let me tell you, I'm American and still, I'm facing the same problem just because I graduated from a foreign country. this topic is not for those interested in repeating the residency. it's for orthopods who had past training and went through the hardships of getting into fellowships here and they're still labeled as "Not Good Enough" to "Sit" for the board exam.
Repeating the residency would be a waste of time for someone who had a 10 year experience or so. and even if he's willing to repeat it no program will take him because he's seen as over qualified if not seen as a "Foreign graduate AGAIN. I think the radiology board is doing an excellent job for providing a doable path for those with previous experience.
The role of a board is not to categorize people as foreign, that's the job of the immigration's office. A board evaluates knowledge and they should be more flexible with their requirements.
let me tell you, I'm American and still, I'm facing the same problem just because I graduated from a foreign country. this topic is not for those interested in repeating the residency. it's for orthopods who had past training and went through the hardships of getting into fellowships here and they're still labeled as "Not Good Enough" to "Sit" for the board exam.
Repeating the residency would be a waste of time for someone who had a 10 year experience or so. and even if he's willing to repeat it no program will take him because he's seen as over qualified if not seen as a "Foreign graduate AGAIN. I think the radiology board is doing an excellent job for providing a doable path for those with previous experience.
The role of a board is not to categorize people as foreign, that's the job of the immigration's office. A board evaluates knowledge and they should be more flexible with their requirements.
Thanks for sharing this. Yes I know about the radiology board which makes sense.
The orthopedic board is a private lobby of surgeons that care about nothing but protecting their interests. Unfortunately they gained power over the years to monopolize the right to say who is a good surgeon and who's not. Thus reducing the job opportunities for international graduates.
I know they want to keep a high standard but I think if they simply approve three years of fellowships as equivalent to repeating the residency that would be fair. A Fellowship is a more advanced and surgically oriented training so how come they don't approve it??!!
The question is, since their position negatively affects the job opportunities for international surgeons who are licensed by ECFMG as well as their state board, would it be legally sound to sue them for that?? I hope someone with experience shares his opinion with us.
Sorry, but the ABOS is not just a "private lobby of surgeons." Its made up of the top administrators/surgeons in our field. Just have a look at the board of directors and you'll see such distinguished names as Chris Harner, J. Lawrence Marsh, and James Carpenter. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I don't know a single person who went to a foreign medical school because they wanted to. It was because they couldn't get into a US one. Period. Three of my friends went to foreign med schools and every single one of them tried to get into US med schools first. And that's not to say IMGs aren't as smart, but it is to say that in undergrad they probably did too much partying and had too little foresight. The ABOS' job is to serve the best interests of the public and its members. I, for one, am glad they're as strict as they are.
Now as for immigrants who have been practicing in another country and move to the US, and get citizenship, I think that's a whole other issue...
Just to know for distinguished scholar pathway, if you are in acaedemic position in two different institutes (e.g three years in one institution an two years in another institution, is it possible to sit for board eligibility exam)
