Alternate Career options for IMG - dreamz942

[ArchivalUser]

I am a 2009 IMG graduate (Asia) with 1 year residency training in Microbiology. I left my training to join my spouse in USA. I came here with plenty of dreams. But things have not worked out well. I have finished USMLE steps with scores 206/226/second attempt CS/212 and an EAD holder (H4). I had worked as a Volunteer research fellow in a community hospital for close to 3 years and had done observerships in the same hospital in Critical care unit for 3 months. I have 3 first author publications. I recieved 1 interview from the same Hospital I worked for 2 Consecutive matches but did not Match.I was totally disappointed after this and stopped applying for residency match altogether. I just wanted to come out f this gamble and focus on my family. My kids now go to school. I am looking for an alternate career path to make use of the medical knowledge I have and earn a decent salary. These are the Options I have tried.

1. I had applied for MPH and recieved an offer from local University. However I did not take up as it costed around 40 K.
2. I had applied for a Phd program in Biomedical Sciences and received an interview but was not selected.
3.I tried going into the NP route. Accelerated program require me to repeat all my prerequisites and would requite time commitment of atleast 4 years and lot of money as well.
4. I had the opportunity to talk to a Program Director of a Radiation therapy technology program which needs a commitment of 3 years.

My Spouse works in a different field and supports our family.I do not have the option of going back to my home country. I am looking for a decent job with decent salary. It has been 10 years since I graduated, I have almost forgotten that I am a physician. Is there no value for our degree and the fact that we have passed the USMLE steps in this country?

Please give some some suggestions for having a career in USA (non existent for me right now)
Thanks in advance.

[ArchivalUser]

Could anyone who has gone for an alternate career path give some advice? It will be greatly appreciated.

[ArchivalUser]

It is very difficult...There aren't many jobs which you can do in US without a license. Try looking for a research position with a hospital (chances are it might not be paid).

[ArchivalUser]

Have you looked at clinical documentation specialist? That is an option I think you should be aware that very few alternative jobs pay high, the salary of a resident is in the 50s to 70k it only skyrocket on passing the board. As you are looking for an alternative you will be starting at the lower rung of the ladder with less pay

I wonder why you pushed NP aside, This is an option I have in mind if matching does not work out ( I am an old grad, med sch more than 10 years ago). I love clinical practice and was a specialist in clinical practice back home so, for me, most other alternative are out leaving things like PA and NP. The career progression for PA is to become a physician and I will always have a physician as boss while for NP there is relative independence with progression to DNP and option of academic with clinical practice.

If money is a problem one way of going round it is to have cna certification, a friend of mine did his at a nursing home where he was also employed, but do not let them know you are a doctor. The good thing about the cna is that pay is better than most other jobs, for my friend he was teaching anat at a community college the pay is not up to what he makes from cna but hrs are more. You may then go for online NP program.

Another option is to leave medical field entirely.

Hope these help

[ArchivalUser]

Thank you kindmd for your reply. It is very hard to find a paid research position.

To disme. I appreciate your detailed response. I have not looked at Clinical documentation specialist. I entirely agree with you regrading the salary.

Np route did seem appealing to me. The reason I took a backstep was the need to repeat all the prerequisites and the tuition rates are pretty high. I am not eligible for instate tuition rates (Not a green card holder).

I shall certainly look into the CNA certification.
I cannot thank you enough for the suggestions. Appreciate your time!

[ArchivalUser]

Search for clinical documentation specialist in health care systems that accept foreign medical graduate like Prime health care ( Clinical documentation Improvement) .

[ArchivalUser]

Thanks @ remo2007 for the suggestion. I have a question about Masters in Clinical research. Is doing this Masters program very useful?

[ArchivalUser]

If you are New Jersey we are looking for candidates for paid research job.
coordinator241

[ArchivalUser]

Yes, unfortunately, the educational path is not easy. It leaves a lot of time and money to spend. During their studies, medical students use many resources to improve their skills. In my practice, I used the website https://studyhippo.com/ati-rn-community-...ce-2016-b/ to prepare for exams and possible tests. With the help of this site, I took ati community health online practice in 2016. I have been working as an anesthetist for a year now and in spite of all the time I have spent, I am proud of myself.

[ArchivalUser]

I have seen this question pop up over and over again. People keep saying that MD without residency is nothing.
But has anyone tried working for Pharmaceutical companies? I believe MDs who dont have residency experience should be able to get good pharmaceutical jobs in clinical trials for medications or as medical consultants?

I havent looked into this but if someone has done some research about it then please shed some light. My backup plan if residency doesnt work out was to get in pharmaceuticals.