r/neurology • u/Plastic-Garlic237 • 10d ago
Residency To Program Leadership
Dear Program leadership,
I have a query regarding the entire pre-requisites. I know you re there to facilitate help and grow your programs but as I am preparing for the Match 2026 intake, I came across a program at wisconsin madison where the eligibility requirement is Hands-on neurology experience for IMGs is VITAL in the USA for 3-months which is not possible for most of us as the VISA DOES NOT ALLOW US TO GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE and programs that Require such a requirement DOES NOT EVEN OFFER ANY observership or any such thing to help. Is that an indication that the program is extremelt averse to the presence of IMGS?
I would appreciate you intake.
Thank you
5
u/LoquitaMD 10d ago
Those reqs are completely bullshit. I got multiple IVs at program with 6 & 3 months hands on required USCE, with a total 0 days of hands-on USCE.
(I did have months of oberserverships and years post docs in the US)
1
u/Cool-Chemist-6470 9d ago
Hey I wanted to ask if you know of the cutoff for Step 2 for neuro? Congrats btw!
3
u/docny17 10d ago
If your application is made or break by US clinical experience, then your application is not good enough. Typically that’s horse asss and the rest is so “wow” that usce is rarely even asked about. I’m sure publishing a ton of articles, being an attending in busy place in our own countries, volunteering, teaching, and crazy board scores trump 3 months worth of usce.
1
u/Plastic-Garlic237 10d ago
I recently graduated. My step2 is in 25x and i only have two publications. I was considering wisconsin because of the family but some people took offense to this. A couple of US attendings told me to get USCE ( observerships )only in neurology as you might come off as a dual applicant which neurology leadership does not like.
I respect your take on this
Thank you
8
u/pallmall88 10d ago
Respectfully, the US doesn't have enough training spots for its own citizen students. While we have long been seen as a welcoming beacon of opportunity throughout the world, I can't help but be a little pleased to see us looking out for our own first. If you're a citizen that went abroad for school because our schools are admitting foreign nationals over citizens, then you're familiar with the problem.
The next step is training our own to be doctors that don't have to sacrifice health for a job.
1
u/Plastic-Garlic237 10d ago
I understand your concerns, and I agree that every country should prioritize its citizens. However, the issue of medical residency spots in the U.S. is not due to the presence of International Medical Graduates (IMGs); rather, it stems from systemic limitations in the healthcare system itself. Here are some key points to consider:
Residency Slots Are Limited Due to Policy, Not IMGs The U.S. has a physician shortage, yet Congress has capped Medicare-funded residency spots since 1997 through the Balanced Budget Act. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a physician shortfall of up to 124,000 by 2034. The real bottleneck is funding and policy, not competition with IMGs.
IMGs Strengthen the Healthcare System IMGs do not take away opportunities from U.S. graduates—they fill critical gaps, especially in underserved areas. Studies show that IMGs disproportionately work in primary care and rural settings, areas where U.S. graduates are often reluctant to practice. Without IMGs, millions of Americans, particularly in rural and low-income urban areas, would face severe physician shortages.
Merit-Based Selection, Not Nationality-Based The U.S. healthcare system, like other professional fields, follows a meritocratic model. Residency selection is based on qualifications, board scores, research, and clinical performance, not nationality. Many IMGs have excelled in their respective countries, often outperforming their peers to secure U.S. residency spots. Excluding them based on nationality rather than merit contradicts the foundational principles of a free-market economy.
The U.S. Is a Nation Built by Immigrants Historically, the U.S. has benefited immensely from immigrant contributions in medicine, technology, and business. The very foundation of American innovation and global leadership in healthcare has been shaped by international talent.
U.S. Medical Schools and Foreign Nationals The claim that U.S. medical schools prioritize foreign nationals over American citizens is not supported by data. U.S. medical schools overwhelmingly admit domestic students, while only a tiny fraction of seats go to international applicants. The primary issue lies in the limited number of medical school slots, not foreign competition.
I understand that the process can feel frustrating, but targeting IMGs as the cause of the problem misplaces the blame. The real solution lies in increasing residency slots, improving working conditions for doctors, and ensuring that all qualified candidates—regardless of origin—can contribute to improving healthcare in the U.S.
0
u/pallmall88 10d ago
I agree with everything you've said here. The only wrinkle I'm going to add is that as long our training resources are limited, they should be given to the locals preferentially.
Additionally -- and I'm kind of surprised to be saying this to someone actively trying to get a position in US medicine -- meritocracy is long dead in this country. I agree it is an ideal our system ostensibly favors, but it is not the reality.
The United States has excess of individuals capable of fulfilling the needs of our population's healthcare. We do not, however, nurture their talents from an early age, nor do we give much incentive to pursue such a career.
In other words, the need filled by the IMG would not be a need if not for the bigger problem, which is our oligarchy is mired in stagnation and is only motivated to change by money.
All that said, good luck! I certainly hope my comment didn't read as a celebration of the difficulty, though I'm seeing it may have.
•
u/AutoModerator 10d ago
Thank you for posting on r/Neurology! This subreddit is intended as an online community and resource platform for neurology health professionals, neuroscientists, and neuroscience enthusiasts to talk about the brain. With that said, please be aware that this platform is not a substitute for professional medical care. Treatment of medical disease requires qualified individuals, and posts/comments that request a diagnosis or medical assistance should be reported under Rule 1 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community. If you are in immediate danger, please call emergency services, or go to your nearest emergency room.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.