DOES CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES HELP RESIDENCY CHANCES IN USA?

If you have been laboriously reading through the IMG criteria of various residency programs mention my IMGFriendly Programs List Blog, you may have noticed some websites mention clinical experience in the UK and Canada and at times even Australia as being looked upon in the positive light.


For example, this is what the Pediatrics Residency at the New York University says about selection criteria for IMGs:
"Prior clinical experience in the US, UK or Canada is strongly encouraged"

Another good example is the pediatrics residency program at West Virginia University, Morgantown, which says:
"International applicants are encouraged to have US or Canadian direct patient care activity"

Yet another example would be the Richard Lugar Family Practice Residency Program, which reads:
"We do prefer that you have at least 6 months of clinical experience in the United States, Canada, the U.K., or Australia"

To make sure the point drills home, let us look at one more example: Franklin Square Hospital Family Practice Residency Requirements say:
"Minimum of four months of clinical experience in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia or South Africa. Research does not qualify as clinical experience."

Countries like UK, Canada and even Australia share or at least perceived to share by the American Medical system, the high quality standards of patient care and medical education training. An efflux and influx of physicians between these nations is common. For e.g. Docs tired of the US may pack bags to Australia and vice versa.

Another evidence is the many IMGs from UK that have flocked to the US after the visa problems and have largely found preference over other IMGs with less or no direct clinical care experiences.

In Conclusion, if you happen to be in Canada, UK, Australia, etc., do not underestimate the value of clinical experience in these countries and make the best use of your time there...