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Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2019 17:37:17 GMT -4
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Post by Will Jones on Nov 5, 2019 18:43:33 GMT -4
While reading through the posted articles, I noted a common emphasis on statistics. There seems to be too few doctors, too few residency spots, and too many IMGs unable to match. There is an obvious bottle neck between medical school and residency program, with many students finding themselves in this “purgatory”. The idea of being stuck at this stage is frightening to every med student, but the idea of an assistant physician is a somewhat relieving idea. An assistant physician also plays perfectly into Dr. Antin’s “triple threat”. In Max Blau’s article, he discusses assistant physician’s providing basic healthcare for immigrants or lower income patients. This provides an obvious benefit to the patient, as well as a benefit to the clinic and supervising physician. Finally, it provides an excellent chance for someone stuck trying to match with a residency program to prove that they are capable of being a provider.
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Post by Enrique Vazquez on Nov 5, 2019 20:27:06 GMT -4
As I was reading through the topics of today's articles I couldn't help but feel Identified with the feelings expressed by other IMG students and the contrast that is always made between us and US Medical Students when we are all striving for the same goal of being the best healthcare professional we can possibly be. While reading these articles I also acknowledged something that is not new to any of us which is the fact that in the United States' present medical landscape there is an ever-growing need for healthcare professionals of which many are being wasted away because of bureaucracy. Me being the son of two Cuban Medical Doctors I know all too well of the hardships that international medical graduates must face in order to practice in the US as well as the amount of talented, devoted and caring professionals that are being kept from needed patients and needed areas.
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Valeria Pierluissi Rivera
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Post by Valeria Pierluissi Rivera on Nov 5, 2019 21:31:31 GMT -4
While reading the articles posted I couldn’t help but think to myself “yes, this is exactly how I feel”, specially the article titled ‘Breaking the Stigma’. When I decided to apply for Medical School in the Caribbean I was quite apprehensive to let anyone know because I didn’t want to hear them saying things like “you couldn’t get in here?”. After starting school, extensive research and taking NBME’s and Step exam I came to the conclusion that we have the same medical upbringing as our U.S. counterparts. We study the same material, we take the same exams with the same rules and we pass successfully. As IMG’s we come from different countries and cultures, we go to the Caribbean and have to adapt to a different way of life which gives us the opportunity to learn and grow as a person and a professional.
The fact is there is more students interested in the medical field than there are slots for U.S. medical schools, and that some must look for opportunities outside of USA, does not make us less qualified or less professional, in fact it should be seen as stupendous, because we went above and beyond to continue and try to reach our goals. It’s frustrating knowing that with all the students graduating as MD’s eager to work and help people, there is a limited number of residency slots. Because the US health care system is one that needs more providers for the ever-growing population.
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Post by Skyler Jenkins on Nov 6, 2019 0:13:06 GMT -4
After looking at the statistics of the growing deficit in physician numbers leading into 2030, it seems reasonable that Congress would approve for more funds to be allocated for the opening of more residency programs across the US. However, as stated, this is not to be seen in the near future and thus the widening gap has been reduced by the competitiveness of foreign trained medical graduates. Even though I have felt a "stigma" because I attended a foreign school, I feel like more and more program directors and residents are looking past the stigma and looking to the student and their level of competence. More than once, I've heard from a program director, "We love our (foreign trained) students, they do outstanding work." Hearing these statements gives a beacon of hope that enables me to push harder to prove that, though I attended a Caribbean Medical School, I still have what it takes to be an excellent doctor and provide the level of care my patients will need someday.
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Post by A.S. MS3 - SGU on Nov 6, 2019 0:51:59 GMT -4
I typed this and then realized how ranty it is, I guess I'm frustrated. - These government licensing boards are nuts. They'll allow us to essentially run the hospital as a throng of students, interns, and residents, but allowing the unmatched MD's to assist, while supervised, in primary care settings is unsafe? Allowing MD's to sit for the PANCE just makes sense. -The LCME (lazy committee of miserly erudites) needs to accredit offshore programs - If the department of education will approve loans to the school, the LCME should offer accreditation. - Med students are being SCAMMED. US programs profit off of the volunteering, research, tuition, testing fees, app money and free labor that students and residents are compelled to provide- there are whole industries borne of the shortcomings of this system - yet these programs insouciantly brush us off as snowflakes when we point out problems. - Residency programs that RELY on IMG's to fill their ranks year after year should be required to allow us to rotate at their programs in 3rd and 4th year. It is absurd that so many places turn their noses up at non-LCME students, but then when the US-MD's turn them down, they call us: "u up?  " - Basically, I resent the disrespect; The system snubs us, then robs us, then takes free labor from us, then begs us for help. Paid to work? That's a job. No pay? That's slavery. Pay for the privilege to work? That's being a med student. /rant |
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Post by H. Oexmann on Nov 6, 2019 10:30:55 GMT -4
As a US-IMG, some of what I see is promising. I would love to help the burden of the doctor shortage that I have been hearing so much about. I keep getting emails pleading for assistance to fill spots or to look into medicine. With each message, I find that I think, I am trying my best to get there. I want to be a child/adolescent psychiatrist and I know that there is a great shortage and a desperate need. I don’t know what the solution is, definitely more funding for more residency spots, but that seems unrealistic at this point. I think the whole process is saturated with people who have the drive as well as non-US IMGs who are simply trying for a better life by trying to fill doctor positions. I think it is very sad that non-US IMGs who go through the process have to start over if they want to work in the US. It also skews the ability for the younger medical students to get training spots as there is a stronger candidate (fully practiced and trained) that programs may look at more seriously. They should not have to go through the same process as they are already qualified and deserve better. At the end of the day, I feel like it boils down to a lottery type system. You may get lucky and end up where you want to be, and other times it seems people just get shuttled through and settle. I have seen too many of my friends not able to finish for a number of reasons and are still in debt over it. I find that I don’t get excited any more as I don’t want to get my hopes dropped out from under me anymore. Everyone is telling me that it will work out as there is a need for qualified and willing doctors but that goal, even as the timeline is getting shorter, it seems like it is getting further. I probably won't feel settled until I am practicing.
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Post by Ozair Ahmed on Nov 6, 2019 10:59:44 GMT -4
Going through medical school, I always heard things like, “there is a real shortage of doctors out there,” or, “residency programs get full, there’s a chance you won’t match,” but in truth, I never thought too much of it. Going through these articles and reading statistics, like how only 52 percent of residency program applicants matched, has really opened my eyes to how scary the actual situation is. The fear of not matching both motivated me to work harder and intimidates me of a future that is not as secure as I once thought. The idea of the assistant physician is somewhat relieving in the sense there is still hope out there for doing something, but is still concerning due to the significantly lower average salaries, meaning more years spent on just paying loans. The most we can do as medical students is be aware of these problems and just look straight ahead and strive with our best efforts in hope for success. I hope the best for everybody.
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Post by VK -AIMU on Nov 6, 2019 11:03:23 GMT -4
There is a lot of emphasis on the shortage of doctor but the action or progress regarding towards it is negligible.The number of foreign medical student applying for residency program every year has increased but the number of people getting matched hasn't shown any drastic increase.According to AAMC shortage of between 46,900 and 121,900 physicians by 2032 .There is always certain amount of insecurity when we apply outside our home country but it's also help us to adapt to different culture and develop self confidence.As international medical student it's difficult to apply for research opportunity or roation as many of the carbbiean schools are not LCME accredited.Its always hard that there are limited spots to residency program.Its not an easy journey .
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Post by sk AIMU ms4 on Nov 6, 2019 11:24:59 GMT -4
As we all are aware of “residency program”it is hard as it sounds. We all live in a hope of passing all the tests and getting into residency. It’s a very unfair game that is been played by both medical schools and residency program slots. Compared to last 10 years students going to medical schools have increased rapidly but, the number of residency programs have remained the same or little increase. Looking at the stats US graduates have 95% matching rate where as u.sIMgs/non u.s IMgs have close to 60% match rate.Infact, some of the programs are only for US medical graduates(i.e California). There are few programs in u.s which are IMG are friendly but, it comes with it own pros and cons.Residency program directors have preference and priorities. They choose their nationality and their graduates over International students. As they rightly mentioned in the article by 2030 u.s will have a shortage of 120000 doctors.
This is very hard to digest I believe you have to try your best to outperform, work hard and have a hope you will get into residency.
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Post by HK MS4 on Nov 6, 2019 11:42:54 GMT -4
It was difficult reading those articles without feeling frustrated. IMGs are often incredibly willing to put in the work and practice in areas that many U.S. medical graduates would not even consider. There is clearly a shortage of physicians, which is only going to increase in the coming decades, despite the fact that there are IMGs willing to address this shortage in medical providers.
The article on biases and misconceptions about Caribbean medical schools resonated with me because those are opinions that we are occasionally forced to face. Often I am my own worst critic, and find myself dismissing the last four years of work I did because I go to “just a Caribbean medical school.” Most of the physicians I have had the pleasure of working with have been foreign medical graduates, and they have been nothing short of terrific. I hope that in the coming years changes are made that allow foreign medical graduates to practice in the field they love.
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Post by AD (MS4) on Nov 6, 2019 11:54:39 GMT -4
After not only reading the article, but talking to numerous people in the same position of having decades of experience as a practicing physician in a foreign country I find it silly that they are treated in such a poor way. I don’t find it to be a practical approach to filling our well-documented need for physicians in the United States. I feel as though they are more qualified, would need less training, and would bring a prephila of experience from a different point of view that would be valuable to any medical team. I think they should have a greater opportunity to assimilate into our healthcare system and providing a much needed service.
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Post by MK (MS3) ASUSM on Nov 21, 2019 20:41:00 GMT -4
First of all, it is really frustrating to know that there are so many talented IMGs around us who do not have the same amount of opportunities or privileges as American medical graduates just because they got to study medicine in a foreign country. If there is nothing can be done about this problem, then I think the US Government, who are taking in foreign graduates through various programs, should at least give a detailed information and proper guidance to each physicians applying to come to the United States about the difficulties they will have to face in the United States in order to practice medicine. A simple consultation with an anyone who had a similar experience like Dr. Ghaini from Article 1, would have helped many other foreign medical graduates from opting out on spending years on Medical Licensing Exams and volunteering like him.
It is a very deplorable fact the the government is not taking any initiative to increase the percentage of IMG's practicing in the U.S. Programs such as that in the states like Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas, where IMGs could practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor, will be a very beneficial solution to all those shortages mentioned in the articles above.
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