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.
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