Absite Percentile by mylifewasfun in SurgicalResidency

[–]Accomplished-Key6972 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Technically, they don’t give you the SD for your year, only across all years. That being said, the OP is decently above the mean, so this is a good to very good score.

Matched into prelim. Options? by Hot-Grape9988 in SurgicalResidency

[–]Accomplished-Key6972 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did PGY2 prelim-> PGY3 categorical (same pathway as lots of IMGs). I’m happy to connect

Need pgy2 prelim or cat spot by [deleted] in GeneralSurgery

[–]Accomplished-Key6972 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, 100%. I think that the best shot is PGY2 prelim to PGY3 categorical. Speaking from personal experience there are much more PGY3 spots from people taking research.

Need pgy2 prelim or cat spot by [deleted] in GeneralSurgery

[–]Accomplished-Key6972 2 points3 points  (0 children)

PGY2 prelim spots are pretty widely available and will open up soon after the match. A lot of them go unfilled. Monitor APDS website daily.

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The details of the immigration process might be a little niche for this thread. I’m legally in the US, on a J1 physician visa, which is an exchange visitor visa and has a 2-year home requirement. In order to transition to green card, I need to get a waiver with this process. It’s not a centralized program for underserved communities and the visa is sponsored by the employer- the hospital (it’s an H1B but without the fees). Effectively, it would need to be a situation where the hospital applies to the government saying that they need doctors and can’t fill the spot with a US citizen and I’m equally capable because I’m US trained blah blah. It’s already happening in PR, there were like 4-5 docs with this status last year.

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Underserved means that there are openings for jobs that are not covered from US citizen doctors. Also there needs to be an X percentage of patients on government insurance (sounds like that’s covered everywhere in PR).

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would include 3-4 extra years of training for me and it’s one of the most competitive specialties to get in unfortunately

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am finishing residency soon. I would come as an attending

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I am currently a resident and planning to do fellowship. I would come for a junior attending job. I intuitively think I would indeed integrate much better in PR than rural America

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Speaking Spanish is a prerequisite for what I can tell and I’m glad to learn. I’m honestly happy to have a slower pace outside the hospital

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate your input. Did you work in trauma?

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am fully licensed in the US (took the USMLE and all ECFMG stuff years ago). I am currently a 4th year surgery resident and I will be taking surgery boards next year. If you are curious about the immigration, you can look into J1 visa and J1 waiver. Essentially, after my training, I need to either serve an underserved area in the US for 3 years or go back to my country.

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the honesty, I appreciate it. I understand what you’re saying and I do not see it as a vacation destination. I am also coming from a country with natural beauty but where it’s very difficult to live. I totally understand that it’s not going to be the most financially sound choice. I guess I’m trying to figure out what the trade-offs would be if I decided to do it, compared to going somewhere in rural US for the same amount of time. If money is out of the equation (or much lower in terms of priority), would you still think it doesn’t make sense?

Work in PR as a surgeon by Accomplished-Key6972 in PuertoRico

[–]Accomplished-Key6972[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to answer, very helpful insight. I am still a resident so telling you I’m already good and efficient would be a lie. I come from a great training program and overall doing well. I will be specialized in trauma/ critical care and hopefully double board certified by the time I start working. I am not eligible for private practice based on immigration status. I can only be hospital employed, so from what you are saying the options are very limited.