IMG Roadmap Series #57: Dr. Chinenye Onyemaechi, Locum Tenens Physician
Join me this week as we are joined by Dr. Chinenye Onyemaechi. Dr. Chi is a board-certified psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Sint Eustatius SOM in 2013 and completed training in both general and forensic psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center/Sheppard Pratt Health System. She is an avid solo traveler and adventurer, who merges her career in medicine with her passion for travel (and good coffee!) in her work as a full-time locum tenens (travel) physician.
In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of being a well-rounded applicant with experience in multiple specialties as well as the significance of finding mentors and networking through professional organizations.
Dr. Chi went into college and had a difficult time with her GPA as she struggled with anxiety and depression. She knew she wanted to go into a psych specialty, but took a year off after graduation to assess her personal strengths and weaknesses. During this time, she participated in a neurology study. Coming out of this experience, Dr. Chi knew for sure she wanted to pursue the psych specialty and was able to take her experience from the study and include it in applications and apply it to her future experiences in the hospital.
As applications for residency came around, Dr. Chi knew she had to be conscious in how she managed her emotions and stress. She had worked ahead of schedule to complete applications early and had recommendations from multiple fields rather than only her specialty. This allowed her attendees to speak on how she worked well in various areas.
As you find yourself moving throughout your journey as an IMG, remember the importance of establishing connections and networking along the way. Programs are focused on the whole person rather than just test scores or grades. Your exams are important and you should work hard to keep your grades up, but your experiences will carry you a long way. Your volunteer experiences and how you demonstrate your interests are key in allowing others to see your skills and how you will work collaboratively with others both in and out of your field.
If you would like to connect with Dr. Chi, you can reach out on Instagram @andchisays
You can catch the full episode on your favorite podcast streaming sites at the links below:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-img-roadmap-podcast/id1490731292
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/45NNJ7ewtqynqyssbwm1xz
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1490731292/the-img-roadmap-podcast
RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/the-img-roadmap-podcast-GE0MMg