jnjose
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 8
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Hi everyone,
I am an old IMG, 1997 graduated from China.
I have a Ph.D in molecular biology from a top medical school in europe.
I am doing postdoc in harvard medical school
good research background and publication record
92/90, no step 3 score
no USCE,
green card
my boss is a surgeon(assisstant prof.). so it is not difficult to do observership in the surgery department in my hospital. I also can get one supporting letter from a Pathologist from harvard medical school and do some observership in Pathology department. But in china i did not have any experience in either surgery or pathology.
so i am wondering whether I will have bigger chance to get matched next year according to my background (I know that my weakest part is old IMG). moreover, I heard that Surgery is very competitive, but If I do observership in Surgery department, do you think it would help me to get matched in like, IM or pediatrics ?
Many thanks in advance for any advices
Edited by jnjose on 08/10/08 - 06:54 PM
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| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 536
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I think ur creds are great, i mean u spent the time becoming an old grad doing academic stuff so it is cool....harvard itself has a great weakness for MD, Phds!
Do u want to do surgery??...observerships help 3 ways
1. U get to see the system in general...patient care, policies, counselling, EMS, teaching protocols etc--which u will get to do
2. U get to see the subject--u wont see
3. U get LORs--again in ur case getting it from a diffrent speciality but at least u get someone to vouch for ur attitude, communication etc.
for getting IM/Peds if i was in ur pace this is what i would think---getting any USCE and US LOR should be priority-- then getting subject specific experience would be a close second
But I would seriously suggest u talk to ur supervisor and see if he/she can arrange for an observership in the IM/Peds dept (coz harvard does take observers) and all it takes is a phone call many times
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| jnjose
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 8
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Hi mukho
Thanks for your advices. But if I don't have observership in IM or pediatrics, do you think how much chance i can get into IM/pediatrics according to my current situation.
if I apply for pathology programs ( as I said above, I can do some observership in pathology department and get LOR from pathologists), then if it could be easier to find a program for me ?
moreover, i knew graduation years could be my weakest part, but do you think my score, green card, Ph.D, research background, publication , US surgeon/pathologist LOR could compensate my weakness ? (i will have graduated for more than 10 years by next year)
Thanks again.
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| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 536
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see i cant say what program directors think like...but when people say a whole package goes into selection process, u make a nice one...so i think u stand a very good chance....in fact with ur kind of background i think u would stand a better chance in some of the more competetive univ program than a community prog...because the former would be able to utilise ur skills much better....
doing obs in subject other than what u apply for opens questions of "why did u do that" and "are u applying in that subject too" as long as u find a way to ans those convincingly to ur programs i think ur fine...i dont know bout pathology competetiveness...but am sure someone else will ans that
GL
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| Moozy
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 819
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I actually had a question on similar background.. I answered my firend what I thought, but was just wondering if any wise people on the forum could advise also..
So this person is in UK (old colleague of mine); grad 1999, scores in mid 80's awaiting EAD.. he is currently working in UK.. though he has an opportunity to do some research in nephrology in US .. an observational study.. starting in sept (non-paid ofcourse).... do you think such a research option startin in sept will benefit him given he will be applying in sept and will not have an LoR by Oct... Also does a voluntary research in US (ivy league university ) have a better standing than hands on clinical exp in UK? Just needed your advice so that I can tel my friend to views rather than just mine...
Edited by Moozy on 06/14/08 - 11:34 AM
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| doc1981
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 220
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Good question Moozy. I've got a similiar question. I'm taking up research in August (at an Ivy League Uni) but will be applying to programs in September. Will it help? Would appreciate any advice...
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| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 536
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seems like not many opinions on this one, this is what i think
while UK clinical hands on is valued in US more than clinical experience from other places still to get formal USCE in any form helps as it firstly clears an eligibility criteria of "US"CE and secondly u get USLORs
even if u apply in sept and join the research from same time, u can write ongoing observership/research in the application and it looks better than no USCE
the thing i felt about research (and I may be wrong) is that those with really good research experience are valued more in prog that have similar facilities, big university prog. The value of such exp in community prog may be just the USLOR ...
if i was in ur friends place i would do the US experience....he is working in UK so he already has hand on exp there...might as well get some...any...in US
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| minang
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 229
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Hi, I think pathology is your best choice, since you won't have to interact with patients. It would be difficult to be a surgery, IM or Ped resident if you haven't done any clinical works recently. And also your background in Molecular Biology is a plus for pathology residency.
For example in pathology residency at Creighton university, you will see several residents from China who are old IMG and have PhD degree.
Here: http://pathology.creighton.edu/programs/resProfil...
So, you can think about it.
jnjose wrote:
Hi everyone,
I am an old IMG, 1998 graduated from China.
I have a Ph.D in molecular biology from a top medical school in europe.
I am doing postdoc in harvard medical school
good research background and publication record
92/90, no step 3 score
no USCE,
green card
my boss is a surgeon(assisstant prof.). so it is not difficult to do observership in the surgery department in my hospital. I also can get one supporting letter from a Pathologist from harvard medical school and do some observership in Pathology department. But in china i did not have any experience in either surgery or pathology.
so i am wondering whether I will have bigger chance to get matched next year according to my background (I know that my weakest part is old IMG). moreover, I heard that Surgery is very competitive, but If I do observership in Surgery department, do you think it would help me to get matched in like, IM or pediatrics ?
Many thanks in advance for any advices
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