Thread by @FilipinoSurgeon

To all #IMG applicants for #GenSurgMatch #Match2023, tag me on your introduction post and I am more than glad to amplify/retweet. @IMG_Advocate @StoriesImg. You deserve all the support you can get. Allow me to share my story - a 🧵

Similar to most #IMG applicants, I came here after finishing med school @upmedalumni in the Philippines 🇵🇭.

Unable to get even a single interview during my 1st application - I landed a paid clinical research position @MountSinaiNYC Recanati-Miller Transplant Institute.

During that year, I made the most of my position - volunteered for procurement, joined rounds & got strong LOR’s. Despite that, I only received 3 interview invitations, went unmatched (#2) but was offered a preliminary surgery spot during the #Scramble @MountSinaiSurg

Having no prior US clinical experience, my first month was at the Bronx VA. My supportive co-interns and residents helped me transition and catch up. In addition, other faculty took notice and gave me great advise. However come interview season….

I only got 5 interview offers (only applied within a train ride of NYC because of financial reasons) and on Match day, I found myself unmatched (#3). That afternoon, I spent the next 4-5 hours in the office of the late Dr. Morris Kerstein, one of the vascular surgeons at Sinai.

For more on Dr. Kerstein, I am including his obituary here - inquirer.com/philly/obituar…

We went over the list of available programs and faxed my application (no electronic SOAP process back then) in the hopes that one of the programs would notice and call back.
The day ended with no phone calls and a difficult walk back to my apartment as I considered my options

I was given the option of a 2nd year prelim spot at Sinai and given 24 hours to decide but it would be binding. At this point, it was 4 years from finishing med school and I knew it would only get harder to secure a categorical spot in surgery. And then my phone rang.

It was Dr. Richard Greenberg, then the program director at @SurgeryEinstein in Philadelphia, who had just finished reviewing my faxed application.

We talked about my path after arriving in the US. He told me about Einstein (of which I had little knowledge at the time) as well as Philadelphia (other than going past it one time enroute to DC, again no idea).

We ended the call without an offer but on a positive note that he would call me after talking with the chair Dr. Robert “Bobby” Somers. True to his word, he called me back 5 minutes later and offered me a categorical position. (Photo below taken last year before leaving for SF)

A few minutes later, I get a call from Bobby (which is how he’s insisted I call him since finishing the program in 2006) congratulating and welcoming me to the program. (Photo below also taken the week prior to moving out of Philly where I have practiced for the last 15 years)

I share and dedicate this to my fellow #IMG as a story of determination and resilience (and you will need both) on this tortuous journey.

I wish all of you the very best. Mabuhay!!! 🇵🇭

And even when I’m not tagged, I will retweet all #IMG #GenSurg2023 applicants I come across on my feed.

End of 🧵.