-US-IMG with tons of USCE
-ECFMG cert + Step 3
-3yrs research with pubs
-working with CDC
-have AP license in MO and worked in urgent care and primary care
-co-founded @ASP__org because frustrated with this system
When I applied for my ERAS token in July 2021, I was in bed for almost 2 weeks because I knew what lay ahead of me. The only reason I got out of bed was to go to work at the urgent care I was with in MO or volunteer with COVID-19 vaccine clinics.
I didn't do anything but sleep..
I barely got out of bed to eat. I was just so depressed. Then, one day I realized I was wasting my time feeling like this.
I decided I was going to give #Match2022 my best shot, and if it didn't work out? I was DONE. This chapter would be over...
And I have to say, when I didn't Match on Monday and decided I was not going to #SOAP2022 I was literally relieved.
Because I had been practicing for the past 6mo in Missouri! I was not a failure, the system had failed me.
J1 visas for Residency applicants are a cultural exchange program - they were never meant to train more physicians to practice in the US.
I believe we need to make a separate system for J1 visa applicants from the Main Match - and here are my reasons why.
Every year, thousands of applicants apply for residency. IMGs (both US citizens and non) must apply for certification deeming them eligible for residency.
Here's the number of applicants certified each year. Since 2005, it's been relatively stable at ~10K.
Over the same time course, the number of approved J1 visas has essentially doubled in 10 years.
And that should be fine - if more non-US citizens are applying, of course we need to issue more visas.