What 3..5% DOES accept training then, out of interest ?

...and presumably exams and tests along the residency program ? How long does it take ? After the years in school, doing it again would be a daunting experience I suspect.

A mate of mine, who was a general surgeon in Japan, so anything from the hips up to the neck, for 8 years before moving to the US and she said she would have had to start from the beginning basically at that point and wasn't interested. She also said that unofficially, residency programs were reluctant to take on a foreign trained doctors to avoid issues in the work environment with different techniques, or having a resident that had more experience than those giving the training. This was just in the Boston and surrounding area, so it could be very different else where.

Clearly must be some kind of shortage if you a foreign doc willing to work for the military forget about a GC they make you a citizen instantly!

I have two friends, a husband and wife team that trained in India. One was an OB/GYN, the other a Urologist. Both worked for years in the NHS. When they came to the US, the only residency training they could obtain was Family Practice, and not even in the same state. I wonder if foreign trained docs get what places are left after the med students "match"?

I think the shortest residency is three years - Family Medicine and Internal Med. Some residencies are as long as seven or eight years for some surgical specialities.

I have a cousin who is finishing his residency next month he signed up a to a job in California (2 hrs from San Fran) $280k basic with a 50k sign on plus bonus, H1 sponsorship with premium processed Green Card

If that doesnt indicate a shortage and desperation to recruit people I dont know what does?

Part of the issue is that it's hard to get placement in residency programs and I believe you have to take the USMLE exams before that as well. I know a number of people, including my brother in law, who were trained in our country, and then came to the US for their MPH. During their MPH, they took the USMLE exams and applied to residency programs. Not all residency programs are open to them, just a few. My brother in law luckily got a spot at Howard University Hospital. Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn and Harlem Hospital also seem to be willing to accept these residents.

2 hrs from San Fran could mean less desirable places in the central valley. Still your cousin can move anywhere after he gets his green card.

Maybe Ozzidoc can comment, but I also think that $280K has to cover the physician's personal insurance. My friend is a urologist and told me that she could only move positions twice because the insurance company raises your rates everytime you move.

Sorry - cant reply at present as am entrenched with the recalcitrant children and my daily 4 hr commute. Someone pls message me the link to this thread to remind me to reply at the weekend - thanks muchly

Another doctor shortage article

Providence Health plans cost-cutting campaign | State | nrtoday.com

280k would be the salary, malpractice coverage is covered by the employer in most cases