1. Educational Advising Office U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi
Medicine in the U.S.
Educational Advising Office
U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi

2. First Professional Degree (M.D.)
Total of eight years
Register for four years Bachelor of Science (Biology, Organic and non-organic chemistry, Physics..)
Apply for Medical School Admission Test (MCAT) – third or beginning of fourth year
Apply for medical school – another four years
Highly competitive but open to foreign students

3. Requirements First Professional Degree (M.D.)
Excellent academic records
Fluency of English
Extra-curricular activities
Good score on MCAT

4. Postgraduate Medical Education
Clinical Residency Programs
Non-Clinical Study: Masters & Ph.D in Health related majors
Short-Term Programs
ECFMG International Fellowships
Clerkships
Chances of obtaining medical education in the U.S. are much better for those who complete their first professional degree in their home country.

5. Clinical Residency Lasts three to seven years
Participants gain expertise in a medical clinical specialty
Participants gradually take on increasing responsibilities for patient care within a supervised clinical environment
Advanced medical technology and facilities, expert faculty and wide variety of educational programs
8,000 educational programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

6. Application Process Clinical Residency
International Medical Graduates (IMG’s) to obtain certification from the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
Testing for this certification may be begun while still in medical school
Though IMG’s must receive final medical diploma before being actually certified.

7. USMLE Clinical Residency
Why take USMLE? Equivalency & Licensure
Step 1, Step 2, Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA), Step 3
Computer-based tests

8. USMLE -Step 1 Basic sciences Anatomy, microbiology, pathology, etc.
Students must finish 2 years of medical school
Eight hours, 350 multiple choice questions divided into seven 60-minute blocks
Passing score: 75 percent received 6 weeks after test
Fees: US$ 645
Practice CD Rom sent by ECFMG
Exam administered all year round at Amideast Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Students should apply for a three-month Eligibility period after receiving the official scheduling permit

9. USMLE - Step 2 Describes clinical situation
Internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, etc.
Not more than twelve months to graduate
9 hours, 400 multiple choice questions divided into eight 60-minute blocks
Passing score: 75 percent received 6 weeks after test
Fees: US$ 645
Practice CD Rom sent by ECFMG
Exam administered all year round at Amideast Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Students should apply for a three-month Eligibility period after receiving the official scheduling permit

10. USMLE Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA)
Reasons for introducing the test
Clinical skills and English
11 stations, ten are scored
Eight hours
Pass or Fail
Fees: US$1,200
Student or graduate from a university listed in World Directory of Medical Schools
Can be taken after Step1 and TOEFL
Applications on an ongoing basis
Location: ECFMG CSA centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlanta, Georgia.

11. ECFMG Certification Requirement Clinical Residency
What is ECFMG?
Pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 -scores valid for seven years
Pass TOEFL with at least 213 (computer-based) and 550 (paper-based) – scores valid for 2 years
Pass Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) – valid for three years
Graduate of a medical school listed by World Directory of Medical Schools

12. Investigating Options Clinical Residency
Consult the Graduate Medical Education Directory, published by AMA database (FRIEDA) on for residency program search and statistics
Correspond with programs of interest
Obtain information on salary, length of appointment, elements of program, hours of duties and provision of health and professional liability insurance
1- Apply directly to programs of interest using their application forms OR
2- Apply electronically using Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) – Required by majority of programs.
3- Optional: Apply to the National Resident Matching Program
** Must pass all ECFMG exams by January 1st of the residency year

13. Non-Clinical Study Graduate academic programs (Masters, Ph.D’s)
Medically related fields – not involving patient care
No ECFMG certification required
TOEFL and GRE are required
Examples: Masters in public health, health administration or hospital administration. Ph.D. in anatomy, microbiology, physiology

14. Short-Term Programs Non-degree programs
Conferences and short-term courses
From one day to several months
No patient contact, No ECFMG certification
Potentially valuable programs
Examples:
Observe-type programs
Intensive hands-on training in areas such public health
Handouts

15. ECFMG International Fellowships in Medical Education
Selected international school faculty to study in a U.S. medical school
Period ranges between six months and one year
Areas of study: educational methodology, curriculum design, evaluation systems, medical school governance…
ECFMG arranges a match with a U.S. medical school
Approximately 20 fellowships awarded annually

16. Clerkships
Many international students are accepted to U.S. clerkships each year
Types of Clerkships:
1- Core Clerkships
2- Electives

17. Core Clerkships Delivering medical care
Participate in actual patient care management and decision making
See patients under the supervision of licensed doctor
Lectures or discussions
Time intensive
One to four months
Family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics and surgery

18. Electives Greater variety Better odds for acceptance
Patient interaction:
Primary responsibility for patient care
Diagnostic/therapeutic plan under directions
Histories, physical examinations, diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives
Limited or no patient contact:
Information gathering
Therapy administration via sophisticated techniques
Electives in the basic sciences and other disciplines

19. Cost Clerkships Cost varies widely from one school to the other
U. of Virginia does not charge tuition to its visiting students
Harvard charges over $2,000 per month

20. Qualifications & Application Clerkships
Final year of medical school
Some might require USMLE testing
Meet the admission requirements of the individual school
Current transcript
Recommendation from home school
Fluency in English
Up-to-date immunization record
Health Insurance

21. Finding a Clerkship
Determine your selection criteria (subject area, location, cost, …)
Browse the university catalog
List of 125 accredited medical schools

22. J-1 Visa ECFMG Sponsorship: ECFMG issues IAP-66
ECFMG certified
Official offer from a U.S. accredited program
MOH Statement of need
ECFMG issues IAP-66
ECFMG tracks the status of J-1 physicians
J-1 visa information found on Embassy’s consular page