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Applying to US medical residency programs as an international medical graduate (IMG) can pose different challenges compared to US medical graduates. As programs receive hundreds or even thousands of applications every year, the landscape for residency in the US has become extremely competitive. One aspect that IMGs can use to their advantage is applying to residency programs that are historically IMG-friendly.
Programs that are considered IMG-friendly typically have a history of accepting IMGs into their program and have a diverse group of residents. Since many residency programs consider how well you'll fit into their program, finding and applying to programs that are IMG-friendly can significantly help your chances of matching by showing you have a common background as other residents in their program.
In this blog post, we will go over how to find IMG-friendly programs, how applying to them can positively impact your chances of matching, and what some of the top IMG-friendly states and specialties are. Let's dive into it!
Finding IMG-friendly residency programs
Researching Residency Program Websites
IMG-friendly programs can be found in many different ways. One way to see if a program is IMG-friendly is by checking the residency program's website. Many times, residency program websites have resident rosters that contain information about their residents, including the medical school attended. You can use this information to see what percentage of residents went to an international medical school and see if there are any alumni from your school who are residents there. This information can give you a good sense of whether the program has a history of accepting IMGs into their program and can indicate IMG friendliness.
In addition, you can use the residency program's website to learn information about the program director. If the program director is an IMG, or in the chance that they are an alumnus/alumna from your medical school, this could also be a good sign that the program is IMG friendly.
Utilize Online Resources and Databases
There are multiple databases online that IMGs can use as a resource to find IMG-friendly residency programs and find information about programs.
AMA FREIDA Residency & Fellowship Database:
The AMA's FREIDA is a database that contains numerous different information about residency programs such as application information, USMLE Step requirements for interview consideration, acceptance based on visa status, demographics related to medical education, features and benefits of the program, average salary, and much more. You can search for programs by specialty and state. Students and graduates can use this information to find IMG-friendly programs by viewing the demographics provided to see what percentage of residents/fellows are IMGs.
Residency Explorer:
Residency Explorer is a free online resource and can be accessed for free with an AAMC login. You can use multiple different filters to search residency programs such as location, applicant type, visas accepted or sponsored, special tracks, and type of positions available. A unique feature about Residency Explorer is that it allows you to compare different programs. Additionally, you can set up your profile with information related to your background and characteristics. Residency Explorer then matches your profile to programs to see how well you align with each one.
Of note, specific information that you can use from this database when finding IMG-friendly programs are Interview Rates by Applicant Characteristic and Percentage of Residents by Medical Student Type, which provides percentages for US and Non-US IMGs. You can use this data to get a good feel for how many residents are IMGs within their program and if they have a history of sending interview invites to IMGs.
Networking with Other IMGs & Residents
Making new connections and reaching out to people in your circle is a great way to find IMG-friendly programs while also possibly getting your foot in the door. By joining professional societies and organizations and networking with other IMGs, you may gain insight into what programs are IMG-friendly and make new connections at said programs.
Additionally, you can learn about IMG-friendly programs through social media platforms and forums. Thanks to the vast reach of the internet, you can connect with numerous IMGs all over the world at the palm of your hand. Interacting with other IMGs can offer valuable insight into their own personal experiences and knowledge. However, keep in mind that not all information found on social media platforms is accurate or relevant.
You may also want to consider attending workshops or seminars at your medical school that cover the US residency match process. Connecting with other professionals and IMGs can help you to gain new insights and even expand your network.
MD2B Connect IMG-Friendly Residency Programs Tool
We offer a free IMG Friendly Residency Programs tool on our website that you can access here. This tool contains information about Step exam requirements, US clinical experience requirements, graduation year cutoffs, percentage of IMGs in the programs, and visa sponsorships, if any. Since this tool is offered for free, we collect information from residency program websites and databases and update it regularly, we currently only have data for the following specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, pathology, and pediatrics.
NRMP Match Data
The NRMP releases data regularly about the residency match related to applicant type, state and specialty specific, and much more. This data can be extremely insightful when considering where to apply geographically, which factors programs in various specialties prioritize in applications, and more. You can access all the data they have by visiting their website here.
How it can impact your chances of matching
It's no secret that medical school in the US is very expensive. Because of this, the number of students that are able to afford attending US medical schools does not meet the number of available residency positions in the US. This has caused a gap leading to a doctor shortage in the US. IMGs help to fill that gap and close this shortage.
However, because US students receive education directly related to the healthcare system in the US, programs typically favor them as they are already familiarized with US medical processes and procedures. Some programs may also have university-affiliated hospitals where the majority of residents are graduates of a given university. Because programs want to ensure that you will make a good fit at their program and with their residents, having a similar background to their resident roster can be an important factor. This is why finding programs that have or have had IMGs in their program can help you to match there.
While it is possible to match into a program that is not predominantly IMG-friendly, applying to IMG-friendly programs can help align your candidacy with the program’s fit.
Top IMG-Friendly Residency Programs
The following lists are based on NRMP Match Data pertaining to specialty and geographic data. You can access this information through the NRMP website by visiting their Match data for more detailed information.
Specialties
The following specialties are considered the most IMG friendly specialties:
Family Medicine
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Pathology
Neurology
States
The following states are known to be the most IMG-friendly for matching:
New York
Texas
Florida
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are multiple methods for finding IMG friendly residency programs. There are various online tools and databases that IMGs have at their fingertips that they can utilize on their own time to research IMG friendly programs. Additionally, there are numerous in-person opportunities such as joining professional orgs or attending conferences that can help expand your network and connect you with other IMGs. These connections can offer valuable insight and even help advocate on your behalf during the match season.
Regardless of where you gather your information, it is highly recommended that you verify it on the residency program's official website, provided it is up-to-date and accessible. This should have the most relevant and accurate data. You may even reach out to the program coordinator for further questions, should you need more information.
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