The IMG Roadmap Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Want to stay inspired with content tailored specifically to IMG’s looking to create their medical success story? Sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠IMG Roadmap Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you never miss a beat!

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The Match can be an intimidating process, but you don’t have to face it alone–Join us as we interview Amanda from Match a Resident, dedicated to helping IMGs achieve success in the Match. Today, we break down key strategies for IMGs applying for U.S. residency. From securing impactful Letters of Recommendation to crafting a standout personal statement, Dr. Loom provides actionable advice to enhance your application.

Key Takeaways:

• Start Early: Begin your application preparations now to avoid last-minute stress.

• Letters of Recommendation: Strong, personalized letters are crucial. U.S.-based letters are beneficial but not mandatory. Ensure your letter writers have updated information about you.

• Personal Statement: Craft a compelling narrative that reflects your journey and motivations. Tailor it to your top programs, but focus on clarity and impact.

• Application Nuances: Address significant experiences or gaps in your impactful experiences section. Use the format that best highlights your strengths.

Sign up for Match a Resident for more valuable insights and use the code IMGRoadmap10 for 10% off your purchase!

Interested in writing your own medical success story? We've got you covered. Here's how you can join the IMG Roadmap Community Today:

• You can read more about the IMG Roadmap Course here: ⁠⁠imgroadmap.com/p/2024⁠
• You can read about what roadmappers say about the IMG Roadmap®️ Program here: ⁠⁠drninalum.com/testimonials⁠⁠
• Find answers to our most common questions here: ⁠⁠drninalum.com/faq⁠⁠
• Don't hesitate to reach out - email us:

- for IMG-related questions: ⁠⁠drlum@imgroadmap.com⁠⁠

- for course-related questions: ⁠⁠admin@imgroadmap.com⁠⁠

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Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ for supportive content and download our targeted ⁠⁠⁠⁠planner from our website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ and consider joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠program⁠⁠⁠⁠ to kick start your IMG journey.

As always you can click on the following links to listen to more episodes of our podcasts on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠Youtube Music⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠.⁠

Quick pause!

Want to stay inspired with content tailored specifically to IMG’s looking to create their medical success story? Sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠IMG Roadmap Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ so you never miss a beat!

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Welcome to another insightful episode of the IMG Roadmap Podcast, where we unravel the unique paths of IMGs in the medical field. In this episode, Dr. Justin Moreira takes us through his remarkable journey from pursuing diverse passions, including music, to ultimately securing a spot in radiation oncology. Keep listening to find out more about his unique journey!

Finding Purpose Amidst Pursuing Passions:

• Dr. Moreira shares his transition from exploring diverse interests, like music, to realizing his calling in medicine, particularly radiation oncology.
• Despite initial detours, his unwavering passion for oncology, fueled by personal experiences, remained the driving force.

Navigating the Match Process with Authenticity:

• He sheds light on matching without certain prerequisites, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and genuine interest in the specialty.
• Dr. Moreira's approach involved proactive engagement, mentorship, and leveraging resources like the Radiation Oncology Virtual Elective Rotation (ROVER).

Crafting a Comprehensive Application:

• Through meticulous planning, he strategically utilized all available experiences to showcase a well-rounded persona, integrating diverse extracurriculars and impactful personal narratives.
• Dr. Moreira emphasizes the significance of personalized letters of recommendation and meaningful research experiences in strengthening his application.

Tackling the Match:

• Delving into the intricacies of applying to both transitional and advanced specialty programs, Dr. Moreira demystifies the process, emphasizing the importance of persistence and resilience.
• He shares invaluable insights into navigating the complex landscape of residency applications and rankings, highlighting the role of thorough preparation and perseverance.

The Mantra for Success:

• Dr. Moreira's philosophy revolves around the simple yet profound principle of "showing up," emphasizing the transformative power of consistent effort, even in the face of challenges.
• His journey exemplifies the resilience and determination essential for aspiring physicians, inspiring others to persevere in pursuit of their dreams.

Reach out to Dr. Justin via:

• Instagram @JustinMoreira
• X (Formerly Twitter) @JustinMoreiraMD
• Email: justinmoreira@live.com

Interested in writing your own medical success story? We've got you covered. Here's how you can join the IMG Roadmap Community Today:

• You can read more about the IMG Roadmap Course here: ⁠imgroadmap.com/p/2024
• You can read about what roadmappers say about the IMG Roadmap®️ Program here: ⁠drninalum.com/testimonials⁠
• Find answers to our most common questions here: ⁠drninalum.com/faq⁠
• Don't hesitate to reach out - email us:

- for IMG-related questions: ⁠drlum@imgroadmap.com⁠

- for course-related questions: ⁠admin@imgroadmap.com⁠

*****

Follow us on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠ for supportive content and download our targeted ⁠⁠⁠planner from our website⁠⁠⁠!

Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠podcast⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠ and consider joining our ⁠⁠⁠program⁠⁠⁠ to kick start your IMG journey.

As always you can click on the following links to listen to more episodes of our podcasts on ⁠⁠⁠Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠  Youtube Music and ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠.

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The IMG Roadmap Program is back, bigger and better in 2024! Click ⁠here⁠ to join the 2024 cohort as you build your medical success story.

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In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. DD, an international medical graduate (IMG) and founder of YoungerSelf MD, a business that offers medical rotations and valuable insights for aspiring physicians.

Dr. DD has an impressive background, holding a master's degree in international health policy and management, graduating from the University of Benin Medical School, and completing her internal medicine residency at Columbia University in New York.

Key Highlights:

• Dr. Didi's journey from Nigeria to becoming an adjunct professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine.
• Her expertise as a board-certified internist and nephrologist.
• The focus of her episode: essential questions for finding a mentor, networking tips, and career advancement strategies.
• Younger Self Md's offerings: rotations in primary care, internal medicine, nephrology, and a strong focus on prevention.
• Practical advice on reaching out to potential mentors, emphasizing the importance of persistence.

Insights from the Episode:

• The value of written letters and multiple follow-up emails when reaching out to potential mentors.
• Dr. Didi's role as an adjunct professor, offering mentorship and guidance to medical students.
• Details about the rotations offered at Younger Self Md and how interested individuals can reach out.

Reach out to Dr. DD via:

• YoungerSelf MD: Youngerselfmd.com
• Email: admin@youngerselfmd.com
• Phone: (404) 566-4623

Listen to her TEDx talk here!

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Follow us on⁠ Instagram⁠ for supportive content!

Subscribe to our ⁠podcast⁠ and ⁠newsletter⁠ and consider joining our ⁠program⁠ in the spring to kick start your IMG journey in 2024.

As always you can click on the following links to listen to more episodes of our podcasts on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube Music and⁠ Spotify.⁠

Click⁠ here⁠ to join the 2024 cohort of the IMG Roadmap course – the boost you need on your IMG journey!

I remember being evicted from my first apartment in Lexington, Kentucky.

With no credit as a non-US IMG,

I subleased an apartment from a friend…

Sounded like a good idea at first, right?

Talk about shame ...

Well, money problems happen to all of us, but as IMG’s, finding funding for personal expenses is almost unheard of.

So today on the podcast I introduce to you a PHYSICIAN LOAN for physicians by physicians!

What does this mean?

Doctors understand the debt student doctors and residents need to furnish different parts of their lives outside of student loans.

This is why I invited Dr. Zwade Marshall a Harvard train anesthesiologist and pain management specialist with origins in the country of Guyana. He is the co-founder of Doc2Doc Lending.

Doc2Doc lending helps you access the capital you need through a stress free application designed for doctors by doctors.

It is a simple  application process which can be done online in under 4-5 mins.

Doc2Doc lending doesn’t only focus on your FICO score but also physician specific facts to determine your creditworthiness.

No cosigners needed, unique metrics, fixed interest rates and flexible terms makes it appealing for me to share with you!

Oh and did I mention, some visa (H1B, OPT) candidates are eligible as well!

Listen to today’s episode to learn more about this option for personal loans for IMG’s.

If you are interested in signing up, I am an affiliate with them and you can sign up using my referral link https://doc2doclending.com/drninalum/ as this episode is sponsored by them as well!

Oh and if you want to know what happened to me after I got evicted, it's a long story, but let’s just say motels became familiar home for at least 3 weeks of intern year.

Gosh, I have been through some stuff! Stay tuned for the rest of my story!

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 struggle through medical school.

So what did she do?
She knew as an IMG, she had to strive to stand out! She incorporated early planning, setting short term goals and being focused and determined on her track.

In this episode you will learn:
* How to study for examinations to match into surgery or other competitive surgical specialties
* Who to get LOR’s from when applying into residency training
* How to get an acting internship or sub-internship
* Why your medical school courses and exams matter a lot more than your anticipation for the USMLE’s
* How Dr. Okoye planned towards her application season
* How to set reachable goals for general surgery training
* The 5-year vs the 7-year track for general surgery
* How much research do you need to match into surgery?

To learn more, listen to the episodes at the links below.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-img-roadmap-podcast/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-podcast-GE0MMg

Dr. Okoye mentioned using FREIDA to search through programs - here is the link to start your own search FREIDA™ ACGME Residency & Fellowship Programs Database<https://freida.ama-assn.org/>

On this episode of IMG Roadmap, Dr. Jessica shares with us her journey to becoming a neurology specialist.

Despite the common misconceptions, neurology is actually an IMG friendly specialty with a broad spectrum of fellowship opportunities available. For Jessica, her interest in neurology began before she ever made it to medical school. Through her graduate degree Jessica participated in research and clinicals as an observer in neuro. This allowed her to gain experience and see a bit into the field before she ever learned the anatomy of the brain.

Once it came time to apply for medical school, some advised Jessica to wait due to academic struggles, but others encouraged her to consider Caribbean schools. After getting in, school was still a difficult challenge along with her STEP exams. Despite these challenges, Jessica was persistent and kept moving forward and is now a neurology resident in Kansas City.

For IMGs looking into neurology, don't shy away from it!

This specialty is 100% accessible and attainable if you put forth the work and have the desire to do so.

Dr. Jessica struggled to get clinicals within the neurology specialty, but highly recommends taking electives and any other opportunities to open doors to network within your desired specialty. When apply for residency, be sure to plan ahead and keep up your networking relationships over the years. It is wise to have recommendations from your specialty, but also from a psych specialty and attendees that can attest to your character as well as what kind of physician you will be as a whole.

For those struggling through STEP and other exams, remember to PRACTICE and familiarize yourself with the types of questions.

And for every IMG, when you find yourself struggling or overwhelmed, remember:

Your journey is not over because of a low score or failure. It is only over when you quit.

Persistence will break resistance!

If you would like to connect with Dr. Jessica, you can do so on Instagram @procrastinationmd

In this episode, I interview Chase Di Marco an international medical graduate with a slightly different yet impressive path.

He is still in the process of seeking out the residency position for himself, but in the process he has created resources for others who have faced similar challenges like him.

Chase has a background in educational psychology and he used his challenges with taking the USMLE to develop resources to help others who are preparing for these anxiety laden tests!

In this episode you will learn:

- How to study learning and other advanced techniques that help with test taking

• A podcast that teaches the psychology fo studying aka https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/the-medical-mnemonist-podcast/
• How to use spatial recognition in your studying to improve performance on the USMLE.

Listen to the entire episode for more.

Join me this week as we hear from Dr. Chinenye Onyemaechi. Dr. Chi is a board-certified psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Sint Eustatius SOM in 2013 and completed training in both general and forensic psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center/Sheppard Pratt Health System. She is an avid solo traveler and adventurer, who merges her career in medicine with her passion for travel (and good coffee!) in her work as a full-time locum tenens (travel) physician.

In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of being a well-rounded applicant with experience in multiple specialties as well as the significance of finding mentors and networking through professional organizations.

If you would like to connect with Dr. Chi, you can reach out on Instagram @andchisays

Head over to the blog to read the full post.

In this episode of the IMG Roadmap podcast, I speak with Dr. Joanna Schirtz, an IMG who specializes in Pediatric GI care. Dr. Schirtz shares with us her experience as a US IMG and the importance of building intentional relationships throughout every stage of her journey.

Regardless of experiences or the pathway of your journey, there are some valuable takeaways from my conversation with Joanna to keep in mind as you go through clerkships, residency, and fellowships.

• Take advantage of every opportunity, even if it means doing a clerkship or rotation in an area you aren’t as interested in. Every opportunity has the benefit of building important relationships.
  
• Don’t shy away from private practices just because they are smaller programs. Smaller programs may provide more opportunity for attendees to better understand your strengths and weaknesses resulting in stronger connections and recommendations.
  
• Don’t let stereotypical perceptions of IMGs stop you from going after your goals. Create opportunities for yourself when you see your window.
  
• If there are no regulations preventing you, follow up with all the programs you apply at - even if you don’t hear back from them first. This demonstrates persistence.
  
• Get involved during your fellowships and residencies to show your commitment to your area of interest. Find mentors, work hard to get good Step scores, and present at conventions or conferences.

If you would like to connect with Dr. Schirtz, follow her on Instagram @gastrodoc.md

This doctor matched with only one interview!

I know... interview season is upon us and many IMG's are worried about making a good impression.

Some are concerned about the chances of even getting invited.

Others are worried about how many programs to apply into?

What if you have a visa?

Today's episode, Dr. Nwaobi takes the time out to address some of these concerns.

He also shares:

- How he took all the USMLE's in 18 months

- How he matched as a visa applicant with only one interview

- As a visa applicant he explains how he leveraged his MPH experience during this process.

If you need any help preparing for your own interview check out my webinar where I teach you how to prepare for the residency interview by clicking here.

Listen to the full episode for more.

Samuel O. Nwaobi MD is a Non-US IMG and current Family Medicine Resident who took his USMLE boards while completing his MPH degree in the US.  He highlights how important having a flawless interview is to an IMGs chances,  especially with limited interview opportunities.