Impossible Dream
- Step 1: 267
- Step 2 CK: 279
- CS: Pass
- Step 3: 250
- Non-US IMG
- YOG 2018
- One Unsuccessful Attempt at Matching
Here’s the success story of a non-US IMG who once considered Radiology an “Impossible Dream” but was able to improve his application to make his dream a reality!!!
Hi Dr. Barone!
I read all your success stories and they truly inspired me so I decided to share mine.
I’m a non-US IMG who matched in Radiology. I graduated in 2018 and completed the USMLE steps within 1 year of graduation. I applied last cycle without being ECFMG certified. I had no USCE and no research. I only had LoRs from my home country. All I got was a prelim IM interview from a program I did not like so I did not rank them.
I realized that although I had good scores, I needed to give my best to improve my application and have a well-rounded CV. I had planned to gain as much U.S. clinical experience as possible and halfway through all my programmed rotations the rest got canceled due to the pandemic. To make the best of the situation, I reached out to several radiologists and obtained multiple research, volunteering, and mentorship opportunities. Furthermore, after a relentless search, I got the opportunity to do more in-person rotations in the U.S. even though most institutions were not currently accepting international visitors.
This time I was fortunate to get a 21 Radiology interviews and 9 Prelim ones and matched in Radiology at an amazing program!!! Beginning my USMLE journey I had aimed to apply to IM as I considered Radiology an impossible dream. My mentors pushed me to believe in myself and through their guidance and opportunities, I was able to accomplish my professional dream!
X. R.
March 2021
Dr. Barone: “What do you think was the most important factor in matching at your program?”
My scores definitely caught the program's attention but I think that what made the difference and helped get interviews from places I never would have dreamed of was my research experience.
So when the pandemic struck the rest of my rotations got canceled. I decided looking for research opportunities to improve my CV.
I started to email IMG attendings at big radiology programs known to have accepted IMGs in the past. I emailed the big programs as they are known for having for research opportunities.
I also created a professional twitter account and got a couple of research opportunities through that social platform. I enrolled myself in a mentorship program and also asked upfront if any radiologist had any research project I could help with.
One of the attendings I emailed helped get a remote research position. I even got access to the EPIC records of the institution. He wrote me an LoR and I actually ended up matching at his program.
I think that's my whole story! I hope it inspires and helps others!
Dr. Barone: “Can you tell me more about how you found the mentorship program and the role of twitter for IMG applicants?”
The mentorship program was a twitter initiative from a twitter account managed by a resident who coupled mentees with mentors. I met one of my mentors through it. I think radiologists are really active on twitter, I encourage all radiology applicants to create a professional twitter account. It's a great way to find different research, mentorship and committee opportunities. All of these can help in achieving a well rounded application which is really important right now as radiology selection committees are trying to be as holistic as possible during application review.
Photo Credit: ©2018 Sharon McCutcheon Unsplash.com