iamjee
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Are there any people on this forum who intend ,at this point of time- before joining residency i.e.- to definitely want to go back to their home country at the end of their training, fellowships and all? Just wanted a discussion on this topic with someone who is hand on heart sure about this.
Everyone I talked to brands this vector of thought as foolhardy and presumptuous, even pseudo patriotic and lacking in common sense.Maybe it is because they have other compulsions- family, career, or otherwise.Of course none is a better or worse direction...its just a different POV depending on one's priorities. When we went to the consulate for our visa interviews, when we write our letters of intent we all say we want to improve the quality of health care in our country by acheiving training in the best of places.I have met just two persons who have kept this altruistic way of thinking intact and above personal gain....tht would be a wrong way of putting it as even after you return home it is gain not loss.So are there any people who think so on this forum?
This is not to trash any one POV ....it is just to encourage some discussion. No sentimental BS please.We are all 'affectively neutral' physicians.
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| chemamr
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I've known a few of those people with that standpoint, they want to study in the states and go back afterwards to their country. And it's a very noble cause, regarding myself, I'd like to stay in the USA if I have the chance and get a good job, only if everything goes bad, then I could think in going back to my country but I'd like to do it as well, but it is my backup plan.
Maybe most of us like IMGs want to stay in the USA, I think it's the majority.
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| iamjee
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Yes thats what the majority thinks.I thought as someone said, this country grows on you, and the people who initially do have a strong intent to go back to country of origin do tend to "settle down" here. Thats when family and other commitments kick in.I just wanted to know that if and when people do go back to their country of origin....whats their motivation, what do they do? Its a heroic task if you have acheived a level of training thats incompatible with most available facilities( except big cities) in a country like mine.But is this a point of irreversibility that we are in?
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| chemamr
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their motivation: one of them says he wants to go back to his home country to be a professor in order to avoid future med students from his country have to migrate to other country (usa) to get a good training in a residency. Others say they'll do it because they miss their home, their people, their family.
in general I think if you go back to your home country, you can do it well, you'll be well prepared. yes, you'll be used to practice a 1st world medicine and that could be possible only in 3rd level hospitals or big cities, as you say it well. but it's possible, I know several doctors that studied in the USA and then went back to my country and they are having a nice life now. Although sometimes it can be risky because some hospitals or some special people prefer doctors they know, locals, rather than "foreign" graduates.
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| iamjee
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But isnt American medical education respected everywhere? Anyways thanx chemamr.These are concerns that overawe me .
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| chemamr
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yes iamjee, it's well respected everywhere, europe, canada, etc.
but this problem of some hospitals preferring LOCALS rather than graduates from other countries do happen, and it's sad, not progressive and mediocre, but do happen in some health institutions of MY country (latin america), that's why some of my compatriots say it's an act of courage/valor to go back after ending your US training. But that's in my country, I haven't heard anything similar in others.
Edited by chemamr on 01/11/07 - 06:12 AM
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| chemamr
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so, you'd like to go back to your country after you're done with all your training? why? is that a fact or is there any chance you could change your mind?
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| Isther
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I'll intrude in this interesting conversation...
That is a very good question aimjee, even when most people think they have the answer the true is that no one know what will happen in 7 years from now... I try to have an open mind in this matter and I'll decide a couple of years from now.
Is clear why you come to the states in the first place, better training, better opportunities, better payment, a nice place to live, etc etc... but I think that the decision is not easy since many factors come into play... but the commonest scenario is that after 7 years in the states, your family might be settled very comfortable, if you are single you might have a couple by then, when you conclude your training you'll probably receive several offers within the states and none from your home country.
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| Isther
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I know doctors that returned after US training, but all of them were from wealthy families or sons of very well locally known physicians. So none of them had to start from scratch. After 7 years of training you have built something here in the states, and give it out to start all over again is a very hard thing to do, and I think that most people are not willing to do it.
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| chemamr
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yes, life is so unpredictable, that's true... you never know where you will end...
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| Isther
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But if you do it as an altruist decision.... then hats off!!!!! 
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| iamjee
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Yeah...we really dont have fantastic powers of prognostication do we.But it is an a priori way of life of some people back home, "foreign returned" ....influencing circumstance rather than the reverse that inspires me.Some have done their PhDs and gone into rural hinterland and done great work. Have seena couple of people who did ID go into practice in hospitals and HIV medicine outpatient service.Indeed my country is turning out into a place for medical tourism.Those points apart...at a point kids, their education, spouse's preferences etc influence decisions more than personal ambitions.Then we tend to make compromises. Especially when its such a long duration of training you are looking at. I am 27 now and I realise even I shall have to look at things realistically.But I still want to be able to live life a priori. There's a book by Po Bronson...what should I do with my life. If you get time...anyone...do read through.Its a non judgemental look at a proactive way of living life.Just my TC.I am heartened to see chemamr and Isther reply at all to my post. Thanks friends!!
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| iamjee
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I hope to speak to some of these people when I return home after my interview season and before I join my residency.
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| Isther
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Sure my friend! count me in...
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| robin082006
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A friend of mine told me that every IMG who finished residency HAS to return their home country unless following cases:
- You got married to an American citizen.
- You are hired by an institution and this institution has to prove that they could not find a suitable employee other than you (e.g. a rural area hospital hires you because they could not find any American doctor).
- You continue to do fellowship
- Others: lottery program, relative sponsored..
My friend, after finishing his FM residency in Texas, came back to home country for two years and now he is doing another 3-year residency program.
I do not know why he did not choose fellowship.
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| chemamr
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thanks iamjee for your kind words.
robin: you HAVE TO/MUST return to your country only if you have a J1 visa and didn't get a waiver. If you have an H1 visa or green card, you don't have to.
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| robin082006
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Thanks for info chemamr,
Maybe My friend held J1 visa so he had to return.
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| iamjee
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There is always a loophole Robin. What are lawyers for? Moving from J1 to O1, doing a waiver job in a VA Hosp, doing an 'international project' in home country, marrying an American and showing she/he will suffer tremendous hardship if you were to to the HRR job.Dont worry abt waiver jobs.No one can petetion to reduce waiver jobs.Thats Kent Conrad's gift and Democrats will not cancel or reduce them.Just go to the hpsafind site to see what places qualify as underserved. You will realise its a joke really.Harvard Sq!!!
Would you prefer to do that or ...............
Depends on you.
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| Isther
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Actually, I know no one that has applyed to a J1 waiver and it was denied...
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| iamjee
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Leaving for home Jan end.I hope my stay in my home country influences my ideas to better effect.
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