The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis recently posted an article on internationally trained physicians and how few of these professionals are on track to practice medicine in the U.S. They highlight points gleaned through a data-sharing partnership with Upwardly Global, the leading nonprofit organization focused on dismantling barriers for immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals restarting their careers in the U.S.
“Physicians who immigrate to the United States tend to find employment of some kind. About 85 percent of the Upwardly Global physician clients in the dataset report being employed. However, only 34 percent of those who are employed report working as a medical resident or a physician.
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Representatives from Upwardly Global told us that many of its clients are deterred by the unavailability of medical residency slots and the required time, cost, and complexity of the licensure process. Smoothing this process and making residencies easier to obtain would almost certainly increase the number of immigrants who contribute their talents as practicing physicians.”
In the article, they also touch on several initiatives and policies from state governments who are working to remove unnecessary roadblocks toward relicensure for internationally trained healthcare professionals. In 2023, Illinois introduced a new pathway to full licensure for international medical graduates (IMGs), stemming from a 2022 permit program that enabled IMGs to practice medicine amid a healthcare labor shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic; read more about it in Upwardly Global’s report “Illinois’ Trailblazing Solution to Doctor Shortages: Opening Doors for Immigrant, Refugee, and Asylee Healthcare Professionals.”
Read The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ full analysis here: Occupational licensing can detour immigrant physicians’ career paths