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Post by Mandeep Gill on Apr 21, 2017 13:28:06 GMT -4
Article #2:
I'm not too sure what exactly to say for the situation of International students trying to achieve a residency position this year in the United States, but my thoughts go out to them in this very depressing situation. As a Canadian citizen myself, I know this will affect me in the future when I decide to apply for residency in the United States, and it just is so disheartening to hear that all of the hard work International students put in to becoming great physicians can be diminished by something as simple as getting a Visa. It already is hard enough for some students to get a B1 visa to be able to enter the United States to attend rotations, but residency is a different ball game altogether and there should more leniency for these individuals to be able to stay in the United States as they have already been through so much to get to where they currently are in life. I hope in the near future, there will be more leniency for these kinds of students and hopefully they can receive a Visa, but until then these individuals just need to keep their heads up and believe in themselves to be great.
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Post by Lisa Lin PCOM PA-S on Apr 21, 2017 22:02:58 GMT -4
Article #1: Even though Prince Harry had a traumatic childhood that many can relate to but fear to re-experience, Prince Harry became a strong man who is also a popular public-figure. His experience with his mother passing at age 12 and then living the consequences that followed by keeping his feelings inside because the old royal generation believed in "always been a sign of strength and dignity to keep it all inside", however just like how the article stated Prince Harry taught and became an example for his generation to discuss his sad up-bring and mental health issue in the eye of the public. Being able to talk about the past is a therapy on this own, because it allows acceptance of what happened and acknowledgment of true growth both physical and emotional.
Article #2: I found it ridiculous how the new executive order from Trump can crush many dreams of others. Medical students all over study extremely hard to get into a resident program and then on to a fellowship to one day saves lives of others. In the beginning, these medical students have grown up into mature adults who believed in healthcare and putting their knowledge to the test in order to save one or many lives in the future. It is ridiculous how applying for a visa is another stepping stone in their path to great success as if they don't have enough stress to deal with already. I solely believe by having this "new executive order" in place not only destroys many medical students and residents dreams and career but also stripes away what America stands for which is "the land of opportunity" and "the melting pot".
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Post by Branwen Felbel on Apr 22, 2017 17:38:56 GMT -4
Article #2 Hospitals rush for VISAs for IMGs
Trumps executive order which temporarily affected immigration from 7 Muslim countries has greatly impacted both international medical students and hospital administrators'. The discriminating ban has instilled a lot of stress and unwelcomed anxiety for many foreign medical students wishing to practice in the United States. There is a lot of uncertainty as to whether students will be granted a J-1 Visa and/or VISA extensions, or reentry into the US to complete their medical studies. This is a grave concern for the mental wellbeing of these students who are already stressed with being away from family and friends, studying for exams and applying for residency positions. Furthermore, President Trump's immigration ban can complicate the residency process for IMG students. Many Directors will be forced to overlook a fantastic , well qualified international medical graduate due to their inability to obtain a J1 VISA in time to start a residency position. This is unjust and very disheartening for many of us who have worked very hard through our medical education only to have a wall placed in front of us preventing us from practicing medicine and helping others. Ultimately, this ban will result in a physician shortage leaving many people without adequate care .
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Post by Branwen Felbel on Apr 22, 2017 18:17:37 GMT -4
Article 1: All of this Grief
This article is an excellent example of an unresolved grief reaction. It is very important and normal for a person who is mourning a loss to experience feelings of sadness. Failure to acknowledge these feelings can led to anxiety, depression, social isolation and substance abuse. Prince Harry's "dodging thoughts of his mother", "drunken antics" and "fleeing to war in Afghanistan" are evidence of his unresolved grief issues. Social isolation, can further impede the grieving process. Support, reassurance and comfort can aid a person who is going through the grieving process.
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Post by Ankit Bindra on Apr 24, 2017 10:08:46 GMT -4
#1. The first article outlines something which if often overlooked in modern days. The prince mentions that mental illnesses are still kept very private. During difficult times where people are having difficult coping with certain problems we often choose to maintain reserved. The prince wished that he had spoken to someone when he was younger about his mothers death so he would not have to grieve but he didn't because he chose to ignore all feelings regarding the matter and therefore his problem remained unresolved and his emotions attached with his mother followed him for so long. We need to promote seeking treatment for mental illnesses more as well as educate individuals of the genetic predisposition that many individuals have for these diseases so we can remove the negative stigma from the psychiatric field.
#2. It is difficult enough for most foreign medical students to complete their degree and then apply and obtain a residency in current times due to competition. Recently Visa's have been a big issue and I know another Canadian IMG who was offered a Residency in Pyschiatry that had to decline due to VISA issues. As times change hopefully the Visa issues can resolve and students are able to get their visas quicker. The stress of obtaining and even starting residency can be a lot and I believe having one more problem on top will just be overwhelming. I believe though that the process of acquiring a Visa for the purpose of working in a hospital will soon return to the way it was and students will obtain it fast and efficiently as they used to.
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Post by Khadeja Chowdhury on Apr 24, 2017 19:21:32 GMT -4
Article 1:
We live in a world where everyone strives for perfection and no one wants to admit they are fighting a battle, and even worse--a losing battle--within themselves. This would destroy the perfect image of our lives that we all want others to think we have, especially in a world of social media. Prince Harry, though a "prince" he may be, is just like everyone with these struggles. Losing a mother at any age is life shattering and at the tender age of 12 and in the most public way, Harry was never able to grieve. I am thankful and grateful that I still have the two most amazing parents in the world and have never truly lost anyone in my immediate family up to this point, but when I try to imagine losing someone important to me, I realize how it would destroy a large part of me. Worse yet, not being able to grieve for them would destroy the remaining portion. Henry was never given the opportunity to grieve and as a result has suffered through the majority of his life not even realizing why he was feeling the way he did. I am glad that he was able to seek help and use his social status to contribute to the destigmatization of mental illness in our community. It is important that we continue to advocate for this in order to allow others that still live in fear of reaching out for help to do so without worry of judgement.
Article 2:
When being accepted into a residency program that someone has worked for years to earn a spot in, their initial reaction should be pure excitement--not worrying about whether they will even be able to get to the country to complete the residency. I think those in the government who are changing these laws need to understand that we are built on a country of immigrants. My parents immigrated here 20 year ago and worked minimum wage jobs their entire lives to give my siblings and I a better life. Today, my eldest sister is an Emergency Medicine Doctor, the other is a PA-C, and I hope to also become a PA in the future. If we had not been given the opportunity to come here, we would not have been able to complete our education and contribute to the healthcare field. There is still a huge shortage of healthcare professionals and by creating laws that deter others from coming here, we are losing vital resources that we will need in the future. The travel ban aimed at Muslim countries infuriates me, because though I grew up in the U.S., I was born in a Muslim majority country. If these bans had been placed at the time my parents moved here, my siblings and I would have never had the opportunity to succeed. At the end of the day, these laws are hindering countries from gaining the valuable resource of future doctors and professionals that we desperately need.
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Post by Paulina Perez on Apr 24, 2017 23:05:05 GMT -4
#1
I find this article very refreshing. I think that the stigma around issues of mental health is still very real and problematic. The fact that a public figure is speaking out about it is a positive thing. As a student, I always try to learn from my patients but also from people in general. Everyone has a story, a struggle, something they are working through. For me, it is important to make patients feel safe when asking them about possible mental health issues. This is especially true in primary care. I found that during my primary care rotations, a good portion of the patients came in for one problem that actually was a cover up for a true mental health concern. That is the importance of starting the conversations. Those conversations that the Prince had with his family are crucial. I think it is our job as future health professionals to speak openly about depression, anxiety, etc. and spread the medical knowledge that is not readily available to the public. This kind of language is sometimes difficult to process, and thus, these conversations need to occur repeatedly in order for them to be effective. They are only effective when patients feel comfortable enough to open up. This is why I believe that all primary care physicians should screen their patients quickly for depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, etc. They can make a world of difference for many patients.
#2
This article definitely hits close to home. Having worked alongside residents from international medical schools, it is hard to think what it would be like without them. I find that the immigration ban has created a lot of stress on top of the match process. I cannot imagine what these students are feeling, holding on hope that they will be able to train at US residencies. I do not agree with the travel ban, as I have not come across any convincing data that it will keep our country safer. I think it is completely unfair that people have to suffer because of it, and that students may be in jeopardy of losing their residency spots. I wonder if anyone who approved the ban knew the effect it could have on hospital staffing. From personal experience, even having one resident out for the day can alter workflow patterns and compromise patient care. I hope that all these students are able to find a way to their residency programs this summer.
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Post by Muzzammil Chaudhry on Apr 25, 2017 12:34:43 GMT -4
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Post by Muzzammil Chaudhry on Apr 25, 2017 12:43:04 GMT -4
I found the article about Prince Harry very interesting. It shows how suppressing feelings can affect oneself. This article emphasizes the importance to talk about traumatic events and go thru therapy in order to not have issues handicapping you later in life. Considering the demographic, "...in Britain, we don't talk about our feelings. We have bitten our lips, slapped on rictus grins, kept buggering on" , i felt Prince Harry was doing a great service to the British population. I agree that Prince Harry is redefining strength and dignity for the new generation, and there is no greater tribute to his mother than that.
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Post by Muzzammil Chaudhry on Apr 25, 2017 13:09:20 GMT -4
Trump is an IDIOT! I could just end my review of this article here but let me just discuss a few points that are illogical. Hindering healthcare workers due to this ban Trump has implemented is just causing disruption in providing health care for the people of America. Spare me the semantics of the which visa someone needs in order to work at a job that they are qualified and already have received. It seems like this scare of visa issues is just to force people to apply for "premium services" and pay more out of pocket. As the answer to most things in America, just follow the money trail and you will get your answer!
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Post by Gurbir Dhaliwal on Apr 25, 2017 18:09:09 GMT -4
All This Grief: This article to me simply demonstrates that major events in a child's life can have dramatic effects on ones metal health as they age. So because of this, it is very important to assess a child's metal health at a routine "physical exam". Upon reading of this article, it brought back memories of a patient I had a few days ago, who was eleven years old when his dad committed suicide. At the time he felt all of these feelings, including anger, and never reached out and requested the help he needed, especially with the stigma of males not fully committing to exposing the true nature of their mental health. He later went on in life to develop anxiety, similar to Prince Williams and his mothers death. Furthermore, as a child, Prince William used defense mechanisms such as suppression, which later on progressed to sublimation, to cope with his mental health, which included him joining the military, and pursuing boxing as ways to find an outlet to express his anger and anxiety.
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Post by Gurbir Dhaliwal on Apr 27, 2017 11:06:44 GMT -4
Article 2: This whole visa situation is simply extra stress medical students must endure on their journey of becoming a doctor. I have a couple friends that had issues crossing the American-Canadian borders and were turned away as students. But, its pretty ridiculous that a resident gets turned away because of a visa. This is probably one of the bigger issues with the entire American health system already, too many patients and not enough medical staff. In my opinion there should a quicker way WITHOUT PAYING for these residents as most of us are already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get to this point. Its not fair to us or the patients that so need our expertise to help with treatment.
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Post by Ronald Smith on Apr 30, 2017 18:16:23 GMT -4
Article 1:
I’m glad to see that Prince Harry was brave enough to open up and speak so candidly about his mental health and the role it has played in his life since his mother’s death. Unfortunately, there seems to be a social stigma when it comes to psychiatric illness when in fact it should be considered just as real and impactful as any non-psychiatric illness. As an example, we take cancerous diseases very seriously, but why not psychological diseases? I believe this outlook will be dramatically changed in the near future, as I get the impression that mental health is becoming more important as society continues to increase its awareness acceptance of the reality of these diseases.
Article 2:
This is a difficult obstacle for these non-US IMGs to overcome and I can only imagine what frustration they are going through. Fortunately for me I am an American citizen and will not have to face this problem, but the path to becoming a physician is difficult for any IMG, US or not. It’s unfortunate that the non-US citizens have one more thing to get in their way as things are already too difficult as it is on the path to becoming a physician. This may also affect the patient in the near future if new residents aren’t able to start work when they are supposed to, because it could potentially cause staffing problems in hospitals and even clinics.
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Post by Sneha Reddy on May 5, 2017 12:15:13 GMT -4
Article 1: “It has always been a sign of strength and dignity to keep it all inside, and our Royal family have always been the embodiment of that, God bless them. But Prince Harry just redefined strength and dignity for a new generation.” To be able to freely speak about your mental health shows not weakness but strength. And the first step is always accepting that you aren't well. The article shows us how suppression and shying away of difficult emotions is a harmful practice, how it lets childhood emotions easily carry through and manifest multifold in adulthood. A majority of the population currently refuses accept that they need help guiding through difficult emotions, opting to figure it out on their own. Prince Harry sets a strong example, breaking the stigma and encouraging people to accept mental health issues as just another health ailment.
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Post by ahmadirshad on May 7, 2017 4:13:29 GMT -4
Slowly but surely the attitude around mental illnesses is changing. There is still a lot of progress that needs to be made and public support to be had. Back in the 60’s there was a war on drugs that started and any drug user was seen as a lost cause to society, now we view it as a disease that should be treated and managed with professional care. In the same way people with mental illnesses were either dismissed or poorly treated, however, we are beginning to take this issue seriously. I think our politics need to catch up to the times. The health care budget does not reflect the amount of funds desperately needed for research and treatment.
Some of the best minds we have in the United States are here on foreign visas. From the tech industry to healthcare, foreigners make a significant portion of it. However, it is unfortunate a lot of them deal with issues like the one Brian mentioned of suspending premium processing. Being a FMG I can relate to the hurdles that we have to face when it comes to applying for residency, however, in my case it is not an issue of citizenship but more of being from a foreign school. Roughly 50% of IMG’s get a residency spot, partly its due to selection process, however, a lot of it has to do with not having enough availability of residency spots even though there is a shortage of physicians.
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