The Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates, the organization that administers the J-1 program for foreign physicians coming for residency programs, has announced the creation of a new program designed to connect doctors planning on coming to train in the US with other international physicians who have successfully entered or completed US training.
According to ECFMG
ECFMG is pleased to announce a new resource for international medical graduates (IMGs) entering graduate medical education (GME) in the United States. The IMG Advisors Network (IAN) will allow IMGs who are applying to ECFMG for J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsorship to communicate directly with IMGs who have successfully entered or completed U.S. GME training. The purpose of this network is to connect IMGs entering U.S. GME with advisors who may be able answer many of their questions about living and working in the United States.
Qualified IMGs volunteering to serve as advisors will be listed in an on-line IAN database by name, medical specialty, U.S. GME program, location in the United States, country of origin, medical school, and other demographics. Qualifying IMGs who are seeking advice will access the IAN database via the ECFMG website and search for individuals who would be most likely to be helpful in providing information and advice about relocating to the United States, and related practical advice. The ideal advisor might be one in the same U.S. program that the new IMG will enter, or an individual from the same country or medical school. However, even less specific matches could be of great help. The e-mail address of the IMG seeking advice will be provided to the advisor who can then begin communicating directly with the advisee.
The first phase of implementation of this new resource is active recruitment of qualified advisors in order to build a database of IMGs in or having completed GME training in the United States. If you are such a physician and would like to learn more about serving as an advisor, visit the IMG Advisors Network home page.