Medical work and continuing education in the USA

Area: third-largest country of the world, consisting of 50 states with a population of more than 305 million people (state 2008).
12.60 % are older than 65, 67.20 % are between 15 and 64 years old, 20.20 % are younger than 14. The capital is Washington DC. The official language is English, although in many areas there is a substantial Spanish-speaking part of the population.

In the USA there is no national health insurance. Every citizen and resident is responsible for his or her own health insurance. Most Americans are insured via their employer. For people over 65 there is the state-run Medicare and emergency treatments for people with low income are covered by the welfare program Medicaid. About 16.7% of the population have no health insurance (state 2010).

To enter medical school in the USA, students must have completed a four-year course of study and be in possession of a Bachelor’s degree. Medical school takes four years. Each medical school has their own admission requirements. To apply for medical school, students usually are required to pass the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). This test is held by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Non-native speakers are usually required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). At the end of medical school, students graduate as Doctors of Medicine (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). 

The next step after medical school is the residency program. Before the beginning of residency, foreign students have to complete the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification program. Residency takes between three and seven years, depending on the field of specialisation. The first year of residency is also called “internship”. After the completion of residency, doctors can also continue their education in the three-year fellowship program.

The SCORE (Standing Committee on Research Exchange) program of the AMSA (Austrian Medical Student Association, http://www.amsa.at) is an international exchange program for medical students who want to work on research projects. Students can apply for a research visit in various countries, for example in the USA, lasting between one and six months.

To practice medicine in the USA, doctors need to acquire an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification.

Requirements for the ECFMG certifications are:

• passing the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) step 1 (written exam) and step 2 (written and oral exam)
• completion of a medical degree of at least four years’ duration, university and year have to be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) (more information at http://imed.ecfmg.org).
• proof of completed education in form of a final medical diploma

Proof of good English language skills in form of the TOEFL are no longer necessary. More information about the ECMFG certification can be found in the ECFMG information booklet and in the USMLE bulletin of information http://www.ecfmg.org

• American Medical Association
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates  
• Association of American Medical Colleges   
• American Medical Student Association  
• Austrian Medical Student Association  
• National Resident Matching Program

3 Month Elective in Radiology at Georgetown University Hospital
by Dounia Mettri
his is probably the easiest question for me to answer. Ever since I started medical school, I knew I wanted to go to America. I’ve always dreamed big and America is THE country if you have big dreams and goals. It’s the country where dreams come true, right? Or at least that’s what they say.
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Three-months Clinical Rotation at Pennsylvania Hospital - Student Report
by Nicola Hermann
The Program gives you the valuable opportunity to study at one of the Ivy-League Universities, which is ranked at the very top of all medical schools. You become a part of the medical educational system of the United States for 3 months. It shows you the effectively structured American approach to teaching and ended up being a great learning experience in my life as a medical student.
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Residency in the States
by Dr. Natascha Woschnagg-Kloser
"In general there is a good working climate with lots of emphasis on teamwork. There is plenty of support and also expectations. Depending on the specialty working hours differ, but by and large the 80 hour week is complied with by now."
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