Welcome to the residency forum!

**Admin** · 25-04-2006, 08:16 AM

Welcome to the residency forum. This forum is for discussion of issues relating to medical residencies.

**galore** · 26-04-2006, 02:11 PM

Does anyone know whether, as an international medical school graduate, it is relatively easier to apply for the one-year internship in the US compared to doing so in the UK?
Assuming that one has already passed the USMLE and critical skills assessment...

And later, whether it is easier to gain employment as a doctor in the US compared to in the UK, since there seems to be increasingly less vacancies for non-UK citizens recently?

I read that the number of first-year residency positions available is considerably larger than the number of US medical school graduates, thus providing a surplus of vacancies for IMGs.

Any form of feedback is much appreciated...

**MedisMark?** · 26-04-2006, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by galore

Does anyone know whether, as an international medical school graduate, it is relatively easier to apply for the one-year internship in the US compared to doing so in the UK?
Assuming that one has already passed the USMLE and critical skills assessment...

And later, whether it is easier to gain employment as a doctor in the US compared to in the UK, since there seems to be increasingly less vacancies for non-UK citizens recently?

I read that the number of first-year residency positions available is considerably larger than the number of US medical school graduates, thus providing a surplus of vacancies for IMGs.

Any form of feedback is much appreciated...

If you qualify in the UK, you can get residencies in the USA as long as you pass the required USMLE stages and work out the immigration issues. You're unlikely to get into the high flying hospitals in New York but have an excellent chance if you want to go to a smaller hospital in Alabama...

Did you look here: http://www.ecfmg.org/ May give you better answers to your questions or at least offer you a contact name for solid advice...

When you say you're an IMG, do you mean from a UK or US perspective? Where are you studying med?

**TSN1984** · 01-03-2007, 03:11 AM

Hi!

Could someone inform me of the career pathway for a doctor practicing in the US. As a UK citizen, i understand that all steps of the USMLE must be passed, before a residency post can be obtained... but what comes after this?? how many years are you a resident? Do they have a similar framework/process to the UK in reaching consultant status.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, or links to websites! Thanks

**Scottish Chap** · 22-03-2007, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by TSN1984

Hi!

Could someone inform me of the career pathway for a doctor practicing in the US. As a UK citizen, i understand that all steps of the USMLE must be passed, before a residency post can be obtained... but what comes after this?? how many years are you a resident? Do they have a similar framework/process to the UK in reaching consultant status.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, or links to websites! Thanks

You must pass Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and, for you as a FMG, get the ECFMG certificate. After that, the residency programs are highly-structured and you will qualify faster than in the U.K. You will take your board exam (+/- subspecialty exam after your residency). Time depends on the specialty. Here are some below:

3 years: family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine.
4 years: ophthalmology (3 years plus a one-year internship doing something else), OB/GYN, pathology, anesthesiology (3 years plus a one-year internship doing something else), radiology (3 years plus a one-year internship doing something else).
5 years: general surgery, endocrinology (3 years internal med + 2)
6 years: neonatology (3 years peds + 3), cardiology (3 years internal med +3), Gastro (3 years internal med +3)
7 years neurosurgery, interventional cardiology (3 years internal med + 4 years), vascular surgery (5 years surgery + 2)

**sumina13** · 30-03-2007, 12:47 AM

thanks for the info.
US Clinical experience is a requirement for many US residency programs.

Could someone tell me how to go about acquiring US clinical experience?

Do you need to have graduated from medical school in order to acquire US clinical experience? For example, if you take electives or modules for your MBChB degree in the US, could you consider those as clinical experience?

If you have worked in the US and have clinical experience through your job prior to medical school, does that count?

cheers.

**Scottish Chap** · 30-03-2007, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by sumina13

thanks for the info.
US Clinical experience is a requirement for many US residency programs.

Could someone tell me how to go about acquiring US clinical experience?

Do you need to have graduated from medical school in order to acquire US clinical experience? For example, if you take electives or modules for your MBChB degree in the US, could you consider those as clinical experience?

If you have worked in the US and have clinical experience through your job prior to medical school, does that count?

cheers.

No, you would need clinical experience by way of your medical studies. The best way is to do a rotation in the U.S. in your final or penultimate year of the MBChB. Be aware that some hospitals have unusual insurance issues, and you will be essentially shadowing unless you arrange for liability insurance. That is not impossible, however. I know at least one other British medical student that obtained coverage.

**sumina13** · 30-03-2007, 06:39 PM

hi Scottish Chap, thanks a bunch!

When you say "rotation", do you mean study modules and things of that sort, or do you specifically mean another type of curricular activity? I know I will be able to do electives/study modules abroad, however, I am not sure the Glasgow program allows one to do rotations elsewhere besides Glasgow affiliated hospitals?

I'll check with the school, but if you could clarify what you mean by rotation in the UK system, that'd be great.

cheers.

**Scottish Chap** · 31-03-2007, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by sumina13

hi Scottish Chap, thanks a bunch!

When you say "rotation", do you mean study modules and things of that sort, or do you specifically mean another type of curricular activity? I know I will be able to do electives/study modules abroad, however, I am not sure the Glasgow program allows one to do rotations elsewhere besides Glasgow affiliated hospitals?

I'll check with the school, but if you could clarify what you mean by rotation in the UK system, that'd be great.

cheers.

A rotation is a slang term for a clinical attachment block in the U.S. (in medicine, surgery etc.). Most British medical schools allow students to to at least one of those in another country in the final year. I'm sure the Glasgow MBChB will be no different.

**sumina13** · 02-04-2007, 11:23 PM

thanks again chap

as you pointed out, it looks like clinical electives is the way to go for US clinical experience.

glasgow allows you 2 electives abroad, and you might be able to join a SSM alongside the elective as well (depending on your personal school year schedule).
if i keep in mind what i need to do, i should be able to get the experience (crossing my fingers)

cheers!