Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 89
| | 06/17/07 - 09:29 PM
| #2901 |
Hi Karime, Yolanda, and everyone else.
Well, as IMG living in Canada and looking for a position in USA can said everything. The real feeling of the numbers indicates that only 10-15% of IMGs are accepted into a residency position (check carms.ca, which is the national application for residency positions). Basically, how the system works is that each province designates how many positions are open each year but, as this is a socialist system, here each physician bills to the goverment and, obviuosly, the only bussiness for them is to have as less physicians as they can. Obviously, there are more positions for family medicine than others specialties but, in general, there are two pathways to apply for a position. One is through the already mentioned carms (national application) and basically, they will ask you to be a canadian (permanent resident), TOEFL, and the canadians exams (MCCEE and MCCQE) and the rest is your experience. The second is the specific special programs that each province has. For this you need to look into each university and see what are the processes. For example, in British Columbia they will ask you to be living there for at least one year and course and internship (without payment) for three months, being competing with others for six positions. In Ontario the program is bigger but you need to come for their CSA and the rest of requirements are similar (competing with another 1000 applicants, aprox). Alberta is similar that BC. Provinces at the east such as Newfoundland supose is easier. Sadly, if you choose to do one of these special proograms you need to pick up one and nothing warranty that you will be taken. Mmm, what else? well the general sense from all IMGs (not only those who have not been accepted but also those who has) is that they so not know what are they doing. I can give you two examples. One ophtalmologist from europe being accepted for Psychiatry and a gynecoloigst from India not being accepted for family medicine (both with excellent marks in their exams). Now I remember that some of the provinces can publish that you could work (specially at the east), probably, as family physician with the internship and social service from Mexico but one of the steps is that the Royal College needs to recognize your studies and, few years ago, some mexican tried that and he (or she) indicated to the Royal College to submit the documents to the "Institutos del departamento del distrito federa¨". Obviously nobody answered them back and, the last time I asked to the Royal College, they said they they will not deal with Mexico until they have and answer (did not matter you explainto them they submit the documents to the wrong agency, canadians are good people but close mind). Anyway, but if you still want to try I recomend you to write the canadians exams after the step 2 (similar subjects) and see what happens. In fact, Canada is a good option to come for a fellowship after your residency in USA and spend your 2 years out of USA here (and if you like the snow then you can find an easier way for your american residency to be recognized, that is easier).
I hope I did not extend to much and was clear.
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| Mxshrink
Forum Elite
Topics: 13
Posts: 171
| | 06/17/07 - 10:04 PM
| #2902 |
Hi people, came to say hallo!! , I go on vacations in a week, so basically Im a week away from becoming a PGY 2, feels strange, I dont feel like one, but hey, its a year less. Im loving the city (Minneapolis - St. Paul) but I still miss my New Orleans, did any of you match there?. Anyway, good luck to everybody starting residency and anyone taking the tests. Study hard. Hopefully I'll be able to show up and say hi again soon. Good luck!!.
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| Karla
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 47
| | 06/17/07 - 10:15 PM
| #2903 |
Hello everyone. Once again Good luck for everybody living to USA soon. !!!! And for the new PGY 2.
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| yolanda
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 247
| | 06/18/07 - 12:04 AM
| #2904 |
Torontonian......thanks a lot for taking the time and explaining to us all what you now about the canadian experience for IMGs. Thanks and good luck on your prep.
___________________
Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage and live the life of your dreams - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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| Dadame
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
| | 06/18/07 - 04:27 PM
| #2905 |
Hello Everybody! I just found out about this thread, is owesome, lots of information, is really bad i didn't find it before. First of all I will like to congratulate Chemamr, for creating it. 
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| Dadame
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
| | 06/18/07 - 04:33 PM
| #2906 |
Second thing: Let me introduce Myself.
Im from Mexico too, more especifically from Colima. I graduated in 2003. did the ENARM 2 times, and didnt got a position. So I started looking for the American Dream. And here I am, as most of you. I have passed step1, step 2ck, and just took step2cs 1 week ago. I love Surgery, and I will try to match for 2008. I have been doing this by myself, but i hope that from now on, i will have some help from you guys. Right now I am living in New Jersey. And just started studying for step 3. Best wishes for all of you, mis colegas mexicanos!!
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 636
| | 06/18/07 - 06:38 PM
| #2907 |
Welcome dadame, and good luck in your pursue of surgery!!!
 dont lose contact and keep posting your match experience in surgery, as some of us are a little interested in that area 
___________________
NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| chemamr
forum moderator
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,461
| | 06/18/07 - 09:18 PM
| #2908 |
welcome Dadame. I'm glad you found this mexican forum. We have a good support forum, the good thing is we have members in all the stages and if not, there is always a way to find out the answer to any question. good luck and keep posting...
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Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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| egomez2001
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 930
| | 06/19/07 - 12:06 AM
| #2909 |
Dadame, welcome!, good to see new people posting...
I´m almost at the same stage that you are, I´m planning to take step 3 in a couple of months depending on the scores I get on pretests..., and there is the possibility (God Willing) that I may be moving to New Jersey or NY soon...
Hope to see you around this forum , good luck on your S3 prep...
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| StemCell
Forum Junior
Topics: 0
Posts: 65
| | 06/19/07 - 10:06 AM
| #2910 |
Hi everybody.
Dadame Welcome to this forum.
How are you? I hope everybody is fine.
I continue studying for mi exam, sometimes I feel good, other times don not feel good, but I think is normal, I am in my second and last review, one month before my exam mi count in the kaplan qbank will finish, What do you think? Do I have to pay for other month? or what?
Thanks for all, sometimes when I feel that I can not anymore,I enter to this forum and I feel goog, all of you are a good motivation for me, and thnaks for that.
Karla and Yolanda, how are you? How is going your preparation for the exam?
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| yolanda
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 247
| | 06/19/07 - 12:08 PM
| #2911 |
Dadame, welcome, you are going to find out this is a great, motivating, encouraging and good hearted group of people, they have helped me a lot during this journey I am sure you will find what you need in here. I see you are in your last hurdle like egomez, when are you going to schedule step 3 and from what sources are you studying?
Stemcell and Karla, I am still in immuno, wow, you mention you are in your last review of subjects??, when did you start to study for the exam?, I thought you had just started don't know why.
Well, good luck to everyone and take care.....
PS. La selección gano! wuuu, bueno, bueno I didn't like a lot how we played but at list we won!
___________________
Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage and live the life of your dreams - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 636
| | 06/19/07 - 04:06 PM
| #2912 |
yes everybody around here is very kind
___________________
NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Karime
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 302
| | 06/19/07 - 08:07 PM
| #2913 |
I agree with you Spit, all of you are very nice people!!
Hey guys!!
I've been reading last posts and found an interesting one, in which Spitmetal said that there is a web site where they have some Kaplan material. Is that true? Is that secure?
Spit, could you share it please again......Thanks a lot!!
So........Yolanda, Torontonian, Thanks for the advice, it really help me to make a decision, I should stop worry about getting in Canadian Health system.........you know I read an article where a minister of don't ask me what!!, said that mexican IMG were having a lot of problems to get a job as a physicians, even as a family doctors, despite the lack of doctors arround the country!!! ...no matter what the TLC (tratado de libre comercio) says about facilities for mexican professionals.........anyway..........
Noxar, your advice was so helpfull to me, but help me again whit this....I need to know If I understood..... (Everybody can correct and help me please)
I must prepare hard for Step 1 in a 6-7 month period (july 2007 -january 08) and take Step 1, If I success, prepare Step2 from feb-may2008, and take CK and CS in that months (may, june, july or august) (I'm not sure about dates). But in all this time I have to make a decision about the Speciality I want and seek for the hospitals whose programs sponsor the H1 Visa (I've learned is the best way to get yor Green card even to find a job). But I'm not sure about the LOR (Letter of Recomendation).....Who could give it to me? Only in the States? It means I must be there for many months like an Internship? and when is the appropiate time for match ?(obviously If I pass).
I've already gotten my Ecfmg/usmle ID number. But Im not sure to submit yet......because I think since the moment I'll do it, the time start and my 7 year period counts.......I don't know.
As you can see I'm a dummy in all this..........for example I have a short idea what is PGY1 (es como medico interno?) and PGY2(R1?). But I dont give up!! Let me familiarize and get involve and you'll see......ha ha ha ha!
___________________
Eterea
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| Karime
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 302
| | 06/19/07 - 08:16 PM
| #2914 |
And..........
3-4 hours per day could be enough to achieve a good score? I mean 5 days per week in a 6 month period..
How many time did you spent Spit, because I read you get 99!!!! wow!! and where did you get your study material from kaplan here in Mexico? Or you had to travel to the States to find it?
MTY....I hope you're ok in your new house and everything it`s going perfect. I hope see you soon. So, are you going to share (sell) the material for my study? Thanks!!
I don`t want to buy a PDF material, because I agree with you........Is so tough reading the display, an it's not healthy. So I hope to find someone who wants to sell the entire material (MTY jejejejeje!).
Ok, Thanks everybody again.
We can do it!!!!
___________________
Eterea
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| noxar311
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 305
| | 06/19/07 - 10:14 PM
| #2915 |
ok karime...lets start from the beggining.....im glad to hear ure no longer planning on canada now....u see, this usmle road is quite hard on its own...it's good u dont have many other distractions....in order to have a satisfactory result in all this u have to put all your attention and effort...
let me just add some definitions thay may be ambiguous..i remember having mixed in my head every possible term when I started.....
internship - internship in the US means the first year of your residency.....in no way is the equivalent of he mexican 'internado'...the internado equivalent would probably be what the US students do on their 4th year (clinical rotations, all that) when talking to a us doctor....refer to ur 'internado' as your clinical rotations.....is pretty much the same....if u say 'internship' a US doctor interprets that a s POSTGRADUATE training...and the internado is definitively not that....
the 1st year of your residency is PGY1(post-graduate year) or internship...pgy2 is the second year...(R2)...and so on...
a LOR of course can come from anywhere and anyone in the world....however, a US LOR must come from a doctor working in the US and that has seen you working in the US health system....oddly enough, there is a number of misconceptions about what a US LOR is, apparently ...so..let me list you the two types of LORS that ARE NOT us lors
1. lor's from doctors in your home country that did their residency in the US
2. lor's from US doctors working in the us, but that have never had you under their supervision..
just remember that img's are expected to submit probably 2-3 LOR's from their home country and 1 or maybe 2 us lors.....just make sure your mexican lors are very very very very very (u get the point) strong....if u dont get a rotation, dont sweat it....i mean, it is a plus if u get it...but is not the end of the world if u dont have one.......
'servicio social' in known in the US as community service, they are aware that most latin american countries have this feature and they are familiar with the concept....
i would try to sit for s1 before the year ends...then study 4-5 months for ck....then one month for cs.....ull be in june by then....so u have july-sep to make the rotation and get a us lor....but remember that those rotations are assigned at least 2-3 months in advande so ull have to juggle with everything going at the same time........at the same time ull have to do your research on the programs while studying and while looking for observerships/externships......thats the way it goes....it's a talent ull master very quickly....
u can pretty much find if a hospital gives h1b visas on the program's website....do that and then email the hospitals that did not post that info....most of them will answer....then phone the ones that didnt answer.....and there u go....ull have your own 'database' of programs....it would really help ur cause a great deal if could narrow your specialty choices to 2 at the most....because if u start working with FM, IM, PED and OB/GYN's programs at the same time, i guarantee you are gonna have a miserable time doing ur program research....plus u dont wanna apply to that many programs, trust me....both for the money and for the fact that some prgrams find it as a weakness that an applicant is willing to become a psychiatrist, a fm doc, or a pediatrician at the same time...
i did my observership at mount sinai, miami...they have a lot of open spots and is a very very friendly place...ull get a lor for sure if you go up there....they charge you 300 bucks for the month and ull get to spend time with a wide variety of doctors....go to their website and see if u like it.....apply at least 3 months in advanced, cos their spots fill out very quickly, specially in medicine and many clinical specialties.......i also know that baylor houston offers a lor of rotations..contact each program in particular....i truly dont know about any other observerships....and that was enough for me
please be aware that your condition of a graduate allows you to only apply for observerships or externships....observerships is just that..u go on and "shadow" some doctor and say nothing and touch nothing....great experience though....in externships u do get to treat the patient and hold some of the responsibility....... the electives tht spitmetal was talking about are for UNDERGRADUATE applicants....so most of us cannot do under any circumstance an elective rotations.....as we said before, the elective rotations are pretty much like the rotations on our 'internado', with the same responsibilities and duties......thus, u cant do that because u are already a dr.......
everybody has different needs, different timeframes or different capacities....i studied 8h 7d/w for 6 months for s1...but there maybe some other guys that aced the test with only 2 months....that depends entirely on individual features.....ull probably do fine with 5h/d-5d/w
ur 7 year period starts when u pass the 1st test of the usmle....
ok i apologize for the long post....that even got ME dizzy......hope i wasnt just rubbishly rambling like im used to do........
ny rules!!!!! im very happy here.....trust me..is worth every second of your efforts
___________________
Yarbles, great bolshy yarblokos to you. What you done you had no right. I'll meet you with chain or nozh or britva any time, not having you aiming reasonless tolchocks, it stands to reasonless, I wont have it...
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 636
| | 06/20/07 - 01:54 AM
| #2916 |
Congrats noxar is good news to heard from you man, and is excellent news to hear that you love NY
Hi karime is good to see you around, I stopped having troubles understanding the US health education system when I stopped comparing it with the Mexican system, so my two cents UNDERSTAND don’t compare nor translate, well it worked with me
The medical education system in the US works more or less like this:
1. They need to obtain a degree in biology, psychology or anything else.
2. They get into medical school that consist of 4 years, in the 1st and 2nd years they take the basic sciences like anatomy, histology, pathology, biochemistry, physiology, etc and as you must have perceived these subjects correspond to the ones tested in the STEP 1. After that the 3rd year is when they are introduced to the hospitals, they actually take care of patients and they rotate in Internal medicine, surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, etc and they call this rotations clerkships, core clerkships, core clinical sciences, basic clinical rotations, etc. and then they finally get into their 4th and last year of education where they are permitted to take clinical rotation wherever they want, i.e. they choose the department where they want to work, e.g. if a guy wants to take 2 months of surgery and then 3 months of emergency medicine and then 7 months of internal medicine there’s no problem that’s why they call them ELECTIVES, and the good thing here is that medical students around the world are allowed to rotate in certain hospitals, and that’s what we refer when we say USCE (united states clinical experience). Well as you can see what they learn in the last two years is what they test in the STEP 2 CK and CS.
3. While they rotate in the hospital they ask for LOR letters of reference to the doctors that are supposed to supervise them.
4. Then they apply trough ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service http://www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm) to the programs they liked.
5. The programs review your application and if they liked you invite you to an interview
6. Then you make a list of the programs that interviewed you whatever order you like, and the hospitals also make their list, and a computer match you with a hospital.
7. then you start you residency and lets say that I matched in internal medicine the first year of my residency I would be called PGY-1 (post graduate year) or intern after that I would be pgy2 and pgy3 in my 2nd and 3rd year of training respectively
8. Then you could apply to .a FELLOWSHIP in cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, hematology, etc.
If you are a foreign but you aren’t a student anymore, I mean if you are a medical graduate you cant take electives you could take either an observership or an externship (this is harder to get and you need to be ECFMG certificated).
In the electives or externships you take care of patients, you make physical examinations, you take medical histories and you write in the patients chart, you suture wounds and put casts, etc.
While in an observership you only get to see physicians, med students or residents doing something.
Well karime if you had any question just ask.
And I didn’t use Kaplan for the step 1 I bought a bunch of books from Amazon I posted the material I used in this or other threads.
___________________
NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Dadame
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
| | 06/20/07 - 06:50 AM
| #2917 |
Hello Again!
egomez2001: good look with your preparation for step 3. and let me know if you move to NJ or NY, as i said before, i am living in NJ.
StemCell: I am fine, thanks for asking, i am just starting with my study for the step 3, as all you know, at the begin is easy, the information goes in. The problems start after a couple of months reading the same thing, jaja, but, thats the way it is. It's normal to feel sometimes good and sometimes not so good.
About your Kaplan qbank, well... it depends. If you have already practiced all the cuestions, then i dont think is a good idea to pay for another month, because you will know the answers, and you will get good %, that will not reflect the true. The thing with the cuestions is always try to practice with NEW cuestions. But if you havent used much, then it will be good to buy the other month, so you can practice, practice, and practice with cuestions.
Yolanda: I dont know yet when i will schedule the step 3, i just took the 2cs a week ago, and I need to wait to see if I pass. But I will like to take the test around september or octuber. About the sources of my study, Im studing the Kaplan videos and books.
Everybody else: Study hard, and good luck with your Steps.
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| drgaxmac
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 186
| | 06/20/07 - 11:02 AM
| #2918 |
Hello to all, sorry i ve been away but i started the orientaton course aboout a week and a half ago. For all of you out there taking the steps or on your way to the match, IT FEELs GREAT to be a resident.
So i just wanted to say hi to all the new menbers of this great forum. If you have any questions about california, family practice or IMG programs just ask.
Suerte a todos
___________________
Sometimes i sit down and think... sometimes i just sit down.
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| Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 89
| | 06/20/07 - 12:16 PM
| #2919 |
Hi drgaxmac,
Could you let me know your experience with the eligibility letter from the California Medical Board? is it a straight forward process? what documents do you need and how long dos it take?
Thanks
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| mty
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 161
| | 06/20/07 - 04:55 PM
| #2920 |
Hi everybody I have 1 week at Chicago and I is a beautiful city in summer but, people said that is so freezen at winter so I have to enjoy this season before coming the next one.
Karime let me know when are you going to be here .
Good luck to all of you guys this is a hard way but at the end is worthy.
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| chemamr
forum moderator
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,461
| | 06/20/07 - 08:49 PM
| #2921 |
man, our forum has been pretty active, that's very good
___________________
Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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| mty
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 161
| | 06/21/07 - 09:59 PM
| #2922 |
HI guys I want to cry I am going to start with ICU  , so please any advice .
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| yolanda
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 247
| | 06/21/07 - 10:26 PM
| #2923 |
Hi mty.... yeesh ICU!...mmmm.....well I have no idea, no practical advice for you, sorry I can't help, BUT maybe starting with these department, which might seem more intimidating and difficult is a GOOD thing, because it is your first service, so I guess the attendings will take that into account, so it is normal you are going to ask a lot of questions, and it is normal that you might not know things, no?, so remember..al mal paso darle prisa...better to start with that service so you can finish it and get it out of the way, GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK!!
In another subject.......I was forum ELITE and now I am back to SENIOR, was it for the elemental questions that I asked recently??, who knows, oh well...
I don't know if you guys had time to notice but MEXICO WON!, We are playing the final game on Sunday against US!
___________________
Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage and live the life of your dreams - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 17
Posts: 286
| | 06/21/07 - 11:19 PM
| #2924 |
MTY good luck in the ICU! I know you will do great, after USMLE everything is a piece of cake jaja...jk
I agree with the fact that reading in the computer is not good/comfortable at all. I know there must be a website that sends you the books in hardcover along with the DVD´s (both from Kaplan) if you are in Mexico or the United States. DOes anybody know about it???
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What Starts Here Changes The World
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| chemamr
forum moderator
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,461
| | 06/22/07 - 05:58 AM
| #2925 |
I'd like to watch the Mexico game but right now I have no TV
anyways, good luck mty at the ICU, you'll do fine, it's good because afterwards, your rotations in ward, electives, etc will look like very easy. I start on the ward this first month.
___________________
Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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