The IMG Roadmap Podcast

The IMG Roadmap Podcast

By Dr. Nina LumBusinessCareers
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The IMG Roadmap Podcast episodes

  • 81. Want To Be a Surgeon? 4 IMG Surgeons Weigh In!

    This episode puts the spotlight on some of our IMG guests who serve in a surgeon capacity at their respective hospitals, namely Dr. Stanley Ogu, Dr. Amara Okoye, Dr. Ash Soni and Dr. Brett Johnson.

    Dr. Stanley Ogu

    DR. STANLEY OGU is a Nigerian born,  international medical graduate turned board certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Houston, Texas.

    Dr. Stanley Ogu is a cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon with Lexington Plastic Surgeons in Sugar Land, Texas. He is a candidate member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery and an associate fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

    Dr. Ogu is well liked by his patients for his warm and caring personality, as well as his attention to detail. He is committed to helping patients achieve their unique desired results and become the best version of themselves, through both surgical and non-surgical techniques.

    Listen to Dr. Ogu’s full episode here!

    Dr. Amara Okoye

    Do you ever feel like becoming a surgeon is impossible just because you went to a Caribbean medical school? Or maybe that your need for visa sponsorship for residency makes it unheard of? If you have any desire to become a surgeon, then listen on.

    Dr. Okoye is à Canadian- American who graduated from Ross University. She categorizes herself as a student who struggled through undergraduate education. Yet, she vowed that she wasn’t going to allow herself to struggle through medical school. So what did she do?

    Listen to Dr. Okoye’s full episode here!

    Dr. Ash Soni

    Dr. Soni attended Imperial Medical School in London. While in school he began electives in the US to get a feel for whether he would pursue residency in the US. He started with a match into a research fellowship at Cornell leading to a match into general surgery at Johns Hopkins. 

    His time in the US was rounded out with a match in plastic and reconstructive surgery in Seattle at University of Washington, followed by a year long fellowship back in the UK. After all his training, Dr. Soni started his own private clinic, The Soni Clinic.

    Along with his story of determination and growth, Dr. Soni gives us a few pieces of advice to carry along our own journeys.

    Listen to Dr. Soni’s full episode here!

    Dr. Brett Johnson

    Can an IMG have a competitive enough application to land a surgery-based residency? The short answer is yes - but not without hard work and determination! 

    Coming to share his story of persistence, grit and consistent effort, Guyanese-born PGY2 general surgery resident Dr. Brett Johnson joins us on this episode hoping to inspire IMGs all over the world.

    Dr. Johnson's path to residency was not without obstacles. He faced several challenges including adjusting to the American system when it came to USMLE exams.


    Listen to Dr. Johnson’s full episode here!

    46 min
  • 80. How To Write A Personal Statement Program Directors Want To Read

    This episode is based on a webinar which was held to help intentional, hard-working, self-starting IMGs to write personal statements that yield results.

    Keep listening to find out how to use your personal statement to make your ERAS application stand out!

    Here are a few of the most important tips worth using when drafting your personal statement:

    1. Identify and understand your audience.
    2. Look out for personal statement red flags.
    3. Master the art of proper structure and storytelling.
    4. Learn how to evoke emotion from the reader.
    5. Be confident and clear in your writing
    6. What is the importance of understanding your audience?

      • It’s all about tailoring your personal statement to suit your specific audience to achieve your desired outcome.
      • In order of importance, you should consider the program director, faculty, program coordinator and residents as your audience.
      • According to an NRMP program directors survey, 78% of program directors rank personal statements as 3.5/5 in importance when it comes to what influences their choice of candidates to invite for an interview.
      • The personal statement provides a 360 degree view of the applicant.
      • Personal statement important points vary from specialty to specialty.
      • Therefore, as an IMG, you should consider:

        • Do your words attract or repel?
        • Are you properly highlighting your personal attributes, character traits, specialty specific strengths adequately?
        • Are you stressing what particular value your accrued skills and experience would add to the program?
        • How do your career and personal goals coincide with those of the program?
        • What role does story-telling play in writing an excellent personal statement?

          • Storytelling grabs the attention of the reader by evoking an emotional response.
          • Increases neural activity of the reader by a factor of five!
          • Can potentially trigger a release of oxytocin to encourage bonding between reader and storyteller.
          • As such, a good story must be:

            • Relatable to the intended audience.
            • Novel in terms of subject matter.
            • Fluently and coherently written.
            • Rich in the right kind of tension to keep the readers interested.
            • It must also encompass:

              • A strong character.
              • A compelling obstacle.
              • A resolution of how the character overcame that obstacle.
              • Red flags to avoid:

                • Poor grammar, errors in syntax, and typos.
                • Plagiarism.
                • Taboo subjects such as politics, extreme opinions.
                • Vague stories.
                • Listing out your CV
                • Improperly addressing potential areas of concern such as gap years and transferring schools.
                • Finally, the three step process to write an outstanding personal statement is as follows:

                  1. Focus on structure.
                  2. Curate content carefully.
                  3. Understand the importance of context.
                  4. To learn more about personal statement writing, you can sign up for the IMGRoadmap Course, or access free resources on drninalum.com.

                    You can also listen to the full episode on Apple, Google Podcasts & Spotify. 

                    1 hr 21 min
                  5. 79. IMGRoadmap Series #87 Dr. Fareeha Nasir (Internal Medicine)

                    How can you as an IMG overcome your inevitable challenges and land residency in a specialty as competitive as internal medicine? Pakistani-born Dr. Fareeha Nasir approached the residency application process with determination and confidence, which ultimately led to her gaining success. Keep listening to find out her advice to help you do the same!

                    Dr. Nasir graduated from the Islamabad medical and dental college, Islamabad, Pakistan in 2019. She recently joined her medical residency in New York as of July 1st 2021.

                    When asked about the challenges she had to overcome along her US medical residency journey, Dr. Nasir highlighted the following:

                    • She did not have much guidance.
                    • She achieved average scores at the USMLE exams.
                    • She experienced a communication barrier and a need to adjust to the US medical education system.
                    • Since she required a visa, she encountered difficulties with regard to program requirements and limitations.
                    • As such, Dr. Nasir advises IMGs who share similar challenges to:

                      • Just get into the system, regardless of how you have to do it. Getting one foot in is an integral step.
                      • Keep an open mind – It is not necessary to only match into university-based programs. Community programs can also produce internationally successful residents!
                      • Be humble and do not let your ego dictate your choices.
                      • Work hard and be consistent.
                      • Make your own name and create your own medical success story.
                      • With regard to residency applications in particular, Dr. Nasir gives the following advice:

                        • Keep your application as short as possible.
                        • Ensure that your application is interesting and grabs the attention of program coordinators at first glance.
                        • Speak about common EMRs, locations, and other relevant information with your target program to set yourself apart.
                        • Consult with others who are experienced in the field.
                        • Take the hobby section seriously – briefly highlight unique hobbies to create conversation points and show positive aspects of your personality.
                        • Garner as much US clinical experience as possible to bolster your application.
                        • As such, throughout her application story, Dr. Nasir:

                          • Applied to 150 programs in Internal Medicine.
                          • Called and emailed programs asking for requirements.
                          • Applied to some programs where she did not meet the cut off score.
                          • Scored 4 interviews.
                          • Stressed the importance of location since her family lived in Philadelphia.
                          • Sent letters of intent and got interviews out of it.
                          • Was mindful of the boundaries of the programs she applied to.
                          • Dr. Nasir did all this under her mantra for success which reads:

                            “Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Mark 9:23

                            She is eager to help other IMGs along their own journeys. You can reach out to her via:

                            • Instagram: @fareehanasir12
                            • Listen to the full episode using:

                              Apple, Spotify & Google Podcasts.

                              33 min
                            • 78. IMGRoadmap Series #86 Dr. Esther Nkem Ufot (Family Medicine)

                              Are you curious as to how you can combine your Family Medicine residency with your other passions? Family Medicine attending Dr. Esther Nkem Ufot who also specializes in Obesity and Lifestyle Medicine is here to show you that it is possible!

                              Currently serving in Atlanta, Dr. Ufot attended medical school at the University of Benin, Nigeria, where she graduated in 2011, before migrating to the US that same year.

                              Dr. Ufot was always passionate about preventative medicine. As such, she elected to focus on Obesity Medicine. She also stated the following as some of the possible Family Medicine pathways and opportunities:

                              • Obstetrics
                              • Geriatrics
                              • Obesity medicine
                              • Dr. Ufot also discussed the following challenges that she experienced when transitioning to working in the US:

                                • She did not have the proper paperwork from Nigeria needed for the ECFMG process.
                                • She lacked guidance.
                                • Because the initial part of her process took quite a while, she decided to do all of her USMLE steps within one year.
                                • She worked in addition to preparing for the USMLE.
                                • When asked how she was able to achieve success, Dr. Ufot stressed the importance of networking and mentorship. Here are a few of the highlights of her story which exemplified this:

                                  • Dr. Ufot, through networking, got a job in a medical capacity that cemented her interest in family medicine.
                                  • Her employer motivated and supported her throughout her USMLE journey by granting her time off and bonuses.
                                  • This doctor also helped her to score observerships with his colleagues which led to her gaining valuable letters of recommendation and clinical experience.
                                  • As such, here are a few of the highlights of Dr. Ufot’s match story:

                                    • Passed Step 1 with a score of 216
                                    • Achieved a Step 2 score of 239
                                    • Passed CS
                                    • Passed Step 3 with a score of 229
                                    • Applied in 2014 and matched in 2015
                                    • Became pregnant during the interview process
                                    • Applied to 140 programs, landing 5 interviews
                                    • Looked at criteria carefully to select programs
                                    • Personalized and made each personal statement specific to each goal program
                                    • Took care to stand out during the interview process and asked intelligent questions to mutually vet target programs.
                                    • With her journey in mind, Dr. Ufot states the following inspirational key points to share with IMGs:

                                      • Stay focused at every step.
                                      • Make everyday count.
                                      • Everybody’s path is different - own your story and put in the hard work.
                                      • Don’t give up - constant improvement is all that matters.
                                      • Consistency, commitment and passion are key.
                                      • Healthy living should always be one’s priority!
                                      • You can reach out to Dr. Ufot to find out more about her extraordinary journey via her Instagram @drnkemufot.

                                        Listen to the full episode using:

                                        Apple, Spotify & Google Podcasts.

                                        38 min
                                      • 77. IMGRoadmap Series #85 Dr. Chase DiMarco (FindARotation)

                                        Calling in from Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Chase DiMarco joins us today to talk about his new platform called FindARotation.

                                        As an IMG himself, Dr. DiMarco experienced the struggle that many students face when trying to find clinical rotations in the United States. He knows first hand the hassle of contacting physicians personally, reaching out to program coordinators and even going through rotation agencies to no avail.

                                        With these challenges  in mind, it is Dr. DiMarco’s goal to provide a viable, efficient and overall better alternative to help students find clinical rotations in the US.

                                        Thus, in 2019, FindARotation was born. In that year, Dr. DiMarco had  found himself guiding other students through the harrowing process of finding rotations and thought that they would all benefit from something more automated and effective.

                                        The platform is currently in development, where Dr. DiMarco is working tirelessly along with software engineers to ensure that the platform meets his personal standards and those of the physicians that it is to serve in the future.

                                        The platform’s official release date is estimated to be in July of 2021 and even in its Beta stages has approximately 60 physicians and 160 students ready to participate!

                                        Dr. DiMarco hopes to emulate the infamous AirBnB platform, in that the key points of FindARotation will be as follows:

                                        1. Transparency - details will be given in advance and pricing informed every step of the way.
                                        2. Efficiency - there will be autonomy for students and preceptors with no expensive middleman.
                                        3. Security - participants' details will be secured from start to finish.
                                        4. Automation - the process will be digital and modern with no strenuous effort required of the user.
                                        5. Simplicity - FindARotation will carry a sleek and user-friendly design.
                                        6. What specialties can IMGs expect to see on FindARotation?

                                          Dr. DiMarco remarked that every type of specialty has shown interest thus far.

                                          There are particularly many family and internal medicine opportunities due to the constant need for primary care providers.

                                          There are also telemedicine and lesser known specialties such as preventative and sports medicine.

                                          Dr. DiMarco outlines the following as the goal of FindARotation:

                                          1. Maximum expansion into fields such as clinical research.
                                          2. To include a housing feature for users of the platform.
                                          3. To provide a wide range of online courses to serve as orientation
                                          4. To try to make the platform as comprehensive as possible.
                                          5. You can reach out to Dr. DiMarco to learn more about how you can be a part of the future of medical education via:

                                            • Findarotation.com
                                            • Instagram: @FindARotation
                                            • Twitter: @FindARotation 
                                            • Facebook: @FindARotation
                                            • Listen to the full episode using:

                                              Apple, Spotify & Google Podcasts.

                                              18 min
                                            • 76. IMGRoadmap Series #84 Dr. Isabelle Mulango (Internal Medicine)

                                              Making the decision to pursue residency in the United States can indeed seem daunting and challenging, especially if you are not used to the US medical and educational system. Though it is true that it takes quite a bit of adjusting, IMGs like Dr. Isabelle Mulango are here to tell you that it is possible! 


                                              When asked to share her match story, Dr. Mulango outlined the following challenges she faced and how she overcame them:

                                              • Her application timeline was not clear - it's important to do your research and have a clear timeline from the get-go. Exam scheduling is important since any delays in the receipt of your results can affect your entire application process. 
                                              • She did not dedicate enough time to preparing for the exams - when preparing for USMLE exams, more than a pass is required of you. The higher your grades are, the higher your chances are of being regarded as a favorable applicant. At the same time, you should not let your scores define you, since your application comprises several other parts. 
                                              • At first, she did not have a defined strategy - To remedy this, Dr. Mulango made use of tools such as the IMGRoadmap course for guidance on her journey. Thus, she was able to plan more appropriately and tailor her application package adequately. 
                                              • Throughout the entire process from medical school to landing residency, Dr. Mulango has maintained a positive outlook and attitude. To inspire IMGs to do the same, she dropped the following gems of advice:

                                                • Problems are meant to be solved, the world is not against you. 
                                                • Be humble! Do not be afraid to seek out help and support. A strong support system is essential. 
                                                • When applying for residency, be flexible regardless of your passion. The main goal is to take care of human life in whichever way possible. 
                                                • Medicine is like an apprenticeship - you are always learning. Listen to the senior people in your field and take their advice. 

                                                • You can also find out more information about the revolutionary IMGRoadmap course here, or visit drninalum.com for a variety of free resources. Take charge and create your own medical success story today!


                                                  Listen to the full episode here: 

                                                  Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/76-imgroadmap-series-84-dr-isabelle-mulango-internal/id1490731292?i=1000528445970
                                                  Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JqdLP8U1ixb7nxZokkOPq
                                                  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/MDM0ZDJmNTQtMGI0OS00Y2YxLTkxZTQtZTA0M2E2ZmUyNDRl?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiYjOu9w4vyAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQYg


                                                  ---
                                                  Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ninalum/support
                                                  30 min
                                                • 75. IMGRoadmap Series #83 Dr. Brett Johnson (General Surgery)

                                                  Can an IMG have a competitive enough application to land a surgery-based residency? The short answer is yes - but not without hard work and determination! Coming to share his story of persistence, grit and consistent effort, PGY2 general surgery resident Dr. Brett Johnson joins us on this episode hoping to inspire IMGs all over the world.

                                                  These are some of the highlights of Dr. Johnson's journey prior to moving to the US: 

                                                  • Guyanese-born Dr. Johnson graduated from the University of Guyana School of Medicine in 2012.
                                                  • Completed 3 months of internship in Guyana.
                                                  • Migrated to Trinidad to complete a 12 month internship.
                                                  • Completed rotations in surgery, pediatrics, OBGYN and internal medicine, where he realized his passion for surgery. 
                                                  • He served as a house officer where he worked in neuro, plastic, general, orthopedic and thoracic surgery. 
                                                  • During his time as a house officer in Trinidad, Dr. Johnson decided to move to the United States and apply into Orthopedic Surgery residency programs. Unfortunately, he did not land a position in that field, but decided to take that perceived failure as an opportunity for introspection and sought to reapply the following year with an improved application package for a preliminary residency position. 

                                                    Dr. Johnson's path to residency was not without obstacles. He faced several challenges including adjusting to the American system when it came to USMLE exams, EMRs, timing and the entire residency application process. Therefore, he advises IMGs from similar backgrounds to:

                                                    • Consider the preliminary position - it's a good way to get your foot in the door and improves your chances of landing a categorical position. When Dr. Johnson applied, he checked both boxes for the preliminary and categorical positions. 
                                                    • Diversify your applications and apply to as many programs as possible. 
                                                    • Network to the best of your ability! It's helpful to spend some time in the US prior to applying to gain US clinical experience and to meet program directors and gain letters of recommendation. 
                                                    • Complete research fellowships and other such opportunities to make yourself a more competitive applicant. 
                                                    • Try to avoid gaps between medical school graduation and applying into residency, since "younger" applicants can sometimes have an advantage. 
                                                    • If you land a preliminary position, you should try your best to stand out. 
                                                    • Here are Dr. Johnson's success mantras:

                                                      • Throughout his journey, he always envisioned his life in a certain way, and has always been willing to sacrifice in order to achieve his goals. 
                                                      • He sees greatness not as an absence of failure, but as a mark of determination and persistence. 
                                                      • You can reach out to Dr. Johnson via his Instagram: @iamdrjohnson.


                                                        Listen to the full episode via:
                                                        Apple, Spotify & Google Podcasts

                                                        44 min
                                                      • 74. IMGRoadmap Series #82 Dr. Sherley Chhibber (Internal Medicine)

                                                        Can IMGs without any connections or clinical experience in the United States still land the residency position of their dreams? Dr. Sherley Chhibber joins us today to show how she achieved the impossible and cemented her opportunity as an incoming PGY-1 in Internal Medicine at the Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia. 

                                                        Dr. Chhibber, while completing the final years of her medical education at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College in Jaipur India, made the decision to start preparing for the USMLE exams with the goal of applying for residency in the US. Though the first time she applied she was not successful, Dr. Chhibber only used this perceived setback to motivate her to improve her application and apply again. The second time she applied, she got through to one of her top programs!

                                                        Here are some of the highlights of Dr. Chhibber’s interview where she dropped countless inspirational gems coming from her unique perspective:

                                                        • The timeline of her residency application into the 2020 match cycle with regard to how she prepared for the USMLE exams.
                                                        • Why her first application was not successful - pinpointing the weak points and areas for improvement.
                                                        • How Dr. Chhibber sought to improve her application through the maximization of free resources such as social media and YouTube. 
                                                        • The impact of the IMGRoadmap podcast on her journey. 
                                                        • Creating connections and networking through social media.
                                                        • Customizing her personal statement based on every goal program’s requirements when applying. 
                                                        • The importance of perfecting one’s CV and how it contributed to her successful match the second time around. 
                                                        • The challenge of preparing for USMLE during her mandatory internship year in India and achieving average scores. 
                                                        • Why exam strategy is important - understanding the format of the exam is almost as important as the knowledge required to pass it . 
                                                        • Advice to Indian IMGs on how to time their USMLE exams and entire application process. 
                                                        • Dr. Chhibber’s challenges as a visa applicant and how she overcame them. 
                                                        • And after having shared her interesting success story, Dr. Chhibber leaves the following inspirational tidbits:

                                                          • Make the most of the virtual interview - you are in your comfort-zone, so use this to your advantage. Put all of your energy into it and make it count! 
                                                          • Always make use of all of your resources, especially those which are free. 
                                                          • Believe in yourself - if she could do it with no US connections so can you! 
                                                          • You can reach out to Dr. Chhibber through her Instagram @drchibs and you can read more about her journey on her blog.

                                                            Listen to the full episode:

                                                            Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/74-imgroadmap-series-82-dr-sherley-chhibber-internal/id1490731292?i=1000526939466
                                                            Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/3wdhp2qUdH7tgNwuSlTxUI
                                                            Google Podcasts:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/ZTQwMWMxMzktMWE5MC00MjgwLWJjZGMtMmEyYmIzMTcyNmUy?sa=X&ved=0CA0QkfYCahcKEwiYjOu9w4vyAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ


                                                            24 min
                                                          • 73. IMGRoadmap Series #81 Dr. Cynthia Tan (Anesthesiology)

                                                            Have you been convinced that anesthesiology is too competitive for IMGs to get into? Incoming anesthesiology resident Dr. Cynthia Tan joins us on this episode to share her amazing story of overcoming self-doubt and pursuing her dreams, despite the many challenges she faced. Keep listening to find out how you can do the same!

                                                            Malaysian-born Dr. Tan, who migrated to Australia at an early age, completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and then decided she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She attended her first two years of medical school in Malaysia, followed by her clinical years at the University of Warwick in England. After completing one year of internship in England, she opted to apply for US residency, and she was classified as a Non-US IMG.   

                                                            Here are a few of the highlights of her interview: 

                                                            • Is anesthesiology that competitive for IMGs?
                                                            • How Dr. Tan overcame the challenge of a low step one score. 
                                                            • Finding a good mentor through networking, coming out of one's comfort-zone  and being a people-person. 
                                                            • Fighting Impostor Syndrome as an IMG.
                                                            • How does Dr. Tan face her challenges to gain success?
                                                            • Dr. Tan shares her personal journey of battling depression. 
                                                            • Dr. Tan's residency application story - from applying to 14 anesthesiology programs, a handful of preliminary positions and other specialties to landing a whopping 7 interviews. 
                                                            • A discussion on the importance of preliminary programs. 
                                                            • What is Dr. Tan's secret to landing so many interviews?
                                                            • And finally, when asked about her mantras for success, Dr. Tan stated that she constantly told herself that she is not her step score, that everything happens for a reason and that things will always get better! 
                                                            • Today, Dr. Tan is passionate about cooking, mental health and mentorship. The IMG journey is tough, but so are you! Work hard, but please look after yourself along the way. If she can do it, so can you!


                                                              Dr. Tan welcomes IMGs to contact her via her Instagram @drctstummyfillers and her email [email protected]

                                                              Listen to the full episode at:

                                                              Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/73-imgroadmap-series-81-dr-cynthia-tan-anesthesiology/id1490731292?i=1000526095225

                                                              Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1moYj7kvExEi36Lul8FPxh

                                                              Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/MjdjOGU3MGEtNTBiNy00ZjY4LTlmYWYtMmI0MThmMDkyNzRj?sa=X&ved=0CA0QkfYCahcKEwj4_p2UrLTxAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

                                                               



                                                              32 min
                                                            • 72. IMGRoadmap Series #80 Dr. Mishaal Zia (Internal Medicine)

                                                              At one point or another we all experience unforeseen circumstances which may lead to delays or changes throughout our journeys; but what matters is how we overcome these obstacles and use them to propel us. In this episode, soon to be Internal Medicine Resident Dr. Mishaal Zia shows us how she used her delays and challenges to her advantage and successfully landed her residency position!


                                                              As an ethnically Pakistani Canadian citizen, Dr. Mishaal had always dreamed of serving as a physician, which led her to pursue her medical education at the Karachi University in Pakistan. After having graduated in 2017, Dr. Mishaal, who is classified as a Non-US IMG, decided to write her Step 2 CS exam first. Since her medical school program in Pakistan was heavily based on clinical experience, she felt more prepared to do this exam first as compared to the step one. In 2019, she completed her Step one and Step 2 CK exams, both of which she passed. 

                                                              Unfortunately, the first time she applied for residency, she received two interviews but did not match into either program. With renewed motivation, she applied a second time after having improved her application package, and this time landed nine interviews eventually leading to her matching at SUNY Upstate Medical University. 

                                                              When asked what she did differently during her second match cycle to achieve such a level of success, Dr. Mishaal cited the following:

                                                              • Though she was not enable to gain any additional clinical experience during her gaps between applications, she worked on improving her personal statement and overall application. She used resources such as the IMG Roadmap course to restructure her application to make it more palatable to program coordinators. 
                                                              • She developed her virtual interviewing skills. 
                                                              • She applied for a couple's match along with her husband so they would not have to spend several years apart. 
                                                              • Dr. Mishaal also stressed the importance of time management, working diligently, taking necessary breaks and managing anxiety during the entire process. 
                                                              • Now that she has landed her residency position, Dr. Mishaal shared the following as her personal mantras for success:

                                                                • Strong, in her Muslim faith, Dr. Mishaal believes in working her absolute hardest and leaving the rest to God and His sacred timing. 
                                                                • The most rewarding parts of the life often follow challenges and come along with immense personal growth. 
                                                                • Do not let growing pains prevent you from persisting and achieving your goals. Though there may be many obstacles, you always eventually end up where you are meant to be. 
                                                                • Delays do not determine your journey, what matters is not when you got there, but the fact that you got there!
                                                                • You can reach out to Dr. Mishaal at [email protected]

                                                                  Listen to the full episode using the following links:

                                                                  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/72-imgroadmap-series-80-dr-mishaal-zia-internal-medicine/id1490731292?i=1000525233863

                                                                  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1J9ssLvy9Pns8naogWooFX

                                                                  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/ZmNjNDY2YzMtZTk3OC00NjIzLTkwMjktNDU0NTE4NGIwZWNk?sa=X&ved=0CAYQkfYCahcKEwjo25nlp7TxAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQTg

                                                                  34 min

                                                                About The IMG Roadmap Podcast

                                                                From the publisher's feed

                                                                The IMG Roadmap is the only podcast dedicated to guiding International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with success blueprints for this unique pathway.