First Aid for the International Medical Graduate

1. Evaluating Yourself

Four categories of IMGs:: where do you belong?

Out of touch with medicine for a while?

Why do you want to go to the US?

Goal setting

2. Getting to the United States

“Achieving” the visa—strategic moves

Refusal of visa

Types of visa

About Form DF-156

3. Preparing for the Exams

Who needs to take the exams?

Obstacles facing IMG Examinees

Computer based testing (CBT)

Long vignettes:: A method to the madness

A Few Last Things to Remember

4. USMLE Step 1

Eligibility criteria for step 1

What is WHO World Directory of Medical Schools?

Medical education credentials

Application process

Step 1, the exam

Pass/fail statistics

Course outlines

Topics likely to be overlooked by IMGs

What if I fail?

5. USMLE Step 2

Eligibility criteria for USMLE 2

Application process

Step 2, the exam

Pass/fail statistics

Course outlines

What if I fail?

6. English Exam (TOEFL)

Importance of having a good grasp of English

Pros and cons of computerized TOEFL

Application process

Scheduling

TOEFL, the test

Preparing for TOEFL

7. Clinical Skills Assessment Exam

Stated purpose of CSA

Issues surrounding the CSA

Who needs to take CSA?

Eligibility criteria for CSA

Application process

Scheduling the test

Scheduling strategy

Timing the application for a visa

Making your travel arrangements

CSA, the exam

What is a SP?

Things not to do while working on each case

Scoring components

Step-by-step approach to doing well on the CSA

Use of abbreviations

Not sure of your command of English?

8. USMLE Step 3

Registration

Scheduling

Computer based testing (CBT)

Computerese

Pass/fail statistics

Step 3:: The exam

CCS, an introduction

Preparing for the exam

9. Getting into a Residency Program

The problem of low scores

Application process

Choosing among the programs

Interview process

10. Building Your Nest

Getting a Social Security number

A thing called credit history

Finding a place to live

Obtaining a driver’s license

Arranging for telephone service

Getting your wheels

Lining up car insurance

Opening a bank account

Enrolling in a health insurance plan

Finding your compatriots

Getting to know your town or city

11. Survival Skills

Your first month in residency

Frequently asked questions on an on-call day (or night)

Learning to function as a public relations (PR) person

Dealing with the members of your team

Surviving the ICU rotation

12. Getting Through the Residency

History taking, American style

Physical examination

H&P and daily progress notes

Electrocardiography (EKG)

The Mentor Program

How to get the maximum out of a rotation?

Clinical examination test

Evaluation

13. Some Distinctive Features of the Practice of Medicine

in the United States

Ethics, patient rights and legal issues

Evidence based medicine

Computers in medicine

14. The Second Year of Residency

Fellowship hunting

Becoming a senior resident

Resident as teacher

15. The Final Year

Getting ready to go back home

Continuing with a fellowship

Job hunt

Your visa type

Your job options

An IMG’s job hunt

CPT tangles

Your Contract—the fine print

Buying a house

Moving

Board certification

Licensing boards

Polishing the rough edges

Appendix

Important Organizations and Agencies

Web Addresses