs are matched into family medicine and given the thousands of spots in Family Medicine the number of IMGs in this specialty is relatively high. I personally know of quite a few Family Medicine IMGs. My own Family Physician is an IMG from India, and coincidentally from my own Medical College. Family Medicine Physicians are diplomates of the American Board of Family Medicine. 9. Radiation Oncology, Match Rate 10% Radiation Oncology is a specialty many non-US IMGs may not be familiar with. 10 percent of IMGs are matched into radiation oncology. I caution you when you think of 10% that the number is significantly less. For example, if there are 10 radiation oncology spots and ten percent matches so it’s only one person matching into that spot. Radiation Oncologists are diplomates of the American Board of Radiology. 8. Pediatrics Categorical, Match Rate 12% The next IMG friendly specialty is Pediatrics. 12 percent of IMGs matched into categorical Pediatrics. If you’re not familiar with the term categorical it just means that the internship and the whole Residency program are done in one Hospital. Like Family Medicine, I have personally seen many IMG pediatricians. My children’s pediatrician is also an IMG. In fact, I have quite a few friends who are pediatricians and are IMGs. Pediatricians are diplomates of the American Board of Pediatrics. 7. Pediatric Neurology, Match Rate 13% The next specialty is pediatric neurology. 13% of IMGs matched into pediatric neurology. I again want to caution that the number of spots in pediatric neurology is quite less. I personally know of a successful pediatric neurologist who is my friend and an IMG. Pediatric Neurologists are diplomates of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. 6. Pediatrics-Medical Genetics, Match Rate 20% Specialty number six is a combination of Pediatrics medical genetics where twenty percent of IMGs matched into this specialty. However, the number of spots in this combined program is again less than 100. I do caution you on the way you want to interpret this data. Although the match rate is 20%, the total number of IMGs who would be matched is quite less in pediatric neurology. A special agreement exists between the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) based on which the resident fulfills the training requirement for both pediatrics and medical genetics and genomics in 4 years of combined training. Pediatrics-medical genetics physicians are diplomates of The American Board of Pediatrics. 5. Neurology, Match Rate 21% The next IMG friendly specialty is neurology. 21% of IMG matched into neurology. Entry into a neurology residency starts after a 12-month ACGME-accredited graduate training in the United States or Royal College Accredited training in Canada. This training is typically in general internal medicine. ACGME-approved residency training programs in neurology must provide three years of graduate education in neurology. Neurologists are diplomates of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. 4. Medicine – Primary, Match Rate 26% The next on the list is medicine. This is the medicine that is focused on Primary Care. One-fourth of IMGs are matched into Primary Care Medicine. This is big with respect to being IMG friendly. 3. Internal Medicine – Categorical, Match Rate 26% The next big IMG friendly specialty is Internal Medicine Categorical residency. I always thought that based on the number

ECFMG 2024 Update: What Does This Mean For IMG Doctors? – World Federation of Medical Education

The ECFMG 2024 Update for IMG Doctors will bring changes to the recognition of medical schools. However, these changes will not affect an individual’s eligibility for ECFMG certification. Instead of individual medical school recognition, the responsibility will shift to a national body in each country, which will then be recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). Currently, ECFMG approves the WFME and the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) of the U.S. Department of Education for recognizing medical school accrediting agencies. In this article, I’ll explain what this update means for you as an IMG doctor, providing specific examples to help you understand the impact. Let’s explore this together. Click here to get help What is the ECFMG 2024 Update for IMG Doctors? If you are an International medical graduate specialist doctor who is exploring the alternate entry path program into the USA or who is someone planning to enter the USA to do a residency, here are the big changes from ECFMG you must know. ECFMG has announced that effective in 2024, eligibility for USMLE and employment as a doctor in the United States will be restricted to graduates from medical schools/programs accredited by an agency that is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Program. This is big. They go on to clarify that The World Federation of Medical Education or the WFME Recognition Programme is the only program accepted by ECFMG at the current time for the recognition of medical school accrediting agencies. Can I give USMLE and be ECFMG Certified after 2024? I will explain this in detail by giving you examples so this makes complete sense to you. In the new process starting 2024, individual medical school direct approval will be gone. Instead, there will be a national accrediting body in each country that must approve the medical schools and this national accrediting body must then be approved by the ECFMG. This will be a two-step process. The onus is moved from one medical school to the national body of each country. I will give you a specific example of two doctors from the same medical college. Let’s call this ABC Medical College and the doctors Dr. A and Dr. B Dr. A: Let’s say Dr. A graduated in the year 2020 and she investigates the list of WHO approved medical schools in this list at the World Directory of Medical Schools on the website https://www.wdoms.org/ she finds her medical school; she is all set. She registers with ECFMG, applies for USMLE, passes the exam, and becomes ECFMG certified. Dr. B: In this case. Dr. B is from the same medical college as Dr. A and he is now graduating in 2024. Now Dr. B will look into the World Federation of Medical Education website which is wfme.org and not the world directory of medical schools. This is a major change. Whether Dr. B can apply for ECFMG will depend on whether his medical college or school is recognized by WFME. For some reason, Dr. B finds out that his school is not recognized by WFME and cannot be ECFMG certified even though Dr. A was ECFMG certified coming from the same medical college/school before 2024. Can Indians write USMLE after 2024? If you are an IMG from India like me, this can take two different situations. Graduating before 2024: If you are from a WHO-recognized medical school and have already registered with the ECFMG, you can write USMLE after 2024 even though you will be graduating before 2024. Graduating after 2024: If you are an IMG from India, the ECFMG 2024 update will require that the medical colleges in India be recognized by the National Medical Commission in India. The National national medical commission should then be recognized by WFME. At the time of my writing this, this recognition is still pending. Can you be ECFMG certified without USMLE? According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is the authorized credential evaluation and guidance agency for international medical graduates (IMGs) who seek to apply for residency in the U.S. or apply through the Alternate Entry Path program or practice directly in the United States. There are many requirements for being ECFMG certified. One of the requirements is the requirement of an examination. This for IMGs is the USMLE. This is the same exam that US graduates take. The difference is that they can directly apply and IMGs have to go through the ECFMG for this. Upon successful completion of the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and other requirements the candidate will be issued the ECFMG certification. Following this, the candidate can take USMLE step 3 which is required for an independent license from the State Medical Boards. Out of the different visa types for an IMG like the H1B, J-1, and O visa, having an H1B visa will ease the transition to applying for permanent residency and potentially be successful. Is ECFMG the same as USMLE? The ECFMG is an agency while the USMLE is an exam. The ECFMG agency does the credential evaluation and provides final certification for IMGs to practice medicine in the USA. The completion of the USMLE exam is one of the many requirements to be ECFMG certified. In my experience, all other requirements are paperwork to make sure the IMGs training is recognized and legit. The USMLE exams are what most people find onerous in this pathway for ECFMG certification. There are other pathways to practice in the USA, however, the ECFMG and the USMLE exam pathways are the most straightforward that almost all IMGs I know of have used. What is the World Federation of Medical Education recognition program? They are a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. According to the website they have offices in London, France, and the Czech Republic. This makes me think they have nothing to do with the US in particular. It

Author name: IMG Secrets