IMG_stories

Sharing stories of success, failure and struggle of IMG while surviving residency in the US. IMG advocate. 👍/RT does not equal endorsement.

[IMG_stories @StoriesImg]

Some can be free but usually will charge anywhere from 400 to 1000+ for 1 month experience.

[Hisham Wehbe @HishamWehbeMD]

To all my fellow #IMG fellowship applicants, this is for you!!

[ASA® @ASALifeline]

Join the ASA Medical Student Component for our first post-match panel of the year! This panel is focused on International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Reserve your spot today: https://t.co/QyjCt2UilI

#MSCGC #IMGPanel #anesthesiology #MedTwitter

[Project IMG ™ @ProjectImg]

Dr. Khaled Yehia Sayed Omar is a non-us IMG from Egypt who completed 3 years of general surgery residency in Egypt, was an observer for 6 months, and is currently working as a research fellow."
Congratulations on matching into General Surgery at Kendall Regional Center. 🎉
Wishing you continued success as you step into this new chapter.
#MATCH2026 #ProjectIMG

[IMG Helping Hands @imghelpinghand]

New PGY 1 IM Spot

The University Of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Montgomery Internal Medicine Program is finding
a new PGY-1 resident. Please have qualified
applicants send a CV and recommendation letters to Leslie Harris at [email protected].

Leslie Harris, Jr., M.D. I Associate Program Director Montgomery Internal Medicine
Residency Montgomery Regional Campus
Baptist South Morrow Tower | 2055 E
South Blvd, Ste 200 Mont, AL 36116
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Ambulatory Care

[Salvador Jaime-Casas, MD @SalvadorjcMD]

⭐️ I am incredibly happy to share that I matched into urology! ⭐️

This beautiful moment would not be possible without the support of my family, friends, and mentors @montypal @WesleyYipMD @AbhiTrip87 @ClaytonLauMD ❤️🙏

Looking forward to finding out where my next step in training will be…

#UroMatch2026 #UroSoMe

[Miguel Quintero-Consuegra, M.D @DrMigueQC]

Today two amazing Colombians and alumni from Rosario University matched, Diego Rodriguez into neurology at Harvard and Ricardo Torres in Plastics at Larkin! Very proud of my friends, an absolute pride to Colombia ! 🇨🇴🇨🇴 @AmericaDoctors @ProjectImg @StoriesImg

[Kabir Bansal @getkabirbansal]

Beyond thrilled to have #Matched into my dream program at @UAFamilyMedCOMT 🌵

A humbling 3-year journey of resilience and consistency. Immensely grateful to God and my support system. The best time of my life.

Arizona, let’s get to work! 🩺

#Match2026 #MedTwitter #AAFP

[Ziad Khalifa, MD @ziadh889]

Hello #MedTwitter,
My name is Ziad Khalifa, a non-US IMG from Egypt. I graduated in 2021 and currently work as a cardiology resident in my final year of training. I'm ECFMG certified and completed my USMLE Steps in 2023. Despite my efforts and sacrifices, I have faced five US visa refusals, and I went unmatched this cycle.

I would truly appreciate any insight on how to get past this bottleneck. I know I still need US clinical experience (USCE) and Step 3, and I’m seeking guidance from those who have been in a similar situation. It’s been a difficult journey, and at times, it feels like all the effort and financial investment may have been in vain, but I’m still trying to find a way forward.

At this point, I’m unsure whether I should keep applying for the visa again or if I need to take a different approach before trying. Any advice from those with experience would mean a lot.

#USMLE
#MATCH
#MATCH2026
#IMG
@ProjectImg
@StoriesImg

[Jasmine Kamboj, MD, FASCO @JasmineKambojMD]

Thanks much to our star member at the @healthpolicycop - @ErulEnes.

A survey and a study like this is exactly what is needed as we are all engaging w #SocialMedia.

We are trying to study
✅patterns of onc professionals across the globe in SM usage
✅organizational support or guidelines
✅how can we best mitigate misinformation for our patients

This survey takes less than 6 mins ⭐️👏

Thanks @ErulEnes for all your HARDWORK. Joining every single monthly CoP Policy meeting, while waking up at 4:00 am in Turkey, must have not been easy. Your efforts are going/ will go a long way! I am so proud of you. 👏🥳

@yuan_ruiling @WadeSwenson @IMG_Oncologists @StoriesImg @SuyogCancer @cancerassassin1 @MayoCancerCare @ASCO @ASCOTECAG @DrYukselUrun @VincentRK @OncBrothers @OncologyBGLab @oncodaily @GevTamamyan @m_mutebi @RManochakian @VamsiVelcheti @Noha_Soror @Barnes_J_M @cspramesh @DrSAHaddad @CancerGridIndia @uicc

[Sebastian Arruarana, MD @sebas_arruarana]

PROJECT IMG MEETUP IN EGYPT 🇪🇬🩵

What started as a simple idea during my vacation in Egypt turned into something truly special. I was just talking with a few friends here, and they said, “let’s meet.” And as always with Project IMG we don’t do small and open the doors to everyone!

Within just 3 days, with the incredible help of local leaders like Mahmoud (part of @ProjectImg for the past 5 years) Dr Mirna @mirna_elkomi and Omar, who even picked me up at the airport and played a key role in organizing everything on the ground, we came together to put this meetup together here in Cairo. From planning the venue to coordinating logistics, this was a true team effort.

And then… over 150 doctors showed up.
Egyptian doctors, Sudanese doctors, all coming together with one purpose: to connect, support each other, and grow.

One of the most special parts of the meetup was bringing the global community into the room. During the event, we connected live with colleagues across the United States through video calls.
We had friends, residents, and mentors joining us virtually, sharing advice and encouragement in real time. Dr Fischer @SeeFisch and the chief resident of my program Dr Hasson who is Egyptian and scored 280 on step 1 USMLE also joined us on video call to advice and inspire, along with several residents from different specialties @DrMigueQC creating a bridge between Cairo and the U.S. medical system.

It was honestly one of the most meaningful moments of my trip. Sitting together, listening to your stories, sharing ideas, giving guidance for your journeys in medicine and life… this is exactly why Project IMG exists.

This is what fills me. This is what I love.

Thank you all for welcoming me with such warmth, for opening your doors—and your hearts—to me. ♥️
I truly hope this is just the beginning of a strong Project IMG Egypt community, one that continues to grow, support each other, and create opportunities for the next generation.

We are building something global. And we are just getting started.

If you want to lead or help build a Project IMG chapter in your country, reach out or comment below. Let’s do this together 🌍

Hope to see you all again soon. Until next time, Cairo 🇪🇬🫶

CONNECT • LEARN • SUCCED

#projectimg #theimgevent #egypt

[Patii Ghattas @patiighattas]

A little bit late but so excited to share that I matched in Internal Medicine in Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital! Proof that dreams come true and that hard work pays off!! #match2026

[Project IMG ™ @ProjectImg]

🚨 PGY-1 POSITION AVAILABLE – PEDIATRICS (July 2026)

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a PGY-1 spot has become available at Virginia Tech Carilion in Roanoke, VA. The program has received a waiver from the NRMP, meaning they are actively looking to fill this position outside of the Match.

This is a great opportunity for applicants still seeking a residency position starting in July 2026, especially those interested in Pediatrics.

📍 Carilion Clinic – Roanoke, Virginia
🗓 Start Date: July 2026

If you or someone you know is still looking, reach out directly:

📧 [email protected]
📞 [phone]

Let’s help spread the word and connect the right candidate with this opportunity.

Tag someone who might benefit 👇

[Soyeon Park @SoyeonPark25508]

I'm excited to share that I have matched into Internal Medicine at Cook County in Chicago!
I'm deeply grateful to the mentors, fellows/residents, colleagues, and friends who supported me throughout this journey. This would not have been possible without your help.

[Project IMG ™ @ProjectImg]

Let’s take a look at some common misconceptions about clinical rotations.

Swipe through, and let’s talk about the reality of this part of medical training.

#ClinicalRotations #MedStudentLife #MedicalSchoolJourney #FutureDoctor #IMG

[MCG Anesthesia @MCGanesthesia]

Congratulations to Dr Akbar Herekar who recently earned his MPH #anesthesiology #Alumni #PublicHealth #criticalcare @WellstarHealth

[NRMP® @TheNRMP]

The NRMP office is closed today, Monday, January 19, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The office will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20, at 8:30 am ET.

[Dr Ahmad Rehan Khan @AhmadRehanKhan]

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗠𝗚𝗦:
For International Medical Graduates, a residency application without U.S. clinical experience and U.S. letters of recommendation is effectively incomplete. Everyone says “get USCE,” but few acknowledge how punishing that path really is.

Beyond the heavy financial burden, airfare, accommodation, and paid rotations, there is a far bigger gatekeeper: the U.S. visitor visa.

Now look at the STATS:

🔷 According to Federation of State Medical Boards, the largest sources of licensed IMGs in the United States are:

1) India, 23%
2) Caribbean medical schools, 18%
3) Pakistan, 6%
4) Philippines, 6%
5) Mexico, 5%

🔷 Yet the very countries producing much of the U.S. physician workforce face high B1 B2 refusal rates, per the U.S. Department of State:

1) Nepal, 49.47%
2) Bangladesh, 46.09%
3) Pakistan, 45.65%
4) India, 16.32%
5) Brazil, 15.48%
6) Mexico, 13.87%

🔶 This is the reality.
IMGs are told they must obtain U.S. clinical experience to be competitive, while many are blocked at the visa stage before they ever get the chance.

🔶 This systemic mismatch makes an already uphill journey even steeper, and it explains why so many talented IMGs struggle to compete, not due to lack of merit, but due to barriers stacked far beyond academics.

https://t.co/RgynLWc9WS

#Match2026 #MedTwitter #MedEd #USVisa #ResidencyMatch

[Dr Ahmad Rehan Khan @AhmadRehanKhan]

𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗠𝗚𝘀 💪
Dear IMGs, never let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Keep pushing forward, even if you fail, try again and again until you succeed.
"You got a Dream, You Gotta Protect it"
#Match2026 #MedTwitter #MedX

[Dr Ahmad Rehan Khan @AhmadRehanKhan]

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗨𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗚𝘀:

Overall, 2025 has not been a favorable year for Non US International Medical Graduates or for the US healthcare system that relies heavily on them.

🔶 The Match Rate for Non US IMGs has continued to decline, dropping from 59.4 percent in 2023 to approximately 58 percent in 2025, reversing years of slow progress.

🔷 New travel restrictions affecting IMGs from nearly 30 countries have created uncertainty, delays, and emotional and financial stress for thousands of applicants and trainees.

🔶 The H1B visa fee increase from roughly $5,000 to nearly $100,000 has placed an unprecedented financial burden on physicians and healthcare institutions, particularly safety net and underserved hospitals.

🔷 Expanded social media and background vetting has increased the risk of administrative processing, prolonged visa delays, and outright denials, often without transparency.

🔶 As a combined result of travel bans, visa cost escalation, and intensified scrutiny, there has been a noticeable and concerning decline in the number of residency interviews received by IMGs across multiple specialties.

✨ Non US IMGs remain essential to the US healthcare workforce, especially in underserved and rural areas. Policies that restrict their entry and training ultimately harm patient access, healthcare equity, and system resilience.

🚨 2025 should serve as a warning, not a precedent 🚨

#Match2026 #MedTwitter #MedEd #HappyNewYear2026 #USMLE

[Chris Bray @docbraymd]

No interviews? Unmatched? This isn't the end - it's a strategic pivot point.

See my 12-month roadmap for IMGs running into obstacles with getting into US residency programs, including:
- Step 3 strategy
- USCE acquisition
- Networking tactics
- Application 2.0

https://t.co/K2O3sNRIlr

#Match2026 #Match2027