bbh
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 59
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Happy New Year, everyone!
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Dear bbb,
Thank you for your time and efforts in helping IMGs in this forum. I’d like to ask you for some suggestions.
I am an old IMG (graduate of 1997) with a PhD (Oncology, year 2002) and 20+ publications (8 on US journals). I came to US in 2002 as a postdoc fellow in a prestigious cancer hospital. I got 2 co-authored papers including one in Nature and expecting my own paper in 2007 if everything goes well. I have a 2-year NIH training grant (That is why I did not participate in the match 2007). I scored 95/99 and am planning to take CS and step-3 early this year. I am now a permanent resident.
My dream is to be a physician scientist with more emphasis on clinical work, like my boss. So I hope to match to a university-based program. However, as I know, a lot of university programs only want fresh graduates (quite a lot have a cut-off at 5 years, while it will be more than 10 years for me if I participate in match 2008). I am sure I can explain to the PD the gap between medical school and match and I can show him/her it is worthy it. But I am afraid that my application will be filtered out in the first step because of my graduation year.
On the other hand, I don’t mind to go to a good community-based hospital, because I believe the chance is good for me to get a fellowship after the residency since I have a lot of research background. However, most community hospitals don’t care about research. For them, I am just an old graduate with 10 years gap doing something nonsense.
Dear bbb and all fellows, could you give me some suggestions what should I do to maximize my chance to match to a good program? Any input will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Have a wonderful 2007!
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| bbh
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 59
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One more point. Does anyone use some match services like "IMG residency" http://www.imgresidency.com/match.html?gclid=CJqw.... Are they liable? Just want to save some time and get more chance. Thanks.
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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you should apply to universities mostly as they will be very interesting in your research and also get some USCE. If your abilities clinically are decent, then I am confident you can even get into the top notch programs. good luck, ngt.
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| bbh
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 59
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Thank you, ngt. The only clinical experience I can get here is 2-week observationship. I can not take a long vacation because of the the grant.
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| doc_droc_apurva
Moderator
Topics: 38
Posts: 1,705
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usce. with a nature article - u have already rubberstamped ur residency and fship at a top notch program. gl..
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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USCE: the more the better. less than a month will be compromising to get an excellent LOR.
I had the same problem, as I was able to do a 1 month observership, because I am currently doing research in Northeast.
For every program that is not research oriented, they are very meticulous about clinical skills. I had a resdeincy in home country and that helped, and superb LORs from my rotation (I was lucky to connect rapidly with people and showed a couple of clinical pearls). That being said, some express worries, as I have not seen patients for a few years. That also resulted in getting calls/good vibe during iv from strong universities and rejections from many communities or not that positive iv encounters.
Be aware that great scores dont mean great clinical skills and this is an area in your resume that will need clarification in your interview. The more you can do before applying, the better. The interview for residency involves ivs with researcher buit also with clinicainas and you should be prepared.
I think that you should apply to strong research programs (ABIM physician scinetist) and only to some community affiliated. There are also some purely community that will take you, but not sure which.
hope this helps,
ngt
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| mufurc
Forum Elite
Topics: 13
Posts: 186
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I couldn't agree with NGT more!
I am in the same boat (except for the nature papers...  ), and I can tell I was invitated by the top universities I have applied to (like Harvard and Hopkins) but other less research oriented places all rejected my applications. Also smaller programs can't really afford to have residents who are little more rusty, whereas giant training programs (like the ones at MGH) can handle a few people who need a little more support at the begining but will ensure their academic success later.
Do NOT focus on community hospitals, just because you don't feel confident right now. Believe it or not you have a better chance at the top notch academic institutions, than at small community hospitals.
Don't worry. You will do very well!!!
Best of luck!
Mufurc
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| doc_droc_apurva
Moderator
Topics: 38
Posts: 1,705
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hopkins and harvard
ngt u got competition
push for poor mortals like us when it comes to fship
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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kudos to mufurc.
Edited by ngt on 01/04/07 - 09:39 PM
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| bbh
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 59
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That's very encouraging, guys! Thank you very much. I will try to get much USCE as possible. And congrats to ngt and mufurc! GL to your match! Hope you guys can get into a top notch program! Do you guys also have a big gap between medical school and match? One of my friends actually called some university hospitals, like Duke, and was told they only wanted fresh graduates. So you guys did not have this gap problem?
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