Women International Medical Graduates: Embrace Your Unique Strengths

Women International Medical Graduates: Embrace Your Unique Strengths

Women international medical graduates face unique challenges in securing a cardiology fellowship, including being away from family and friends, adapting to a new culture, mastering a second language, passing equivalency exams, getting U.S. clinical experience, matching into a strong medicine program, finding mentors and connections, and the added pressure of proving themselves in a male-dominated specialty. This is an arduous journey and below are some insights on how to successfully overcome these challenges and become a highly qualified cardiology candidate.

A solid foundation is an absolute requirement. Focus on being a well-rounded internist early in your residency. Do not underestimate the value of finding mentors who can guide you in your career as well as personal development. Sometimes, it is challenging to find a female cardiologist, not to mention an international graduate, so cast a wide net. Leverage professional organizations' programs, connect with attendings at your institution and use professional social media platforms to build relationships.

Once you have established yourself as a resident, start building a comprehensive resume. Find your interest in cardiology and work on building your research profile. Unlike clinical internal medicine in which you learn daily during your training, research requires you to be proactive. Formulate your questions, contact mentors, and work with your co-residents and fellows. Focus on more meaningful and achievable projects during your two to three years of training such as case reports, reviews, retrospective research, meta-analyses and quality-improvement projects. Submitting your work and attending regional and national conferences are great venues for identifying mentors with similar interests and helping you to improve your presentation skills.

Remember, you are not only building a curriculum vitae, but also your skills and reputation. Pursuing a career in a male-dominated specialty like cardiology necessitates that you continuously bolster your confidence, competence, self-presentation and resilience. Understand that what you bring to this field is as unique as the existing challenges. Embrace your strength as a female physician who wants to focus on providing holistic care to many female patients.

When applying for the fellowship, seek support from your co-residents, fellows and mentors. Everyone who has gone through the process is an invaluable resource of knowledge and support. Prior to engaging in interviews, identify resources for mock interviews, which are often offered through your residency programs or the ACC. During the interview process, confidently articulate how your international background strengthens your candidacy. Highlight your cultural competency, multilingual skills and diverse perspectives that can enhance patient care. Always remember the power of positive self-worth. How you perceive yourself will dictate how people will perceive you.

As you embark on this journey, remember that your unique experiences and perspectives as a woman and an international medical graduate are invaluable assets to the field. The road may be challenging, but each hurdle you overcome will not only shape you as a resilient physician but also pave the way for those who follow. Embrace mentorship, celebrate your achievements, and do not hesitate to seek support from peers who understand your path. The field of cardiology is enriched by diversity, and your presence contributes to its growth and innovation. Keep striving, stay true to your vision and know that your efforts will inspire future generations of women in medicine. Do not be afraid of dreaming big!

This article was authored by Ingy Mahana, MBBCH; Jiyoung Seo, MD; and Karla M. Asturias-Gonzalez, MD, general cardiology fellows at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR.

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