THE LONG ROAD TO

T H E LONG ROAD to M E D I C A L S P E C I A L T Y

in the

POR: JAVIER ALONZO CAMPOS GONZÁLEZ

The long-awaited road to medical specialization in the United States of America; steps to follow, requirements, information and tips.

The golden dream of many medical students is to become part of one of the best health systems in the world, such is the case in the United States. As is to be expected, this is not an easy path for anyone, but it is not impossible either. Here we will tell you everything you need to know if your plan is to apply to a specialty position within the United States. The process consists of 3 main phases:

The first step is to obtain a certification by the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.) It is necessary to make sure that your medical school is certified by the ECFMG. This is probably the longest step on your way to medical specialization. In order to obtain your certification by the ECFMG, you must have obtained a medical university degree from the country in which you studied and passed the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination): STEP 1, STEP 2 CK (clinical knowledge) and STEP 2 CS (clinical skills).

UNITED STATES

What are the USMLE exams? Medical students from American universities usually take the exams while attending university:

-USMLE STEP 1 is usually taken once they have completed the subjects of the basic core of medicine during their 2nd or 3rd year of the degree. The objective of STEP 1 is to assess whether medical school graduates or students can apply important concepts from the fundamental sciences in clinical practice. -STEP 2 is divided into two parts; STEP 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) and STEP 2 CS (Clinical Skills). STEP 2 Clinical Knowledge consists of 310 questions to be answered in 9 hours. This exam tests one ’ s clinical knowledge of the basic branches of medicine, such as, pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, surgery and family medicine. STEP 2 Clinical Skills is a practical exam that takes place in hospital settings. During this portion of the exam you must solve 12 clinical cases in 6 hours, in which you must carry out an interrogation, physical examination, clinical history, give differential diagnoses and options for treatment. Within this exam your handling and command of the English language and medical terminology, as well as the treatment you give to patients, is evaluated.

Once this process has been completed, you can request your certificate from the ECFMG and you can apply for medical residency in the United States.

The second step is to apply for the process of selection of medical residents, better known as MATCH (National Resident Matching Program). In this step you must upload your curriculum onto the online platform ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Services). You must also select the residency programs to which you would like to apply, keeping in mind you desired medical specialty and hospital sites. Some of the most important sections within the curriculum are publications in scientific-medical journals, letters of recommendation (it is recommended that they be from some doctors of the specialty to which want to enter that are within the U.S.) and your USMLE score.

Once your documentation has been sent through ERAS, the directors of each program to which you applied will receive your curriculum and will decide whether you are the right candidate to interview for their medical program. If elected, you will then complete a series of interviews where you must make a good impression on the directors of each program. Each director will choose their best candidates to enter the program. The MATCH computerized program will look for the best correlation between the residency option of each applicant with the election of the directors of each program to finalize who is accepted for residency in this country. Obviously, achieving a residency in the United States depends on many factors and is not an easy process, but establishing a plan increases the likelihood of achieving your goal of entering a medical specialty in one of the most advanced health systems in the world which has all the resources and technology for the treatment and management of all patients.