Residency training in the United States: what foreign medical graduates should know.

This communication provides useful information for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) planning to pursue post-graduate residency training in the United States of America (USA). While the number of residency training positions is shrinking, and the number of United States graduates has steadily declined over the past decade, the number of FMGs has also steadily increased. Unfortunately, as a result of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the problem of obtaining training visas and sponsorship by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will remain major problems for FMGs. This present review is by no means exhaustive. It should serve as a guideline to more detailed and focused information. It is extremely important to network with friends, family, and professional colleagues regarding the subjective and objective aspects of pursuing graduate medical education (GME) in the USA. Though the process is very protracted and at times frustrating and depressing; the visa hurdle will be the ultimate barrier to overcome. However, majority of FMGs eventually achieve the ultimate goal of obtaining superb training and experience in the United States. We highly recommend the book by Kenneth V. Iserson entitled “Iserson's Getting Into A Residency: A Guide for Medical Students” published by Galen Press Limited, Tucson, Arizona (ref # 10). It is a very useful source of information for medical students and residents planning further residency training in the United States of America. Useful Internet addresses are listed in Appendix 1. Keywords: Foreign medical graduates, International medical graduates, Residency training programmes in USA, ECFMG. Resume Cette communication donnes des informations formidables pour les diplomes Medicaux Etrangers (DME) qui projettent de poursuivre la formation d'internat du troisieme cycle aux Etat Unis d'Amerique (USA). Tandis que le nombre des diplomes des Etats Unis etaient en baisse au cours des dernieres decennies, le nombre des DME a egalement regulierement eleve. Malheureusement, a la suite d'attentat terroriste du 11 septembre, 2001, le probleme d'obtenir le visa de formation et parrainage de la part de la Commission d'Education pour des Diplomais Medicaux Etangers (CEDME) deviendra un probleme important pour DME. Cette etude n'est pas traite a fond. Elle devrait tenir lieu d'une regle generale des informations beaucoup plus detaillee et l'objet de profondes iniquetude. C'est extremement important d'etablir un reseau de contacts avec des amis, la famille, et organisme professionnel en ce qui concerne les aspects subjectifs et objectifs de suivre le Diplome d'Education Medicale (DEM) aux USA. Quoique le processus soit tres prolonge et parfois frustrant et deprimant, franchir l'obstacle du visa sera une barriere a surmonter. Toutefois, la plus grande partie des DME en fin de compte arriveront a obtenir la formation et l'experience aux Etats Unis. Nous recommandons fortement un livre par Kenneth V. Iserson intitule: “Iserson's getting into a residency” il constitute un guide pour les Etudiants en Medecine; publie par Galen Press Limited, Tueson, Arizone (ref.# 10) C'est un livre qui donne des renseignements necessaires pour les etudiants en medecine et les internes qui projettent de suivre des formations superieures sur l'internat aux Etats Unis. Quelque adresses tres utiles sur l'Internet fiqurent dans le premier appendice. West African Journal of Medicine Vol.22(1) 2003: 79-87