An IMG advocate who worked with the World Health Organization? Dr. Ilan Shapiro talks, medicine, life and social justice. (IMG Roadmap Series #104)
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Dr. Ilan Shapiro is an advocate for IMGs from all over the world, with a focus on Hispanic countries. He has been able to make his voice of advocacy heard worldwide, stressing the importance of human compassion in medicine. Keep listening to find out more about Dr. Shapiro’s background, medical journey and his many inspirational tidbits!
What is Dr. Ilan Shapiro’s background?
He studied medicine in Mexico City where he was born and raised.
As an IMG he got to be a part of small town medicine and got to understand its particularities.
Was always aligned with clinical work, emergency, trauma, and disaster relief.
Worked as the liaison between the secretary of health for Mexico and the World Health Organization.
Found it eye opening to be able to connect what he was seeing small town medicine in Mexico and Latin America with public health around the world.
Was able to highlight topics such as alcohol over overconsumption and obesity.
His passion for pediatrics played a role as he applied as IMG for residency in US.
What was Dr. Shapiro’s IMG journey like?
He had ok scores and lots of experience but felt less-than compared to US grads.
Got 3 interviews and ended up matching in Chicago at the Mount Sinai hospital.
At first he wasn’t as excited but eventually, it grew on him and he ended up having a great experience.
Mount Sinai is known for known for diversity of medical staff and patients and his been a pioneer in this regard.
Noted that IMGs bring in a different spice and are relatable to foreign patients which makes for better doctor-patient relationships.
How IMGs can deal with difficulties with matching:
Remember that you only need one place to say yes.
Make sure that you apply to places that align with you – Dr. Shapiro himself was looking for a diverse background, a strong connection with the community and an international airport and so made these his criteria when choosing where to apply.
Prepare for your interviews and make every opportunity count.
Create a filter – there is a lot of advice out there. Only listen to the right kinds and take care of yourself.
There is a need for IMGs so don’t lose hope.
If you don’t match the first time, it’s okay; keep an open mind.
Create a plan on how to make your application stronger the next time.
What is Dr. Shapiro’s famous onion analogy?
‘ We are all onions, you can disagree with the smell or the flavor but at soon as we start removing the hard anxious exterior that we show to the public, we reveal the center.
The juicy, flavorful center that we can cook and add spices to is the real you.
Right now you are just peeling the onion - you are removing the layers to get matched into residency, but the match isn’t your life.
The entire dish that you’re cooking is your life, so keep peeling!
What are you going to do with your onion? ‘
How does Dr. Shapiro motivate IMGs who didn’t match?
If you don’t match you have two choices: Stay down and wallow, or use the failure as a learning experience.
You have choices; therefore you can choose how you react.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
What else can you add to your CV to match the next time?
You are still a doctor; nobody can take that from you.
The failure to match is a flat tire, but the car which represents your medical journey, still works.
What kind of work does Dr. Shapiro do for IMGs?
He is involved with the National Hispanic Medical Association.
He realizes that the US system needs more doctors and IMGs are needed in order to prevent a lot of systems from collapsing.
The organization tries to figure out how to better position IMGs and align them with places and among demographics where they are needed.
They are also advocating for the prices of the USMLE exams and ECFMG certification to be adjusted to make them more financially inclusive.
They offer mentorship to IMGs from Mexico and all over the world to highlight the importance of the human touch in medicine.
Dr. Shapiro is a media personality in healthcare. How did he get into this domain?
It all started at Mount Sinai in 2009, where he faced his his first endemic.
He was communicating with patients who had hesitations about their healthcare and getting vaccinated due to their legal status and other reasons.
They were afraid of being deported, of becoming homeless among other negative outcomes.
He found his voice through this work and it started with him getting the opportunity to talk for three minutes to over 200000 people.
He realized that if he could combine clinical work with transmitting information and dispelling misinformation into the community that would be a great match for him.
In 2011, President Obama invited several Hispanic leaders to discuss and create opportunities for public health, and it worked – through this opportunity, Dr. Shapiro was able to find partners and community to achieve this goal.
Rapid fire: Who is Dr. Shapiro?
What’s his favorite food?
Tacos! He also loves Mexican barbeque, cooking and serving.
Favorite type of music?
Salsa
What does he do for fun?
Cooking for the family, hiking, working out at the gym 4 to 5 times a week.
Mantra for success for IMGs:
Everything happens for a reason – you only need one successful interview to match.
You can reach out to Dr. Shapiro via:
- Instagram: @Drshapps
- His website.
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