beneli: ^^

‘I am a very patriotic Nigerian and would love to practice back home. But unfortunately, whenever I go back for summer clinical hands-on practice, my disdain for our poorly-equipped hospitals (at least in the North where I live) grows. And the conditions in which the medical team works is, to put it lightly, appalling! So, I've decided not to go back home immediately until I've tried other countries for better exposure during my residency and early medical career.’

You said some very interesting things up there. I think your decision to try to get better exposure at the beginning of your medical career is a very pragmatic one.  I too was filled with a lot of naivety ‘patriotism’ when i finished medical school and returned to Nigeria, but this made me to eventually waste nearly 8 years of my life and career!

You can say that’s why i am interested in preventing others from making the same mistakes . . .

Now let’s try to address your questions. It’s a lot of information, so i will break it down into 2 – 3 posts to beat the spambot:

1. On a scale of 1-10, w/ 10 being an absolute guarantee, what are my chances of getting into a residency into the UK immediately I finish from here, assuming I fulfil all requirements (PLAB etc). I'm a bit jittery cuz I have friends here w/ a UK passport but even they complain of how competitive the UK has lately been.

On a scale of 1 – 10 I would put your chances of getting into a residency programme in the UK, immediately you finish, at less than 4!

The truth is that it’s become extremely difficult for Overseas Doctors to get into training programmes (residencies) in the UK these days. This trend started sometime around 2005 – 2006 when recruitment into the training programmes became centralised. Prior to this the different NHS trusts handled their own recruitment, and as a result of that, overseas doctors found it easier to get posts in the hospitals where they would have done a period of clinical attachment.

You see, the clinical attachment not only offered you exposure to how things are done in UK hospitals and your expected competencies as a junior Doctor, it also gave you the opportunity to get a UK Consultant to act as your referee, who would also sometimes sponsor your application to join their hospital. At least that’s how i . . . and a lot of guys i know . . . got my foot into the door here. Now everything is based on the ‘strength’ of the application alone – this would include things like what your visa status is, whether you are believed to be of the right ‘cultural mix’ etc . . . 

For a lot of overseas doctors, the truth is that their applications lack the required ‘strength’.  When they do get the interviews, their ‘cultural mix’ - the way they look, sound etc – don’t always work for them, unfortunately!

However, overseas doctors are still occasionally offered non-training posts, which leads nowhere career-wise . . . 


2. The same for USA, let's say I get 240+ in the USMLEs (wishful thinking!)

Getting 240 in the step 1 is not wishful thinking, if you give yourself 1 - 2 years to prepare - especially seeing that you’ve not too long finished the ‘basic sciences’.

Some useful resources that you may wish to explore if you consider going down the USMLE route include the following online tools;

i) Dr Najeed lectures. This includes over 400 hours of online lectures tailored specifically for the USMLE. You may find it useful for the rest of your training as well.  It’s of course not free, but people say it’s worth every cent spent. He has about 30 hours free lectures that gives a taste of the quality of material. http://drnajeeblectures.com/

ii) USMLE WORLD – this site is a very useful preparation resource for the USMLE. It’s made up of question banks for th different steps of the USMLE. This gives you a flavour of the level of knowledge expected for the different steps of the exam. http://www.usmleworld.com/

iii) The USMLE First Aid series are like your USMLE bibles!

iv) The various usmle online forums, like http://www.usmleforum.com/


You can actually get into Internal Medicine and similar specialties with less than 240 though. 220 is still considered a reasonably competitive score.

You've answered most of my questions too. I already know about the clinical attachments and elective programmes as well,which we can do in our final year. But I want to know if undergoing these trainings esp the clinical attachment gurantees one a training post with NHS. I dont mind doing locum for sometime.

PS: I follow Dr Najeed. He's simple an awesome teacher.

Here!

hitmanogo: any pathologists in the house?? let me know

trendphemmy: Pls am looking for where to do my housemanship. Pls what is d pay bracket in ur area

Wakeup!

At this stage, don't b too anxious abt pay. Find a centre U̶̲̥̅̊ can b well trained. D cash wil still come.

Congrats anyway. U̶̲̥̅̊'ve passed 1st step.

Hi. Pls i need latest info about LASUTH housemanship as i plan to pursue my internship there. Whatsup about the application form.

Hello doctors,please is there anyone here doing postgraduate diploma in family medicine.The one offered by national postgraduate medical college of Nigeria.Or anyone that knows someone doing the course.Please i need to know when the next intake will take placeand the application process.I did not get much on the website.o

Any New York/New Jersey based Naija dentists or doctors who want to network or socialize hit me up with a PM. I am an anesthesiologist/pain management specialist practicing in the area.

Prospect of mph specializin in health economics in nigeria?...i plan goin abroad(australia or canada) then go into health care consultancy

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Hi docs.. Am new here.. Am an MLS student of uniben.. What's up here

bukahands:

Welcome which school in cuba did u go to ?

I went to Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina(ELAM), Havana, Cuba and did my clinicals/internship in Hospital " Calixto Garcia"

interesting thread, thumb up

ositex:
I went to Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina(ELAM), Havana, Cuba and did my clinicals/internship in Hospital " Calixto Garcia"

O boi nice one man

Am a final year med student and am looking at writing the usmle after my service year, my question is on a scale of 1 to 10, what are my chances of getting a residency slot in the u.s( if I pass the usmle) for anaesthesiology or cardiology. Also am I expected to pay any fees before I get a slot( that's minus the exam fees for usmle). Will appreciate answer from all especially dr benelli and dr ogbonoeba, thanks in anticipation. Nice thread by the way.

Please i am an anatomist, graduated from unilorin, currrently
at the final stage of my masters program in Anatomy.
I need a place where i can learn how to use x-ray machine,
CT scan MRI, ECG etc.
i believe my knowledge in human structure, functions and
radiographic anatomy will make me learn fast.
Please i really want to learn this, any advice where this can
be done, please let me know. i have not being able to get
any medical diagnostic centre where i stay.
anywhere in lagos, Ibadan or ilorin will be ok.
Thanks

Mickey williams: Reading through this thread sure gives me a glimpse of how it is to be a med and i must confess i'm scared!!SIR i admire ur great deal of knowledge about the medical profession and would love to be like you someday..i just finished high school and got admitted into a Nigerian medical school(though yet to resume) as it is now i have no idea of life after medical school and would like to know my prospects after school,the joy not forgetting the sorrow though of this profession..i guess all i need now is a mentor and would like you to be one to me...FROM AN ADMIRING YOUNG FELLOW

u're really a bad Liar... Going through ur posts....on the Uniben admission thread..u were claiming to be an Engineering student in Uniben but still gunning for Medicine. And By the time u posted this...the admission status was yet to be uploaded. Bro Get a Life and Quit Lying .
On Jul20...u're an Engineering student.
On Jul24..u're a Medical student

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jaycee687: pls i need an advice.I just graduated from a medical school in ukraine.I would like to know if it is adviceable to go home and do the mdcn exam or just go straight and do usmle.Plssssssssssss and thanks

nothing stops you from doing both. usmle can be written in Ghana while you're doing your house job or service in Nigeria.

hi medics,i'm curruntly an undergraduate studying dental technology in futo bt wish to study medicine wen i'm done,i want to know if it is possible through direct entry in Nigeria as all universities are asking for a degree in basic sciences,anatomy,physiology etc.tanks in anticipation

Hi people,
I'm a medical student in part 2 and I plan to write step 1 of the USMLE at the end of my part 4.
Anyone here in a similar position please indicate.
I'll really love to have fellows to share experiences with as I proceed on this journey

Hi everyone, compliments and happy sunday. Please does anyone know where one can go for prostatic biopsy proceedure/ test in lagos, ibadan or ogun and the cost of doing it too. Please I need your response as soon as possible . Thanks in advance.

Pls any answers to my previous question?? Pls.

doctors in d buildn plzzz help ooo......am a guy dat always feel like spittn as a result of my stomach been somhw spoilt and ds hs been happnin 2 me 4 a very long time. plz what could be d possible course? urgent reply needed plzzz. tnx alot.

nawa for guys oo. upon say a lot of us dey strike, dis thread still dull

Gud day every one, i am a Fifth year medical student in Nigeria. Really want to know if there are restrictions in registering for USMLE step1 while a student, and if there is none...is it actually advisable to do so.

Rexsul: doctors in d buildn plzzz help ooo......am a guy dat always feel like spittn as a result of my stomach been somhw spoilt and ds hs been happnin 2 me 4 a very long time. plz what could be d possible course? urgent reply needed plzzz. tnx alot.

Go and de-worm yourself.

sapienman: Hi people,
I'm a medical student in part 2 and I plan to write step 1 of the USMLE at the end of my part 4.
Anyone here in a similar position please indicate.
I'll really love to have fellows to share experiences with as I proceed on this journey

Add me on bbm...7ACC61AE...let's talk

ndvalentine: Gud day every one, i am a Fifth year medical student in Nigeria. Really want to know if there are restrictions in registering for USMLE step1 while a student, and if there is none...is it actually advisable to do so.

I'll advice u get the bulletin from the ECFMG and USMLE websites...anyhow add me on bbm let's talk...7ACC61AE

Drs and everyone in d house.Pls someone wants to write d primaries in otorhinolarngology(ORL aka ENT) in march/april 2014 in NPMCN &/or WACS,but desperately needs materials;update and question papers or any other item or idea(like stuffs to read) dat wud help in passin d exam because he desires to start residency training next year.
Pls anyone that has passed d exam,sat for it or intending to in dis field shud help out.Presently in lagos but d person wudnt mind bearing d cost of any material to b sent if sender is out of lagos.
Contact:ikeanokwi@gmail.com
08062712337.
Ideas cud also b shared and anykind of help wud b appreciated.

Hey medics,im a ui med stud who plans to write usmle step 1
after my part 4,any1 in ma shoes lets connect and share ideas,my mail-segunafolaranmi@gmail.com