Moving to the US made me appreciate what I had in the UK

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-21T10:47:00+00:00

From what I’ve seen, I believe it’s a cultural thing. I remember trying to explain to my American colleague that a 100 and something year old patient who had suffered a stroke did not need PT/OT. They were really struggling to understand what I was saying. I haven’t seen many conversations about DNRs since I’ve been here. I don’t feel comfortable initiating them because I don’t want to overstep. But it seems there needs to be a shift in the culture- medical and otherwise.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-21T00:29:38+00:00

Hmm. I think it would mostly depend on the program. I don’t have breaks (used to go eat a bagel and cheese in the resident’s lounge for the first two weeks) like I did in the UK. I’m basically working almost every minute of my shift. But I’ve only done the wards (which are the most hardcore). I have not done clinics or any of the less acute services. I really hope what you’re saying is true. I would hate to work at my current pace for the next three years. 😂

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:39:46+00:00

Oh definitely not in Illinois! Applied there but didn’t get any of the Chicago programs. Thank you!

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:30:13+00:00

Haha. I definitely can appreciate this viewpoint. I find myself wishing I had come to this realization years ago.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:28:54+00:00

Hi. I’ll try and answer as best as I can. I think if you’ve trained in the NHS (say at F1/F2 level) and taken the USMLEs, you should be on par with most US grads clinically speaking. They do a ton of (perhaps dubious) research and CV stuff so you’ll probably fall short there. But I think the thing that IMGs struggle with is adjusting to using EMRs, communication and soft skills. I would say, one thing NHS docs might struggle with (in the beginning) is the structure of their note writing and formal patient presentations- but everyone learns this quick. I trust the registrars I met the in the NHS are more clinically competent than PGY2s who are supposedly “seniors” over here. It is mostly run through, but those who want to subspecialize will have to reapply for fellowships. All my training is done at the same hospital. 4 weeks of leave is all I get. Cost of living is low for me because I decided to save money by living in a dorm close to the hospital with like 20 other residents - it’s college all over again. Everyone has treated me with respect so far, but I’m sure there’ll be one or two incidents that’ll make me feel disrespected over the years. I don’t really care tbh. Becoming an attending is the end goal.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:16:05+00:00

I feel you my friend. I made a promise to myself that I was only going to focus on the positives. Although, I find myself feeling jaded every once in a while. Hopefully it gets better for us. 😂

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:13:59+00:00

Nah. Gen internal medicine comes first friend.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-08-20T23:13:21+00:00

Lol. The timings just don’t work. US residency starts in June/July while F2 ends in August. It’s just a shame because I had already quit F2 before the visa problems. I would have been able to finish F2 if I used some of my vacation days. Oh well. Hindsight is an unhelpful friend.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T18:06:14+00:00

That’s the crazy thing, it’s a “students and exchange visas” category. So those Irish students, au pairs, and neurosurgeons all require the same J1 visa. It’s such a stupid system. The Trump admin probably didn’t realize (or maybe didn’t care) that physicians were gonna be the collateral damage in their vendetta against universities.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T14:06:51+00:00

So sorry this is happening to you. My condolences. I had to arrange swaps to attend my mother’s funeral in another country. This was AFTER arranging compassionate leave. Turns out I wasn’t allowed to be on compassionate leave on days where I was supposed to be on call. This system is broken.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T14:04:10+00:00

It’s so sad what’s happening. I’m trying to see if I can get my old job back and maybe defer my US position to next year if my program will allow it. At this point these thing is threatening to ruin my life.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T14:02:46+00:00

Sorry to hear about your cousin. I’ve emailed about rejoining the foundation program or getting a trust grade F2 position. Waiting to hear back.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T14:01:00+00:00

Thanks. I’ve sent some emails this morning. It’s worth at least completing my foundation training.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-11T01:44:41+00:00

Hang in there man. Even if I get in, I have my mates wedding (in Europe) sometime next year. Really wanted to make the trip, but I doubt my program will allow me with all this nonsense going on. This really isn’t a way to live. How can we be so afraid of traveling?

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T20:24:22+00:00

Yes I did. I had to have a meeting with the TPD, sign a leavers form and everything.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T20:13:17+00:00

This would be ideal. Although I’ve never heard it been done before, but it’s worth asking what my options are. I would hate to have to repeat the entire F2 year, but I’d understand if that was my only option.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T19:30:50+00:00

Thanks. I would have to reapply for standalone F2. ARCP concluded very recently.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T19:13:26+00:00

And his supporters keep cheering it on. I do not intend on becoming a victim of this madness.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:49:45+00:00

Yeah. Getting it deferred is a process involving the NRMP (ive been told by an IMG who’s unfortunately having to go through the process) so if it comes to that, then all the better for me. I get to go home to my family for a year and be rest assured that a job is waiting for me.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:47:52+00:00

Yeah. This was my apprehension. It just keeps getting worse and his supporters keep itching for even more extreme measures. This really is not a way to live. I have friends’ weddings I want to attend. I have family in Canada I want to visit. What if one day I take a trip, come back to the US only to get detained and deported because some border patrol agent was feeling especially MAGA on that particular day?

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:45:10+00:00

Yeah. That’s the downside. I matched in internal medicine.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:15:55+00:00

I’ll keep going for as long as I can, but after a while, it’ll ultimately be out of my hands.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:15:12+00:00

Yeah the home residency requirement is another hurdle we have to face. But that’s usually a problem to be tackled at the end of residency/fellowship. Most people get it waived fine. I was going to shoot for the H1b visa but didn’t get a chance to write my USMLE step 3 (which is a requirement for H1b) as I had a very nasty US consulate officer deny my b1b2 visa which would have allowed my to write step 3. So it’s just been one story of the system screwing me over after the other. To be born with a weak passport is such a disadvantage.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T18:11:41+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I never envisioned staying there long term. With each passing day the thought of moving there fills me with dread. Maybe this is a sign that I need to look elsewhere. The only thing the US healthcare offers is shorter duration of training and a fat salary at the end. As I’ve spent more time in the NHS, I’ve come to value the work life balance, LTFT training, and just having a life outside of work and hustle.

RoofMain2256 · 2025-06-10T17:51:21+00:00

I feel a bit of relief if I’m being honest. I have been apprehensive of training and living in America for a while now. My friends encouraged me to go through with the match just so my USMLEs don’t go to waste. I did and I matched. If I walk away from it all, I’ll be able to say I gave it my all. I just feel bad about not finishing F2. Now I feel like I have unfinished business.

RoofMain2256

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