How does USA Define "International Medical Graduate" (IMG)

It's only apt that I begin this blog with this post.

Until 2005 (could be 2006), both terms - "Foreign Medical Graduate" and "International Medical Graduate" were in existence in the US Medical system.

As per the Old definitions:

- The term "Foreign Medical Graduate" meant a non-US Citizen who graduated from of a non-US Medical school

while

- An "International Medical Graduate" meant a US-Citizen who graduated from a non-US Medical school, meant to mean American guys studying internationally.

Hmmm...that explains the FMG in 'ECFMG' which was established to certify and standardize evaluation for the non-US medical students and physicians

But, now a single term - "International Medical Graduate" (IMG) is used to describe any person (irrespective of Citizenship) who graduates from a non-US Medical School.

As ECFMG website says:

"ECFMG and its organizational members define an international medical graduate as a physician who received his/her basic medical degree or qualification from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada*. Citizens of the United States who have completed their medical education in schools outside the United States and Canada are considered international medical graduates; non-U.S. citizens who have graduated from medical schools in the United States and Canada are not considered international medical graduates."

And I must add, candidates who graduate from medical schools in Puerto Rico are not considered IMGs

Makes me wonder - should not ECFMG now be called ECIMG ?

Hopefully they are reading this and will make changes ;-)




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