IMG Track Offers Advice, Counsel, and Guidance for International Graduates

Abstract

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Annual MeetingFull AccessIMG Track Offers Advice, Counsel, and Guidance for International GraduatesVikas Gupta, M.D., M.P.H., Lama Bazzi, M.D.Vikas GuptaSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., M.P.H., Lama BazziSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:22 Feb 2023https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2023.03.3.54AbstractInternational medical graduates (IMGs) make up about 29% of all psychiatrists practicing in the United States. Because psychiatry has become a very competitive specialty, IMGs face new challenges.Tips on applying for residency, acculturation, immigration, and career paths—these are some of the APA Annual Meeting sessions curated especially for international medical graduates (IMGs) in the IMG track at APA’s 2023 Annual Meeting. IMGs make up about 29% of all psychiatrists practicing in the United States. More medical students than ever are applying to psychiatry residency programs, making psychiatry more competitive than it has ever been. While this offers us the hope of building a robust workforce of psychiatrists ready and able to serve communities in need, it presents new challenges and opportunities for IMGs. With these factors in mind, the sessions in the IMG Track are focused on the career needs of IMGs including resident-fellow members and early career psychiatrists.The IMG track includes these sessions:IMGs in American Psychiatry: Past, Present, and Future: Our speakers—Dilip Jeste, M.D., Jair Soares, M.D., Ph.D., Daniel Castellanos, M.D., and Geetha Jayaram, M.B.B.S., M.B.A.—have a breadth of experience that has translated into creative solutions serving not only IMGs, but our entire profession. Our panelists will share their personal experiences and discuss possible solutions to help us transform barriers into opportunities in the domains of administration, advocacy, research, and leadership. They will make recommendations to help IMGs contribute to culturally responsive mental health care, education, research, administration, leadership, and advocacy.Acculturation as a Component of Immigration: Challenges of the Psychiatric Workforce: While moving for a residency position is exciting, the culture shock can be jarring for many IMG residents. The panelists in this session will address acculturation; the barriers to assimilating to a new culture; and the challenges of immigration, finding mentorship, and academic placement. Sanya Virani, M.D., M.P.H., will outline the common questions that immigrants ask as they integrate into a new culture and encounter new experiences such as living and practicing medicine in a new country. Isheeta Zalpuri, M.B.B.S., will discuss the importance of cultivating equity in the professional development of IMGs through mentorship, sponsorship, and coaching. Mohammed Molla, M.D., will discuss challenges related to finding an academic position for non-U.S. international medical graduates after completion of residency, and Vishal Madaan, M.D., will provide statistics pertaining to IMGs and offer practical ideas relevant to different stages in an IMG’s career.Challenges for IMGs in Psychiatry in 2023: Top Issues and Solutions: Using case examples and small group discussion, panelists will identify the top challenges for IMGs in today’s era and offer practical solutions. Dora-Linda Wang, M.D., will address the challenges in the post-pandemic world; Nhi-Ha T. Trinh, M.D., M.P.H., will cover the topic of dealing with microaggressions; Elie Aoun, M.D., will present on the imposter syndrome; and Ian Hunter Rutkofsky, M.D., will speak on challenges unique to IMGs from Caribbean medical schools.Tips and Tricks for IMGs Applying for Residency: What does it take to match successfully? This session aims to delve into topics like mentorship, interviewing, letters of recommendation, resume/CV, research/scholarly projects, extracurricular activities, board scores, personal statement, commitment to psychiatry, and signaling/tokens as pertaining to the residency application process. Our experienced panel of residency training directors—Benedicto Borja, M.D., Rashi Aggarwal, M.D., Jason Curry, D.O., Almari Ginory, D.O., Farooq Mohyuddin, M.D., and Vineeth P. John, M.D., M.B.A., will share practical strategies to increase the chances of successfully matching, understand the common challenges in the match process, the role of a mentor in navigating these hurdles, and identification of ways to strengthen one’s application for the residency match.Navigating Career Paths for IMGs: Charting Your Successful Future: Choosing a career path can be challenging for IMGs and American medical graduates alike, making this an interesting session for any resident fellow member or early career psychiatrist wondering “What next?” This session will delve into career paths in academic psychiatry, public psychiatry, and private practice. Our panelist and session chair, Toni Johnson Liggins, M.D., will identify the pathways and barriers to the development of a successful career in academic psychiatry. Leon Ravin, M.D., will discuss challenges and advantages of providing psychiatric care in state-operated systems and highlight opportunities for influencing health care policies, participating in government task forces and community stakeholder-driven work groups, working with law enforcement, and consulting with state legislatures. Vikas Malik, M.D., will present on different types of private practice models and the challenges in starting and running a successful private practice.We are excited about these sessions and look forward to seeing our IMG colleagues there! ■Vikas Gupta, M.D., M.P.H., and Lama Bazzi, M.D., are the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the IMG Subcommittee of APA’s Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee. ISSUES NewArchived