Dr. Ima Ebong is a native of the Bahamas who is practicing on a J-1 visa. Though she went to medical school in the US, that process wasn't straightforward as she was still considered an IMG. Listen to her perspective on getting into US medical training as an international student. You can read more about her here.

Dr. Ima Ebong forms part of the expert team at the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute where she assesses and cares for patients who have epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s in bioengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. After having completed her studies, she served within the Ministry of Health in the Bahamas which inspired her to start medical school.

The journey to becoming a physician was far from an easy one. However, Dr. Ebong, despite several setbacks, persevered and was finally offered a place at the University of Kentucky (UK) College of medicine, and later at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami where she completed her residency and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology.

Currently, she is appointed as an assistant professor of neurology and clinical neurophysiology at UK College of Medicine.

Dr. Ebong is also passionate about diversity and the representation of ethnic minorities in the medical field. As such, for many years she has founded or been involved in various programs geared at increasing inclusivity of underrepresented minorities in the medical field.

Her clinical interests include general neurology, focal epilepsy, generalized epilepsy, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, neuropathy, myopathy, motor neuron disease and electrodiagnostics.

Dr. Ebong's advises prospective international medical students and IMGs alike to:

Educate yourself on the processes necessary to achieve your goals including visas and financial requirements.
Do not be discouraged if you are not the traditional student. Many students, like her, choose to pursue post-graduate studies before medical school and residency.
You only need one "yes" - Rejection is an essential part of life, and more "no's" just mean that you're pushing as hard as you should.
Value your support system throughout your journey.

You can reach out to Dr. Ebong on twitter @ImaEbongMD or at the University of Kentucky's website.

Listen to the full episode here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-img-roadmap/id1490731292

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/45NNJ7ewtqynqyssbwm1xz

Google Podcasts:https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1490731292/the-img-roadmap-podcast

RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/the-img-roadmap-GE0MMg