Match Season Report 2010/2011

Introduction

                 One of the Sudanese American Medical Association’s primary objectives is supporting Sudanese physicians applying to enter into graduate medical training in the USA. We know from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) that the percentage of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who successfully find a residency position is only 47.3% in 2010 (click here for more information). Moreover, this number is decreasing every year. Hence, we realize that it is our duty as Sudanese American physicians to provide all the support we can to our colleagues entering USA in successfully getting a residency position in these tough times.  To that effect, since our annual meeting in July 2010, we have put in place a number of initiatives to support Sudanese Residency Match Applicants in the match season.   

Initiatives

  • Coordinating/creating  Observership Positions resulting in Letters of Recommendations from US physicians
  • Reviewing CVs and personal statements and providing constructive feedback.
  • Coordinating/assisting in overnight accommodation/airport transportation for RM applicants during the interview season
  • Providing career advice to Residency Match Applicants.

Outcomes

A. Observerships   

1.     Results   

Since July 2010, we set up a networking system to link Residency Match Applicants (RM Applicants) with Sudanese attendings in various parts of the United States. We were approached by 24 RM Applicants; their outcomes are outlined in: 

Table 1 & 2    

 

2.  Limitations

We were unable to find observerships for all those who approached us due to the small number of Sudanese attendings who were willing to accommodate observers in their clinical setting. In our network we have 65 attendings, this is in addition to an unknown number who know of us from our website, facebook page, yahoo groups (medics, sudanesedetroit); only 5 volunteered to arrange observership positions. We especially struggled to find positions in Internal Medicine & in the Northeast region of the USA.

3.  Interview with Renas Almubarak, MD; A successful Match Applicant

4. Interview with Abdalla Zarroug, MD, FACS, FAAP; A mentor to Sudanese Match Applicants

 

  B. Personal Statement Review

A well written personal statement (PS) leaves a good impression on the Residency program interviewer prior to interviewing the RM applicant. A poorly written PS can damage the prospects of RM applicants. Sudanese RM applicants need assistance in writing personal statements due to lack of previous experience, and in some instances a fair grasp of the English language.

In SAMA we have offered to review RM applicants’ personal statements by Sudanese physicians who completed or currently in US residency/fellowship positions. To date, we have reviewed 23 personal statements from 20 RM applicants (3 applied to more than one specialty) outlined in:

Table 3 

 

C.  Overnight accommodation/Airport transportation for RM Applicants during interviews

There was an excellent response from SAMA members for providing overnight accommodation and airport transportation for RM applicants during this season. Airport transportation and overnight accommodation was available for Sudanese RM Applicants in Boston; Chicago; Detroit;; Minneapolis; Rochester, St. Louis, Akron & Chattanooga.

2 RM applicants requested this service (1 in Detroit, MI and the other in Rochester, MN). 

 

D.  Anonymous Survey of Residency Match Applicants who used SAMA Services

Table 4

 

Selected Responses to the question:  What do you think of SAMA’s efforts in supporting Sudanese physicians during the Residency Match? 

  •   “Invaluable efforts; really appreciated! It was a brilliant idea to offer accommodation and transportation to Match applicants…I didn’t take advantage of it myself but I think it’s a great idea. Also the info in the website is really valuable. The prompt response to questions, reviewing our PS and offering observerships are all great efforts!
  • “Excellent, valuable guidance and inspiring remarks”
  • “Its a great job, but we have to do more.”

Selected Responses to the question: What suggestions do you have to improve SAMA’s program to support Sudanese Residency Match Applicants?

  •   “helping applicants to get interviews and more connections.”
  • “to expand the network so more participant can get involved, i suggest to expand the advertisement work, as many people still don’t know about SAMA”
  • “1- Posting updates about USMLE . 2- Contacting more Drs in more hospitals to help applicants. 3- More effort on arranging Observerships”
  • “To help in connection more for observer ship, interview and match recommendation.”

General Comments: 

  •   “I know most of SAMA members , themselves are so busy doing their residency or fellowship , but keep going we are in need for you & may be one day we’ll do the same as you”
  • “This year proved that Sudanese senior doctors have some influence in hospitals they work in and they can ask for interview for the ppl in need . One more thing, US Clinical experience is a BIG pluse in your CV, the effect almost equals USMLE scores .”

Get involved (Email:  admin@sama-sd.org )

 Whatever level of training you are currently in; you can work with SAMA in providing support for Sudanese Residency Match Applicants by any of the following:

  1. Observerships:
    • Assisting with Observership Positions for RM Applicants either personally or through other Sudanese or non Sudanese physicians.
    • This doesn’t need to be an extensive period of contact; 2 clinic/office sessions may be sufficient to get a general idea of the applicant’s personal attributes/demeanor and generate a strong letter of recommendation.
    • We are asking for only one applicant per year per Sudanese attending (we have 65 attendings in our mailing list)
    • We especially need attendings in Internal Medicine & the Northeast region.
    • We have immediate need for observerships for the following:
      • Internal Medicine (3 candidates)
      • Surgery ( 1 candidate)
      • Pathology (1 candidate)
  2. Reviewing CVs and personal statements and providing constructive feedback.
  3. Assisting in overnight accommodation/airport transportation for RM applicants during the interview season
  4. Help SAMA in updating the website to provide the best information; including updating the IMG friendly lists.
  5. Signing up as a member in SAMA and paying the dues if Full member
  6. Volunteer your time and joining SAMA’s Professional Development Committee to be directly involved in future projects

 

Congratulations to those who matched

Table 5

 

 

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