IMG Masterclass

E65: "We Matched!" - A double story of success...

Listen to these 2 Colombians—two applicants, physicians that I couched. With Ferney, from the begging of his journey and with Daniela, supporting her during her 4th affair at matching. 

Both have a remarkable story. For one of them, one attempt, one process, and success. For her, 4 attempts, thousands of dollars and lots of frustrations, and a whole transformation in how to take on and improve the application process. But never giving up, like her Facebook group quotes, here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=usaresidency%20match%20-%20never%20give%20up!

I hope you enjoy this happy discussion as we celebrate their matches and get exposure to the emotions and feelings of becoming a doctor in the USA. 

These two pupils were successful, and you can be one of them as well! so remember, invest in your future. With some tips of advice and experience, I can help by reaching out to me and requesting my Coaching and Life Coaching consultation services to empower you and give you the skills to make it into GME in the USA. I will help you with the tools to help you find a program but understand that I cannot get you into the programs. I have no control over that, and it's 100% up to your dedication and efforts, so if interested, please click the link below. 

Invest in you and your future, and talk to me! I can help, and I hope to see you succeed as my colleagues and friends Daniela & Ferney did! - So click below to get redirected.

https://www.osoriomd.com/consulting/

As most of my guests have agreed, having a consultant, it’s the way to go when you want to have a clear understanding of what it takes to be a doctor in the USA!

The certification path could be confusing and remarkably overwhelming, and a counselor could make the difference between success or failure…

With my 20 years of experience, you will get premium advice, and I will be “holding your hand” and assisting you along the way; so far, some of my followers have shadowed me and have really enjoyed the experience of working by my side.

The information that I have compiled over the years and the experience of having had practice in the USA gives me the background and strength of knowledge in directing you in the right direction, so you don’t “ get lost” and help you accomplish all your dreams and goals.

After following my website, I hope that you have gathered the understanding based on real-life experiences that every person’s journey is a different one, some smooth, some complex, but for the most part, as Colin Powell said:

“There are no secrets for success; it is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” 

& “A willing mind Makes a hard journey easy,” Phillip Massinger.

For a convenient initial face-to-face Skype consultation, up to 60 minutes, please fill your application for review, a preliminary discussion, and coordinate a convenient timeframe for both of us.

And for just $199, you will get 100% of my attention, and we will carefully analyze your situation and implement strategies to move forward on this path. We will help you accomplish every dream, and I will coach you along the way.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Alonso Osorio, M.D. 

I want to congratulate all 7500+ IMGs that were Matched during the 2021 ECFMG residency application process. Its been one of the toughest years for all of us and incredibly challenging for those who put themselves through the grind. 

Brighter things are coming to us soon. All we can hope for is to do our part by studying hard, building a strong resume (CV), personal statement, improving our English, and perfecting our interviewing skills by working on verbal & non-verbal communication.

And to motivate you all, I am posting Dr. Daniela Rodriguez's thank you message on her Facebook group, with her permission, and which I have found to be extremely motivating, moving, and at the same time encourages all of us on how to beat the odds.

USA Residency Match - Never Give Up! that, as of now, has 8.1K members benefiting from everyone's feedback. Feel free to join and visit her at: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2629554533956743

So, for now, I will leave you with this: 

At 10:58 am yesterday, I received an email from the NRMP saying, "Congratulations, you have matched!" And immediately, my hands began to shake out of joy and excitement. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Finally, after four attempts, my dream of becoming a pediatrician will come true.

Yet, looking back at the path it took to get me here, I can say that I found it filled with tough challenges and obstacles. But thanks to those challenges, I am the person that I am today. During the process, I met amazing people who were willing to lend me a hand without ever meeting face to face. Not only that, I became a better person, appreciating more and more the unconditional love my parents, siblings, and the rest of my family members have always given me. Most importantly, God's timing is perfect.

Since I started this process, it hasn't been easy at all. It became even more challenging when, after three consecutive tries, I could not match. Each time, it felt I was not going to achieve it. I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But, at the same time, there was something that kept pushing me to keep fighting. After each defeat, I gained more strength. It was within those disappointing moments; I decided to create this group. Funny! What began as a Facebook group soon became an international family. I met people who were also going through the same difficulties as I was. Although not everyone was on the same path, what brought us together was the desire and willingness to keep fighting. I realized that I was not alone and that if you (the group) believed in me, I should believe in myself.

Today, I am writing to say "Thank you" with all my heart. But most importantly, to tell you that anything is possible and that if I could achieve what I achieved yesterday, everyone can. Never stop chasing your dreams, and don't let the negative thoughts limit you.

I also thank my parents, my friends, and everyone who was part of this process.

Never give up! 

Here are some of the people she wanted to thank, and I felt It was necessary to give them valid recognition for their input to accomplish her dreams...

Andrea Cortés Fernández

Alonso Osorio, M.D.

Residency Success

Varun Agrawal Sana

Khan Zeel Bhatt

Hernán Goicochea

Rossana Romero Orozco

Arielle Richey Levine

Héctor Fauricio Pinilla

Juan P. Ruiz Juan Camilo Rodriguez Cuellar

& Thanks for listening once again, and remember, episode 65 has Dr. Rodriguez as a guest, telling us about tips and advice about her path and the emotions during March 15th that is still flowing to this day. Good luck, Doctors, and get ready for July 1st. 

Stay in touch, and Remember to Download and Share!

Alonso Osorio, M.D. 

www.OsorioMD.com 

The requirements for ECFMG Certification include passing examinations in the medical sciences, clinical skills, and communications skills. Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) are the exams currently administered that satisfy the medical science examination requirement.

Prior to its suspension by the USMLE program in early 2020, the former USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam was the exam that satisfied the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG Certification.

In response to the suspension and subsequent discontinuation of Step 2 CS by the USMLE program, ECFMG|FAIMER has offered pathways to allow international medical graduates (IMGs) to meet the clinical and communication skills requirements.

ECFMG|FAIMER first offered the pathways to IMGs participating in the 2021 Match and is continuing and expanding the pathways for IMGs participating in the 2022 Match.

The pathways allow ECFMG Certification to continue to perform its critical function of providing assurance to the public and U.S. graduate medical education (GME) programs that IMGs are ready to enter supervised training.

They also allow qualified IMGs to continue to pursue ECFMG Certification and to compete for positions in U.S. GME.

In addition pathway applicants also must meet all requirements for the pathway to which they apply.

Detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions for each of the following pathways will be published as they become available.

Important Note: Applicants who failed Step 2 CS one or more times must apply through Pathway 6 regardless of whether they meet the eligibility requirements for other Pathways.

• Pathway 1: Already Licensed to Practice Medicine in Another Country
  
  Pathway 1 is intended for applicants who currently hold or have recently held a license/registration to practice medicine without supervision. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for Pathway 1 must apply to Pathway 1 unless they failed Step 2 CS.

• Pathway 2: Already Passed a Standardized Clinical Skills Exam for Medical Licensure
  
  This pathway is intended for applicants who are not eligible for Pathway 1, but who successfully completed a secure, standardized clinical skills exam as a requirement for medical licensure or registration in a country other than the United States.

• Pathway 3: Medical School Accredited by Agency Recognized by World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
• Pathway 4: Medical School Participates in U.S. Federal Student Loan Program or Is Accredited by an Agency that Has Received a Determination of Comparability by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA)
• Pathway 5: Medical School Issues Degree Jointly with a U.S. Medical School Accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
  
  Pathways 3, 4, and 5 are intended for applicants who have not yet obtained a license/registration to practice medicine without supervision (Pathway 1) and who have not already passed an acceptable standardized clinical skills exam for medical licensure (Pathway 2). An applicant to Pathway 3, 4, or 5 must be a student or a recent graduate of a medical school that meets eligibility requirements established by ECFMG.

• Pathway 6: Evaluation of Clinical Patient Encounters by Licensed Physicians
  
  Pathway 6 is intended for applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Pathway 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and/or have failed Step 2 CS one or more times. To meet the requirements for Pathway 6, the applicant’s clinical skills must be evaluated by licensed physicians using ECFMG’s Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX). Additional details and instructions for meeting the requirements for Pathway 6 will be provided as soon as they are available.

Exceptions

ECFMG will consider exceptions to certain pathway eligibility requirements for limited and specific reasons.

Application Timing

The on-line application process for Pathways 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is expected to open in April 2021.

The on-line application process for Pathway 6 is expected to open in July 2021.

Dr. Cyrillo Araujo is a Senior Member Radiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, FL. He Trained at Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil, followed by a Residency training in Radiology with Board Certification at the same institution followed by a  Research Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and subsequently another Fellowship in Body Imaging at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Subsequently getting certified by the American Board of Radiologist. 

Through our eloquent interaction we abstract the trail of his accomplishments and dissect the crucial moments and and mentorships that determined his current professional status.

The importance of this discussion is based on the richness of information in how to overcome adversities and how to push forward and accept the challenge when an opportunity arises. 

His perseverance and dedication is shown on how he jumped the hoops imposed by certifying institutions and immigrations requirements to eventually meet the dream of becoming a board certified radiologist in the USA. 

His not only a physician, but also a very dedicated family man and business entrepreneur that enjoys his current cancer based practice and teaching with the residency and fellowship training programs at the University of South Florida (USF), Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, FL. 

This episode is Part 2 of 2.

Best, 

Alonso Osorio, M.D. 

Alternative Training Immigration and Board Certification Pathways for FMGs to become Radiologist in the USA.

Dr. Cyrillo Araujo is a Senior Member Radiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, FL. He Trained at Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil, followed by a Residency training in Radiology with Board Certification at the same institution followed by a  Research Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and subsequently another Fellowship in Body Imaging at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Subsequently getting certified by the American Board of Radiologist. 

Through our eloquent interaction we abstract the trail of his accomplishments and dissect the crucial moments and and mentorships that determined his current professional status.

The importance of this discussion is based on the richness of information in how to overcome adversities and how to push forward and accept the challenge when an opportunity arises. 

His perseverance and dedication is shown on how he jumped the hoops imposed by certifying institutions and immigrations requirements to eventually meet the dream of becoming a board certified radiologist in the USA. 

His not only a physician, but also a very dedicated family man and business entrepreneur that enjoys his current cancer based practice and teaching with the residency and fellowship training programs at the University of South Florida (USF), Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, FL. 

This episode is Part 1 of 2 with our phenomenal guest, so be in the look out for the next download that will enlighten all of us in finding the way to make "Dedication to Meet the Opportunity" to eventually Succeed. 

Enjoy this Amazing Juicy show!

Best, 

Alonso Osorio, M.D. 

 

 

 

Show fewer education 

Angela Aboutalib, MD

National Director of Quality for US Acute Care Solutions / Integrated Acute Care.

Medical School:

St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine

West Bay, Cayman Islands

Residency:

Internal Medicine West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL

Dr. Aboutalib has been practicing as a hospitalist and teaching attending physicians for the past few years. She earned her medical degree at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman and completed her residency at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL.

Dr. Aboutalib is a member of the Leading Physicians of the World. In 2014, that group presented her with the Top Internist in Chicago award. She is also a member of the American College of Physicians  & Outside of the hospital, she enjoys various hobbies, including yoga, Pilates, traveling the world, and baking.

A dynamic conversation about her multicultural and overseas medical school attendance will eventually, after perseverance, accomplish her dream of becoming a physician in the US. Her IMG story is one of many in which, despite the road limitations and life intricacies, she overcame and got ahead professionally and became a successful internist specializing in Hospital Medicine. 

We discuss the amazing option for an FMG / IMG on what is to become a Hospital as a long-term career path. In general, the USA has a significant shortage of doctors specializing in Hospital Medicine.

Companies like hers are always on the lookout for motivated physicians with the desire to explore a pathway in this specialty.

Hospital Medicine could become a fantastic option for Family Medicine Specialists, Internists, and Pediatricians alike, which allows an advantageous and flexible career choice, especially for women who also want to pursue a life as mothers in their household while having a structured, predictable work practice.

Enjoy our episode together; it is an amazing story to be heard!

Thanks again, and don't forget to share!

Best of all,

Your coach and mentor, 

Alonso Osorio, M.D.

 

 

E59: Medical Recruiting Essentials for FMGs with Mr. Darrin Grella. Finding the Dream Job Post Residency?

Medical Recruitment in the USA

 

Mr. Darrin Grella is Vice President, Clinical Recruiting at US Acute Care Solutions based out of Akron, Ohio, United States. Darrin has nearly twenty years of recruiting and marketing experience as a top performer in the recruiting industry, both as a third-party and a global executive recruiter across various sectors. Darrin is passionate about people, seeing them achieve their goals and ultimately helping them grow more than just professionally.

Darrin joined the legacy EMP in 2010 and currently serves as the Vice President of Clinical Recruiting for USACS. Before joining, Darrin owned his contingency recruiting firm focusing on medical, marketing, and other professionals.

His background includes healthcare, emergency medicine, engineering, technology, and marketing for some of today's Fortune 100 companies. He is a certified career coach, interview consultant, and author. In 2009 he published "The 10 Key Interviewing techniques," which was the outcome of his career consulting series for business schools in the Big10 network and other colleges and universities. Though he attended the University of Cincinnati, he ultimately graduated from Malone College with a BA in Business Management & Marketing and an AS in Spanish.

The interview is a strong interaction to expose physician and medical provider recruitment in the USA. As Foreign Medical Graduates Make it into America, we struggle to establish a network of connections early on. We do not focus on the job search task until very later on in the training path, sometimes rushing into making life-changing decisions that will crucially impact the first years of independent practice as an attending physician.

Throughout my career, I did personally get acquainted with the relationship between physician and recruiter. If guided in the right way, this one could be a fruitful one that will open a world of potential opportunities that, if balanced and considered the proper way, could lead to the right decision when looking for that "ideal dream job" that we all strive to find.

I hope this opens your mind to some other considerations that become crucial as you move along the educational journey. This one is an episode so juicy that I know it's going to elicit many great comments and interactions. Whatever your specialty becomes, there is always a team of recruiters willing to help you find the job you are looking for. Do your research. Search well and follow your heart! Good luck in this path. Interviewing will never stop.  Stay in touch and remain curious,

Best,

Alonso Osorio, M.D.

The Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) test of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has been discontinued. The two organizations that sponsor the exam, the FSMB, and NBME, announced last Tuesday, January 26th, 2021. 

Step 2 CS has been an all-day exam and typically requires test-takers to gather clinical information, perform physical exams, and communicate with colleagues about a set of standardized patients.

The test was aimed to evaluate interpersonal and communication skills in a clinical setting, as opposed to a multiple-choice exam.

But critics of Step 2 CS say it's too expensive and time-consuming, often posing unnecessary medical students' barriers.

Following Step 2 CS's postponement last May of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) stated that part of the test will now be discontinued permanently.

Initially, the organizations planned to suspend Step 2 CS for 12 to 18 months to bring back a modified and improved version. But "after reviewing current and anticipated progress with the exam and in consideration of the rapidly evolving medical education, practice, and technology landscapes," the organizations said that the exam step would be terminated.

"We have no plans to bring back Step 2 CS, but we intend to take this opportunity to focus on working with our colleagues in medical education and at the state medical boards to determine innovative ways to assess clinical skills," the USMLE statement said.

Initially, the organizations planned to suspend Step 2 CS for 12 to 18 months to bring back a modified and improved version.

But "after reviewing current and anticipated progress with the exam and in consideration of the rapidly evolving medical education, practice, and technology landscapes," the organizations said that the exam step would be terminated.

"We have no plans to bring back Step 2 CS, but we intend to take this opportunity to focus on working with our colleagues in medical education and at the state medical boards to determine innovative ways to assess clinical skills".

Despite Step 2 CS's cancellation, clinical reasoning and communication will continue to be assessed in other steps, including computer simulations in Step 3 and bolstered content in Step 1, the organizations said.

This could be taken in a concerning way by the FMG / IMG community and is still to see what will be determined and the new process that will take place and be established to evaluate that realm of proficiencies. It could be seen as a disadvantage at this point, but my advice is not to panic and wait and see what happens once the dust settles!

See my YouTube videos on this topic here: 

English Version:

https://youtu.be/oWcVbdglsWE

Spanish Version:

https://youtu.be/_jibh-MVVtc

Do not forget to subscribe, share and leave a comment!

Also, sign up for notifications when the newest video or podcast gets published.

Good bye for now, 

Alonso Osorio, M.D.

 

E57: Santiago Acosta Quiroga

How you must study to obtain a USMLE Score

on both Step 1 & 2 in the 99th Percentile!

Santiago Quiroga is a Foreign Medical Graduate from Colombia – currently going through his internship at Fundación Cardio-Infantil, Colombia. He attended Medical School at one of the most relevant if not the best Medical School in Colombia: Colegio Mayor Nuestra Senora del Rosario.

Despite the limitations that COVID-19 has imposed on IMG/FMGs to set up rotations outside of the country, he has found a way to strategize and plan his future.   

After extensive research and after collecting the necessary evidence to launch himself into this endeavor, he has proven that there is “NO MAGIC SAUCE or SPECIAL SECRET” to score in the 98-99th percentiles of the USMLE test, in both Steps 1 & 2.

The Key: Studying with a purpose, ongoing deliberate practice, perseverance, hard work, and dedication. Yes, you read it, 98TH and 99th Percentile for each of those tests.

We discuss the method that he used and implemented to break the barriers at test-taking. He also proved himself that his English was good enough and proficient to launch his own YouTube channel – at Santiago AQ. The link for his channels are here below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA0bsdADDU6SZLPoCTwpQVQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGcDXaTo6970DZn9mwUXhw

Instagram: @Santiago.aq

Please follow him, like his channel, and do not forget to subscribe!

Wishing you a happy 2021,

Good Bye for now,

Alonso Osorio, M.D.

 

Episode 56: FMG & IMG Podcast 1st Anniversary!

Dr. Aaron Osborne, M.D. Ph.D. "The Real Dr. OZ"

Thanks to everyone for supporting my project!

A dream that I had for the last four years finally became true on December 29th of 2020.

So, 56 Episodes later, and more than 20,000 downloads across the planet (65 countries) in every continent, has helped many International Medical Graduates aim for their dreams, giving them the tools and advice necessary to immigrate and become physicians in the USA.

Strength comes with numbers, diffusion of information, and social media sharing is critical for our community's growth and can impact many more listeners.

We believe that an altruistic effort like this one is worth the time and money spent, knowing that probably something I have experienced and lived in the U.S. will be useful to someone out there.

If you find it valuable and has helped you in one way or another, please send us a message to:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Today's episode was dedicated to our community of lay-people, the world's citizens, on evidence-based facts. We provide well-intentioned information to promote public health awareness and encourage and motivate the general public to get vaccinated as the COVID-19 immunization becomes accessible for massive utilization across the world.

As physicians, we commit to our society, and in part, we must be educators about healthy actions and habits. Vaccines have been the most critical scientific advancement that has saved the most life in humankind's history. To learn the importance and benefits of vaccinations and to trust their usage will be the most crucial action during 2021 to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.  

Our Guest, Dr. Aaron Osborne, M.D., is also a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. He is a Board Certified, and Residency Trained Emergency Physician. With the background, scientific knowledge, and experience of working with mRNA technology, he comes to the show to have a chat and give us reliable, truthful information on what's behind the COVID-19 Vaccine engineered by Pfizer and Moderna.

This episode is a fun and interactive discussion on many topics that are creating misinformation in social media. We felt that it was necessary to intervene and provide reliable and accurate information that educates the public and breaks down the barriers to understand better and accept a massive scientific discovery that has become, thus far, the potentially most impactful way to combat this virus that has wiped millions of people across the planet, and to some of us, has affected our families and may have taken away some of our most loved ones.

Merry Christmas 2020 and Happy "Corona-Free 2021"!

Please share – it would be the best Xmas present you can give to your friends and acquaintances on social media. Soon, the discussion will be available as well on our YouTube Channel.

Stay in touch for more to come next year!

Happy holidays,

Alonso Osorio, M.D. FACEP, FAAEM, FAAFP.