| PART TWO - THERE IS A SOLUTION | | | | programs save something money cannot buy - 2 |
| Before I delve into the main benefits of an | | | | years of their lives. This is the solution for the |
| international medical program, I must draw | | | | question in PART ONE - this is how students can |
| attention to what it is NOT and what we are not | | | | get a world-class education in less time without |
| promoting here. When referring to international | | | | sacrificing content or quality. |
| medical schools I am NOT referring to renovated | | | | At the same that the length of study is |
| apartment buildings on tropical islands where there | | | | shortened, it is worth noting that students get to |
| are usually less than 30 faculty and students | | | | focus on the appropriate material for a longer |
| mostly teach themselves. I am referring to large, | | | | period of time. Because the theoretical and clinical |
| international universities that are hundreds of | | | | education is distributed over six or seven years |
| years old with many departments and hundreds | | | | and not crammed into four years, the students |
| of professors on the faculty - many of whom | | | | have the chance to learn and understand instead |
| have PhD level training. I am talking about | | | | of simply memorizing material and regurgitating it |
| universities that have been teaching students | | | | for exams. International graduates from real |
| from their own countries for many years, and | | | | universities will typically say that they were very |
| are opening their doors to international students. | | | | well educated and the USMLE was not as bad as |
| The difference is significant, because the level of | | | | they had predicted. A trip to any hospital or clinic |
| instruction and the quality of education are vastly | | | | will be enough to see that nearly one half of all |
| different. Foreign medical graduates have had a | | | | practicing physicians in the US are foreign medical |
| mixed reception in the States. It is important to | | | | graduates. |
| realize that we are now talking about a new | | | | COST |
| generation of students who are deciding to | | | | Generally speaking, there are great and ancient |
| proactively move ahead in their educational | | | | universities around the world where the cost |
| careers. They are going to medical school after | | | | (tuition and room/board) is much less expensive |
| high school - taking the bull by the horns. They | | | | than in the US. In Asia, for example, tuition rates |
| are honors students at the top of their classes. | | | | begin around $5000 per year. Tuition rates in |
| They are finishing earlier than their US | | | | EU-standardized medical schools range from |
| counterparts and performing as well on their | | | | $3,500 to $12,000 to $20,000 per year - in many |
| medical board exams. These are NOT the same | | | | universities, classes are offered in English for |
| students who find themselves with dubious | | | | international students. Of course, one can find |
| options at the end of an unsuccessful | | | | famous and expensive universities, but these are |
| undergraduate experience. Unfortunately those | | | | not the focus of this article. We are discussing the |
| students who do not look at their options early in | | | | differences between US schools and study |
| the educational pathway will not have many | | | | abroad. We are focusing on the opportunities that |
| options later. | | | | can be found when doing some smart shopping |
| Genuine international medical universities provide | | | | for a higher education. By selecting educational |
| solutions in the following areas: accessibility of | | | | institutions based on quality of education and |
| education, length of study, affordability, hands-on | | | | degree conferred, students can have the best of |
| experience and global recognition | | | | both worlds. They can enjoy a wonderful study |
| ACCESSIBILITY | | | | abroad experience, graduate with a globally |
| All over the world, schools function within the | | | | recognized degree while saving time and money. |
| 'economics of education'. U.S. colleges and | | | | Availability of such programs makes it financially |
| universities are increasing the numbers of | | | | possible for many families to provide their children |
| international students because they are "full-pay" | | | | with a high quality, fully-accredited and affordable |
| and "cash only". The same is true for higher | | | | medical education. |
| educational institutions around the world. In almost | | | | PRACTICE |
| every country, international students mean more | | | | Most international medical schools provide students |
| money for day-to-day operation, expansion, | | | | with a practical education. Students in international |
| research and development. This is the reality of | | | | medical schools get valuable and useful 'hands-on' |
| 'educational economics' and it tends to favor | | | | experience that their American counterparts do |
| international applicants. That is good news for US | | | | not get until after graduation, in residency. For |
| students seeking to enroll overseas. Furthermore, | | | | example, there is little chance of a medical |
| many international medical schools have a holistic | | | | student being allowed to do surgery or deliver a |
| approach to evaluating applicants where weakness | | | | baby in the US, while it is common (if not |
| in one part of an application can be made-up by | | | | required) for students to learn these skills in |
| strength in another part. All of this bodes well for | | | | medical school in other countries. Since medicine is |
| US high school students who want to study | | | | a 'hands-on' profession, this is logically the most |
| abroad. It means that US students can have | | | | effective way for students to learn - just think |
| access to very high quality education overseas. | | | | about it. |
| This type of education in the US would be | | | | INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION |
| extremely competitive for US students wanting | | | | After successful completion of the Board Exams |
| to study in the States. | | | | (USMLE), international medical graduates are |
| Another advantage for US students looking to go | | | | allowed to join a residency in the States. |
| overseas for medical school is they do not have | | | | Graduates from a medical school within the EU |
| to take the MCAT (Medical College Aptitude Test). | | | | can automatically practice in any other EU country |
| Around the world, schools take a broader view of | | | | with no extra certification - or in the U.S. after |
| international applicants including transcripts, | | | | passing the USMLE and completing a residency. |
| performance trends, personal statements, letters | | | | Thus international medical degrees enable |
| of recommendation, placement tests and personal | | | | graduates to play a more active role in global |
| interviews. Finally, in most countries with | | | | healthcare picture, such as WHO - World Health |
| international programs, the school system is | | | | Organization, Doctors Without Borders, and |
| supported by the government; and most foreign | | | | International Red Cross. |
| governments have large budgets for education. | | | | There has been a shift in the system of |
| They have the ability to expand facilities in order | | | | 'importing' international grads to the US. There |
| to accommodate larger numbers of students, | | | | used to be many extra hurdles for IMG's to clear |
| which means that there is less competition | | | | in order to get licensed in the US. Today, due to |
| between students for admission since there are | | | | severe and dangerous physician shortages, the |
| more available seats. | | | | medical credentialing board in the US has dropped |
| TIME. | | | | all the extra requirements of foreign grads. IMG's |
| The US and Canada are almost the only countries | | | | have to pass the same exams as US grads. |
| in the world that have the system of four-year | | | | There are no extra hurdles. In fact, the impending |
| undergraduate + four-year graduate education. | | | | doctor shortages are so severe and dangerous |
| Concerning medical education in the US, almost all | | | | that the US credentialing board has removed the |
| medical schools are recommending one year of | | | | English language proficiency requirement as a |
| experience in the field before applying to medical | | | | separate requirement. There is no longer a |
| school. For most students, that means four years | | | | separate English language exam for IMG's. This is |
| of undergraduate plus one year of | | | | illustrative of the desire the US has to attract |
| field-experience plus four years of medical school; | | | | IMG's. Grades and exam scores being equal, IMG's |
| or nine years to get an MD degree. In most | | | | with US passports will be at the front of the line |
| countries in Europe and Asia, students go onto | | | | to come back, since the residency programs |
| (extended) graduate study immediately after high | | | | prefer not to sponsor foreign IMG's visas. |
| school. There is no formal undergraduate | | | | Experts predict that the US will import 200,000 |
| education; instead the graduate education is from | | | | foreign medical graduates in the next 25 years - |
| 5 to 7 years in length. | | | | why not be one of them? You have only to think |
| This has two distinct advantages for US students | | | | globally and for the future. The typical pathway of |
| seeking to study medicine abroad: first, they can | | | | high school to undergraduate to medical school is |
| complete their medical education in 6 or 7 years | | | | not the only way. On the contrary, it is unsure, |
| after high school (compared to 9 years in the US). | | | | very long and MUCH too expensive for most |
| Students studying in Europe and Asia begin their | | | | students. There are so many students with the |
| medical education after secondary school (high | | | | potential to be great doctors. We hope they will |
| school). Compared to their American counterparts, | | | | open their eyes to the possibilities of an |
| graduates from these international medical | | | | international education. |