International Medical Graduates
In our ongoing series with Medical Association of Georgia, we discussed International Medical Graduates on this episode. Today, we continue to extend the age to which we humans live. This, coupled with the large post-war baby boomer population that is now entering the elderly population, compounds the effects of the period 2-3 decades ago where it was thought we possessed a surplus of physicians. During that time the creation of new medical colleges and expansion of residency programs was limited. These factors combined to bring us to the situation we find ourselves in today: an expanding shortage of physicians in the US.
The ECFMG (Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) reports that since its inception in the 1950’s it has examined and certified over 320,000 foreign-trained physicians for acceptance to train in US medical colleges and residency programs. Recent statistics show as many as 25% of practicing physicians in the US are foreign-trained graduates. And they play a vital role in the delivery of healthcare in our country. I sat down with Kate Boyenga, Director of Membership and Marketing with Medical Association of Georgia and current MAG president, Dr. Manoj Shah, himself a foreign medical graduate.
We learned about some of the reasons why Medical Association of Georgia is experiencing its largest membership with over 7500 members statewide. And Dr. Shah shared excellent information about the steps required to study in medical school abroad with the ultimate goal of practicing medicine in the US. He talked about the tests one can expect to take, challenges they may face while making application to schools/residencies in the US, and possible solutions for them.
Special Guests:
Kate Boyenga, Director of Membership and Marketing for Medical Association of Georgia
- BA Communication, College of Charleston
- Under her leadership MAG Membership is at an all-time high
- 14 years with MAG
Dr. Manoj Shah, MD, of Physicians for Women and president of MAG
- MAG’s first President from Warner Robins
- MAG’s first president of East Indian descent
- Doctor of Medicine, Baroda, India
- Residency, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit
- Has delivered more than 7,000 babies