November 20, 2018
Guidance on Medical School Selection
You may have already finished your medical degree, but do you know someone who is just starting the journey? If so, ECFMG® has launched a new resource that we encourage you to share with him/her. Guidance on Medical School Selection is designed to assist students who plan to apply to medical school, as well as for current medical students who are considering transferring to a different medical school, in identifying schools that offer quality medical education.
In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the number of medical schools around the world, and there are a small number of schools that engage in spurious business practices. It also has become more common for students to migrate for medical education—attending medical school outside their home country. This situation creates challenges for students who are evaluating schools and deciding where to apply, according to William W. Pinsky, M.D., President and CEO of ECFMG and Board Chair of ECFMG’s Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®).
“With more than 3,000 medical schools worldwide, selecting the right school can be an intimidating task and a significant financial investment,” Dr. Pinsky said. “Our new guide provides prospective medical students around the world with information on the characteristics to consider and questions to ask when evaluating medical schools before applying so they can make a well-informed decision.”
The guide covers such important considerations as accreditation status, curriculum, faculty, educational resources, and the structure of clinical rotations. It also prompts students to ask questions about the student experience, consider how schools market themselves, and talk to alumni about their success in and beyond medical school.
As leading experts on the world’s medical education systems and their graduates, ECFMG and its foundation are uniquely positioned to provide this important guidance to the next generation of physicians. The new resource is an important addition to the collection of services offered by ECFMG and FAIMER to physicians and the medical education community around the world.
The new resource is available on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/medschoolselection.
NRMP Main Match Early Registration Deadline
The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP) early registration deadline for the 2019 Main Residency Match® is November 30, 2018. Applicants may register for $85 until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States. Applicants who register after November 30 must pay an additional $50 late registration fee ($135 total fee) until February 20, 2019, when registration closes.
Nominations Open for Lasker Foundation Awards
The Lasker Awards program was created by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation to shine a spotlight on fundamental biological discoveries and clinical advances that improve human health, and draw attention to the importance of public support of science. The 2019 Lasker Awards will be offered in three categories: Basic Research, Clinical Research and Public Service. The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, February 4, 2019. For more details go to 2019 Lasker Awards Nominations.
Do you have information on research poster presentations, upcoming conferences, or other opportunities relevant to international medical graduates in the United States that you’d like to share? If so, send your information to [email protected].
In the News
A collection of news articles you may find of interest:
Foreign Medical Graduates and the U.S. Travel Ban
Health Professional Radio, by Neal Howard, November 5, 2018
ECFMG President and CEO, William W. Pinsky, M.D. recently provided his thoughts on the importance of IMGs to the U.S. health care system in an interview with Health Professional Radio.
Help Your Student Choose a Medical School with New Online Tool
UniversityParent, by Lorena Roberts, November 6, 2018
The Path to Becoming a Doctor: Direct Medical Programs vs. Early Assurance Programs
Forbes, by Kristen Moon, November 7, 2018
Cross-border Academic Mobility in Medical Education: Faculty and Student Exchange and Research Partnerships
FAIMER Short Report, Sarah Williams Leng, Danette Waller McKinley, and Amy Opalek, October 5, 2018
