The American Dream

[erndog laShang]

I want to practice medicine in America, don't really know why. I just have a couple of questions.
1.Is there jobs in America where you spend half your time doing clinical work and the other half doing research/teaching?
2.Is internal medicine an over prescribed specialty?
3.How much would the whole application cost, with the USMLE and other visa fees etc.
4.How much would a senior doctor doing research and internal medicine earn? (internet figures vary)
5.Would it help if I did a PhD in the UK?
Thank you for the help.

[mtranter]

hi

im planning on practicing in the states once i actually finish (and start) my medicine degree!! the best websites ive found is mdsalaries.blogspot.com and usmletomd.com. there are some others, but they really helped me out just to suss it all out.

and, to answer your question regarding internal medicine, despite scrubs, its still a relatively easy speciality to get into for international med graduates.

hope this helps, and if you want an more info, feel free to email me matthew.tranter100@gmail.com

Matt

[Scottish Chap]

I want to practice medicine in America, don't really know why. I just have a couple of questions.
1.Is there jobs in America where you spend half your time doing clinical work and the other half doing research/teaching?
2.Is internal medicine an over prescribed specialty?
3.How much would the whole application cost, with the USMLE and other visa fees etc.
4.How much would a senior doctor doing research and internal medicine earn? (internet figures vary)
5.Would it help if I did a PhD in the UK?
Thank you for the help.

1. Many have tried, but few make the 50/50 balance. I've tried. Others have tried. It's tough to do two jobs well - especially if the research is basic science. Clinical research is a different story.

2. All residency positions should be considered competitive for international applicants (their application is only considered after U.S. applicants and many programmes have minimum scores on the USMLEs). However, IM is one of the least competitive specialties.

3. Check the NMBE website for the cost of USMLEs. In the U.S., it's around $450 per written exam. Step 2CS is way more. There may be an additional charge for taking the written exams overseas. For the cost of work visas, check the UCIS website. You can try for an H-1 work visa, but most residency programmes offer only J-1 and there is a three-year home requirement when that expires.

4. The mean salary for a general internist is around $160K per year. If you have an academic appointment, it will likely be lower. Most internists that do research tend to specialise. That will add more to one's earning potential.

5. Yes, a Ph.D. will help, but publications are FAR more important; those can be earned without a Ph.D., but it's hard work.

[mtranter]

scottish chap,

when you say publications, do you mean in american journals or just any medical journal??

cheers
matt

[Scottish Chap]

scottish chap,

when you say publications, do you mean in american journals or just any medical journal??

cheers
matt

It doesn't matter, but they should be peer-reviewed (and therefore show up on PUBMED).

[erndog laShang]

you know for the work visas, are they easy to get (for a doctor)? I don't really want to start a career and have to start all over again once my visa runs out.
Also, would it help to do my elective in the states and build up a connection with that hospital? does anyone know any hospitals willing to take british students for a couple of weeks, everyone seems to go for australia or canada, i havn't heard of anyone going to the states.