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Journeys in Medicine: An ECFMG Blog

Tag: PGY4

Author Journeys User4Posted on Categories Clinical Training Experience, My Story, Words of WisdomTags , , , , ,

Always More Road Ahead

By Dr. Walaa Hasan

There are certain emails you never forget opening:

“Congratulations! You have matched.”

I had read words like these back when I matched into Internal Medicine residency after years of examinations, applications, uncertainty, and sacrifice. This time, the words carried a different meaning: I had matched into a Hematology and Oncology fellowship, the specialty that had been at the heart of my career long before I came to the United States to train.

For a few moments, I simply stared at the screen.

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Author Journeys User4Posted on Categories Clinical Training Experience, My StoryTags , , , ,

A “Good Death” in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

By Dr. Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam

In the palliative oncology clinic, a common concern among patients is what to do when their oncologist tells them no further treatments are available. Though difficult, it was often my responsibility to recommend hospice care as the next appropriate step for those facing the limits of medical treatment. Patients often seek clarity on the transition to hospice care, raising important questions:

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Author Journeys User4Posted on Categories Clinical Training Experience, My Story, Words of WisdomTags , , , ,

A Land of Opportunities

By Dr. Paramvijay Singh Dhalla

I was born and raised in Punjab, India. My father, a veterinary doctor, always dreamt that his son would be a compassionate and humane physician, one who would serve society to the best of his abilities. This dream of his stayed with me, and I made it my purpose. First, I went to medical school in India. Then, in 2021, I fortunately matched into a family medicine residency at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. This year, I moved from Nebraska to New York to begin my fellowship in geriatric medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

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Author Journeys User4Posted on Categories Clinical Training Experience, Cross-cultural Experience, Host Institution, Well-being GrantsTags , , , , ,

Navigating the J-1 Journey Together

By Dr. Martha Maricela Solis

Recipient of the 2023 Grant Opportunity for J-1 Physicians: Well-being Projects Supporting Foreign National Physicians

I grew up in a town in northern Mexico, 20 minutes from the U.S. border, with a population of fewer than 5,000 people. I lived in a very small world back then, but my aspirations were big. I always dreamt of becoming a doctor, and through hard work and my parents’ support, I was able to go to medical school with a full ride. During medical school, I didn’t stop dreaming; I still wanted more. I wanted to train in a place where I could access the newest technology and resources, so I could deliver the best evidence-based medicine to my patients. That’s how training in the United States became my next dream.

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Author Journeys User4Posted on Categories Clinical Training Experience, Cross-cultural Experience, Host Institution, Well-being GrantsTags , , , ,

Building a Community for IMG Trainees at a Large Academic Hospital

By Dr. Can Misel Kilciksiz

Recipient of the 2023 Grant Opportunity for J-1 Physicians: Well-being Projects Supporting Foreign National Physicians

I am Dr. Can Misel Kilciksiz, an international medical graduate (IMG) from Turkey and a PGY-4 psychiatry resident at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU). I am writing this blog piece on behalf of our wonderful team, the WashU IMG Wellness Initiative. Our initiative was started in July 2023 by a group of trainees and faculty, including myself, Dr. Nadia Wattad (pediatric pulmonology fellow from Israel), Dr. Callie Torres (pathology resident from the United States), Dr. Rawan Safa (emergency medicine resident from Lebanon), Dr. Jennifer Duncan (professor in pediatrics, director of GME Wellness), and Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg (professor in psychiatry, vice chair for DEI). Since July 2023, many other amazing trainee members have joined the leadership committee of our initiative, including Dr. Mew Udomkittivorakul (pediatrics resident from Thailand), Dr. Esra Pehlivan (pediatrics neurology resident from Turkey), Dr. Mehul Thakkar (pediatrics hematology/oncology fellow from India), and Dr. Shao Ching Tu (pediatrics/genetics resident from Taiwan).

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