International Medical Graduates in the US Physician Workforce

ABSTRACT Background Data show that international medical graduates (IMGs), both US and foreign born, are more likely to enter primary care specialties and practice in underserved areas. Comprehensive assessments of representation trends for IMGs in the US physician workforce are limited. Objective We reported current and historical representation trends for IMGs in the graduate medical education (GME) training pool and US practicing physician workforce. Methods We compared representation for the total GME and active practicing physician pools with the 20 largest residency specialties. A 2-sided test was used for comparison, with P < .001 considered significant. To assess significant increases in IMG GME trainee representation for the total pool and each of the specialties from 1990–2015, the slope was estimated using simple linear regression. Results IMGs showed significantly greater representation among active practicing physicians in 4 specialties: internal medicine (39%), neurology (31%), psychiatry (30%), and pediatrics (25%). IMGs in GME showed significantly greater representation in 5 specialties: pathology (39%), internal medicine (39%), neurology (36%), family medicine (32%), and psychiatry (31%; all P < .001). Over the past quarter century, IMG representation in GME has increased by 0.2% per year in the total GME pool, and 1.1% per year for family medicine, 0.5% for obstetrics and gynecology and general surgery, and 0.3% for internal medicine. Conclusions IMGs make up nearly a quarter of the total GME pool and practicing physician workforce, with a disproportionate share, and larger increases over our study period in certain specialties.

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Prevalence of International Medical Graduates From Muslim-Majority Nations in the US Physician Workforce From 2009 to 2019

JAMA Network Open ◽

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.9418 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (7) ◽

pp. e209418 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John R. Boulet ◽

Robbert J. Duvivier ◽

William W. Pinsky

Keyword(s):

International Medical ◽

Physician Workforce ◽

International Medical Graduates ◽

Medical Graduates ◽

The Us ◽

Muslim Majority

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COVID-19 pandemic challenges for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) practicing in the United States

10.22541/au.160597263.32837900/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Srikrishna Malayala ◽

Ramesh Adhiakri ◽

Atul Bali ◽

Ram Sanjeev Alur

Keyword(s):

Hospital Medicine ◽

The United States ◽

International Medical ◽

Physician Workforce ◽

International Medical Graduates ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Medical Graduates ◽

Permanent Resident ◽

The Us ◽

The Impact

Purpose: Given that nearly a quarter of the US physician workforce are international medical graduates (IMGs), many of whom remain on temporary work visas for prolonged periods due to processing delays, the pandemic has posed unique challenges to these frontline workers and has arbitrarily limited our physician workforce. Objective: The objective of the study is to understand the role of IMG physicians practicing in the US, their limitations and challenges due to immigration related issues. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey across social media platforms, we obtained data from IMGs regarding their role in healthcare, to the impact of visa-related restrictions on their personal and professional lives. Results: A total of 2630 IMGs responded to the survey, Hospital Medicine (1684, 65.7%) being the predominant specialty encountered. 64.1% were practicing in Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), with 45.6% practicing in a rural area. Nearly 89% of respondents had been involved with direct care of COVID-19 patients, with 63.7% assuming administrative responsibilities for COVID-19 preparedness. 93% physicians expressed inability to serve in COVID-19 surge areas due to visa-related restrictions. 72% physicians reported that their families would be at risk for deportation in case of their disability or death. Most respondents (98.8%) felt that permanent resident status would help alleviate the above concerns. Conclusion: Easing immigration restrictions could prove significantly bolster the current physician workforce and prove beneficial in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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