From India to the Match: Dr. Avanthika Chaithanya's Journey to Residency at Mount Sinai (IMG Roadmap Series #113)

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Transitioning to the US medical system as an international medical graduate (IMG) can be a daunting task. However, with careful planning and preparation, it can be a successful journey. In this blog post, we will share the story of Dr. Avanthika Chaithanya who accepted a pre-match offer at Mount Sinai in pediatrics, and provide tips and recommendations for IMGs who are starting her own journey.

Dr. Avanthika graduated from medical school in March 2021, and was supposed to apply for the match that year. However, due to Covid disrupting the exam process, she had to push her application to the following year. During this time, she took Steps 1, 2, and 3 and completed more observerships. She took Step 1 during her final year in September 2020 (score 229), Step 2 in October 2021 after 8-9 months of preparation (score 245), and Step 3 in May 2022 (score 229). Dr. Avanthika took all three steps before residency and used various resources like Uworld, Firstaid, Pathoma, Sketchy, OnlineMedEd, and CCScases.com. During the match process, she had to deal with the time difference for interviews and contact since she was in India while preparing for the match, but it was manageable in the end.

Dr. Avanthika faced several challenges during the process, including online interviews due to Covid disrupting the medical system, uncertainty and anxiousness since she didn't have many mentors to guide her, and worrying that her Step 1 score was too average to match in the US. However, Dr. Avanthika was eligible for both H1B and J1 visas, and her program agreed to sponsor H1B. Her program sent an offer letter for her PGY1 and a list of documents needed for the credentialing process, including her degree, dean’s letter, medical school’s graduation date, updated letters of recommendation, Step 3 score, and ECFMG certification record. The most challenging part was getting a visa date.

Here are some tips and tricks for IMGs, especially those in India, who are preparing to transition to the US medical system:

Start your journey as early as possible to avoid any hassle when taking the step exams and completing observerships and electives.
Find a good mentor to guide you through the process.
Do lots of research, volunteering, and gain relevant clinical experience.
Tailor your application to the specialty of your interest.
Apply smart - don’t over or under apply. Check which programs sponsor IMGs.
Show your goal program that you are the superior choice and a good match for the program.

Finally, it's important to remember that transitioning to the US medical system can be challenging, but it's never too late to start. Don’t listen to negative feedback, and look for positive resources such as this podcast. Have confidence and believe in yourself, and don’t give up despite discouraging circumstances.

We hope that this blog post provides helpful insights and guidance for IMGs who are preparing to transition to the US medical system. Good luck on your journey!

You can reach out to Dr. Chaitanya @Paneer__tikka on Instagram.

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