The International Medical Graduate Pipeline: Recent Trends In Certification And Residency Training

TLDR

International medical graduates constitute a large share of U.S. graduate medical education entrants and must be certified by the ECFMG to practice in the United States. The study calls for detailed longitudinal analyses to clarify how physician supply, consumer needs, and the role of IMGs intersect in the U.S.

Abstract

International medical graduates (IMGs) represent a large proportion of the population entering graduate medical education (GME) programs. Many of these internationally trained physicians go on to practice medicine in the United States. To be eligible for GME, IMGs must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The number of certificates issued by the ECFMG has varied over time and historically has exceeded the number of available training positions. More detailed longitudinal analyses are required to better understand the interwoven issues of physician supply, consumers' needs, and the role of IMGs in the U.S. health care system.