Russian Women Discussion

RWD Discussion Groups => Married => Topic started by: TerrynNC on February 13, 2006, 04:31:48 PM

Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: TerrynNC on February 13, 2006, 04:31:48 PM
Can anyone help me with this topic?  This is a significant issue for my girlfriend.  Is there a website that she can access from Ukraine?
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: al-c on February 13, 2006, 05:11:49 PM
Do you mean that she is a doctor there and wants to be licensed to practice in the U.S.?  I have heard of a service, but can't think of the name, that examines her Russian education and experience and converts it into U.S. equivalents so the licensing authorities here can determine what she would need to get a U.S state issued medical license.
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: TerrynNC on February 13, 2006, 05:21:41 PM
Yes, she is a doctor there and wants to a licensed physician here.  I have heard of the service that you refer to and am hoping that someone will know the name.  A website FSU Brides Resources had a bunch of info but i haven't been able to access it in the last few weeks.
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: dostogirl on February 13, 2006, 08:07:12 PM
Quote from: TerrynNC
Yes, she is a doctor there and wants to a licensed physician here.  I have heard of the service that you refer to and am hoping that someone will know the name.  A website FSU Brides Resources had a bunch of info but i haven't been able to access it in the last few weeks.
She can try reading this russian-american forum, there were several people who became doctors here, in the US. They can describe the whole process to her. The forum is www.privet.com/forum (http://www.privet.com/forum)
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: Zhena on February 14, 2006, 12:34:57 PM
www.russiandoctors.org/forum (http://www.russiandoctors.org/forum)
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: robbiedublu on February 14, 2006, 08:35:39 PM
I've been in the medical field (in the US) for over 30 years and have  met thousands of docs, residents and med students in that time. I have  NEVER met one who was trained in an FSU country. I don't know for sure  but would imagine that it is very difficult for an FSU doc to get a US  license. I would think that at a minimum they would have to repeat a  residency and boards. I do know one former russian doc who now works  here as a medical interpreter.
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: dorogoyroberto on February 15, 2006, 05:46:37 AM
Mr. robbiedublu,

Both my dermatologist in New York and my renal specialist in New Jersey  were Russian, and Russian-and Ukrainian-educated. Yes, both had to do  residencies in the U.S. and take the boards as appropriate.

Roberto
Kiev, Ukraine

Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: robbiedublu on February 15, 2006, 05:57:10 AM
I would also bet that if you checked with them they had to take  additional med school classes also. Just as I said, not impossible, but  very difficult.
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: RacerX on February 15, 2006, 09:25:06 AM
I think each State medical licensing board has it's own requirements, but many (most?) require foreign doctors to successfully complete the USMLE examinations - with the assumption that she graduated from an accredited (they have a online search tool) medical school.  This exam is very difficult and would require extensive home study or formal attendance at a med school.  But to actually get a job, she would almost certainly need to complete a residency in a US hospital, or have a private MD help her.

My wife is in the same situation, but we haven't explored it fully.
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: RussianGal on February 17, 2006, 09:44:49 PM
Quote from: TerrynNC
Can anyone help me with this topic? This is a significant issue for my girlfriend. Is there a website that she can access from Ukraine?


If you want your lady to be a doctor in the US, not just a nurse, then:

1) She`ll have to bring over to US her Final Medical Diploma translated into English, Final Medical School Transcript...

2) Then, she`ll have to send it all to ECFMG - Educational Comission for Foreign Medical Graduates, - for certification or, let`s say, evaluation.
BEFORE sending her documents to this institution, she should check on a website if the school she finished is in the list of 1400 schools (except USA and Canada). It is called 'World Directory of Medical Schools'. If it is there, then yes, she can start the certification process with ECFMG. The reason for that is to evaluate her academic and practical readiness to obtain a post-diploma education which is called 'Residency'.

3) ECFMG then will send an inquiry to the University where the lady received her Diploma for credentials verification. It takes about 2 months.

4) Meanwhile, she should start to get ready for the exam which consists of few steps. The subjects for the first step (Basic Sciences Exam) are such: anatomy, physiology, patalogy, microbiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and behavioral science.
It contains 350 questions which MUST be taken within 8 hours. There are 7 blocks, 50 q-s each which have to be taken in one hour period. Thus the test- taker has aproximately 1 minute per 1 question. If time expires first, all unanswered questions will be considered as WRONG answers. Therefore timing is very important.

5) If she fails, which gonna be more than likely, she can try to pass it again, but no more than 3 times per year.. This info varies in different states. Some allow it only once a year.

6) During second step (Clinical Sciences Exam) she`ll have to pass following disciplines: therapy, surgery, gynecology/obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, epidemiology and statistics.
It obtains 400 questions which MUST be taken within 9 hours. There are 8 blocks, 50 q-s each which have to be taken in one hour period. Again, it is about 1 minute per 1 question to take. If time expires first, all unanswered q-s will be considere as WRONG answers. Time management again.

In order to pass the test- taker has to answer 55-65% questions correctly. There are passing scores for each test. Since it is a subject for change, please check it at the www.usmle.org . It is very important to achieve the highest scores possible, as well as to pass it on the first attempt. The scores and number of attempts will be considered while applying to residency programs.
The fees for both exams is a subject for change also. You may want to find out about it at the official web site www.usmle.org

7) After passing the second step, she`ll get a certificate and will apply for residency. Residency may take from 2 to 6 years, depending on the doctor`s specialization.

8) During residency she`ll have to complete the third step and then will get a US doctor`s license.

LINKS:
1) www.russiandoctors.org/forum/index.php (ENG)
2) www.russiandoctors.org/other/career.shtml (RUS/ENG)
Title: RW Doctor to US Doctor
Post by: 2tallbill on September 04, 2021, 12:16:24 PM
Bump for updates