A JOURNEY TO THE MATCH: PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF!
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Darrin Miller, a remarkable physician whose passion and expertise continue to shape the landscape of satisfying opportunities in the medical field for unmatched physicians. With over 10,000 unmatched physicians in the United States, Dr. Miller has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating a bright future for these individuals.
In today’s blog post, he has kindly offered to share his thoughts on this subject drawing upon his invaluable insights and experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned foreign-trained physician or just starting out, Dr. Miller’s perspectives offer actionable advice and inspiration if you’ve found it difficult to impossible to get matched to a residency program.
By Darrin Miller, MD, SA-C
This past match day was a long-awaited one for my friend. Instead of the traditional four years from M1 to M4, she had to wait 12 years after graduating to finally match into Family Medicine. Her journey was far from idle; she continuously advocated to the government for more residency positions, met with officials, and was featured in several news articles highlighting the serious issues stemming from the medical residency shortage.
To strengthen her application, she volunteered in clinics and passed the USMLE Step 3. She also focused her applications on residency programs in underserved areas that were friendly to International Medical Graduates (IMG). While her perseverance eventually paid off, she should have been an attending for nine years by now. Kudos to her, but let’s be honest—most people don’t have her patience to persevere against so many obstacles.
I couldn’t do what she did. Like many of you, I have family responsibilities that wouldn’t allow me to take her path. As an alternative, I had to take a more traditional route. Like her, I didn’t match either. However, I was resourceful and found ways to use my medical degree in other areas. I discovered that there are ways to combine our education with new skills to do what’s important. After not matching for an extended period, we all need a few things to make us feel okay with the situations we find ourselves in:
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Professional employment that allows us to hold our heads up high.
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A $100k salary.
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An improved shot at finally becoming the doctor we dreamed of.
The best way to find a path of professional employment is to combine education and obtain one of the many licenses available to the unmatched. There are both long and short programs, but one of the quickest and most promising is to combine your foreign MD with becoming a Surgical Assistant.
A Surgical Assistant is a relatively new occupation that allows a foreign MD to work in the medical field, make over $100k, and improve their shot at residency if that’s their goal. A Surgical Assistant works directly with a surgeon to assist them during procedures. This role is not to be confused with a Surgical Tech who hands instruments to the surgeon and the assistant. Surgical Assistants are licensed in various states such as Texas, Colorado, Virginia, and Illinois but in most states a license is not required to practice. Instead, the Surgical Assistant practices under the surgeon’s license.
By combining our education and with new skills, we can create opportunities for ourselves that provide both professional fulfillment and financial stability. This path may not be traditional, but it is a viable and rewarding alternative for those of us still striving to achieve our dreams in the medical field.