A 15-year Journey to Family Medicine!
- US IMG
- Step 1 : 224
- Step 2CK : 240
- Step2CS : PASS
- YOG: 2007 (~15 years since graduation!)
Here's the inspirational story of a 43-year-old IMG with average scores, zero research experience, zero publications, zero connections, and 15 years out of medical school, who matched into Family Medicine!!
Hi Dr. Barone:
My story could take days to write if I go into every detail. Written below is a very compact narrative of the last 15 years of my life.
I graduated medical school in the Dominican Republic in 2007. After graduation, the plan was to move to the US and get ready for my boards and residency. I had a family so I worked part time and studied at night. In the rush of life, tragedy struck and I lost my husband. I was numb for many years; I simply lost my way. During this time, I found myself struggling with depression, not just for the loss of my husband, but because years had gone by and my medical journey was at a standstill. All my friends were out of residency and practicing medicine, and I was not. I sought guidance from many people, I read forums and asked questions. Most people had negative things to say, as each year out of school minimized my chances of matching. I heard phrases like “just become a PA, its good pay”; “you can go into research or pharma and make good money”; “the competition is too fierce”, “scores and YOG are the most important factors. I’d be shocked if you got in”…and I wanted to crawl under a rock!
The thought of not becoming a doctor was eating at me and I found myself awake many nights and slowly isolating myself from family and friends. I was so disgusted with life and myself! At that time, I was working for a surgical instruments company and though deep down I was miserable because I wasn’t practicing medicine instead, I made fantastic money for the amount of work I did. I was pretty comfortable there and it had to take a life changing event to get me out of that comfort zone I was in. Then one day, I asked God for guidance. I told him that if I still really had a shot, to please send me a sign, and 3 days later, I was laid off unexpectedly from work due to consolidation. HR came to our building unannounced and a man named Michael Kaplan introduced himself as the HR director. That same afternoon when I checked my mail, there was a Kaplan Medical flyer inside my mailbox. Coincidence? I don’t believe in that!
The year was now 2015. I took out a loan and enrolled in a step 1 Kaplan course where I met Dr. Barone and so many amazing others! One of the managers at the Kaplan center asked me during the interview, if I really thought I would match considering my years of hiatus. I became angry at him and left the room, but I returned the next day and joined anyway. I didn’t know how high my chances of matching were, but I was not giving up on my dream! It took me 3 years to prepare and pass all USMLE boards on 1st attempt (STEP 1-224, STEP 2ck-240, STEP 2cs-PASS); I must say it was not easy studying, working and taking care of a family, but I willed myself to keep going. My intention was to succeed, and if I didn’t, it would not be because I gave up.
I sought advice from a very experienced mentor; his advice for someone in my situation was to apply to Family Medicine because of its non-competitiveness. I decided to apply to both IM and FM and to my dismay, I received 4 interviews (1 for IM, 3 for FM). Interview day was an amazing encounter that I hope each and every one of you gets to experience.
I matched into Family Medicine this year; it was my 2nd choice. The news came to me on 3/14/2022 and it is a day I will never forget! A month later, I am still elated and I can’t stop smiling! I am so happy, nothing anyone does or says can affect my happiness. I am so proud of myself for not giving up. For just knowing that I could!
I understand now that my journey had one purpose, and it was to show me who I really am. Today I know there is nothing I cannot have or achieve. I made the conscious decision that I was not going to settle for less and that I was going to match, and ultimately achieve my dream that I worked so hard for, because I deserved nothing less. It’s all about believing that you WILL have it someday because where you get in life, is undoubtedly up to you.
Here is my advice:
Make connections- they get you places!
Expose yourself. Make yourself known (volunteer at hospitals, friend the doctors and residents, earn their respect and trust and they will advocate for you).
Do some research, publish and network.
US clinical experience is a MUST! Work in a few different clinical settings if possible, (doctor office, ER’s, phlebotomy).
Improve your skills, seek advice from people in your position, and explain any and all red flags (low scores, failed attempts, many YOG) in your personal statement (make sure to practice the responses for interview day because they ask about all red flags).
Familiarize yourself with the application process and APPLY EARLY. Research which hospitals are most IMG friendly; if you know someone who is already in a program, reach out. (it doesn’t hurt to ask and many people are willing to help once they’re inside).
Be honest, be kind, and smile during the interview, show your passion and excitement. Sell yourself! Programs are looking for someone who is strong and passionate, responsible and reliable, with an easy nature and good communication skills. Don’t let your setbacks stop you, we’ve all made mistakes! They’re not looking for perfection. Make sure you know everything there is to know about the program you are interviewing in (before one of my IV, I read that the PD loved making pancakes and I mentioned it during my IV with him; he was surprised I knew this and it made him laugh). After the interview, send an email to the PD thanking him/her for the opportunity and briefly express why you are interested in their program.
I tried to do everything by the book. I wrote a sincere PS, backed it up during my interview and I let go! I realized once I did all I could, all that was left was to wait.
What got me into residency was not my US citizenship or good english proficiency; it wasn’t because of the trial I endured, but rather that I emerged from it. It was my perseverance that proved me to be that ideal candidate.
Somewhere inside me I just knew I would get in and look at me now…I am 43 years old. An IMG with average scores, zero research experience, zero publications, zero connections, no close medical figure to guide me, 15 years out of medical school, who matched into Family Medicine in New York!
Thank you for reading this and I hope it brings you enough inspiration and motivation to never give up.
O. K. 4/24/2022
Followup Question from Dr. Barone: "What do you think was the key factor that got you matched at your residency?"
The hospital I matched in, I once volunteered for and the physicians I met there, liked me and respected me, but what got me in was the doctor that I worked many years for as a medical assistant when I initially got to the US, happened to be a very good friend of the PD of that hospital. I never contacted him to aid me with the match nor knew they were acquainted, but because the doctor was in my resume, the PD recognized his name and gave him a call. He spoke wonders of me. She told me during the interview, that my PS drew her in and impacted her in a deep way, that's why she decided to give me the chance. She also said she liked the fact that I hounded her because I sent her two emails (one after the day I applied letting her know how interested I was and I told her that I knew the time factor might be an issue, but to please allow me to explain my gap and take a leap of faith with me). When she learned I worked as an MA for her very good doctor friend who advocated for me, she decided to give me the shot!
Photo: ©2018 Vlad Bagacian Unsplash.com