IMG ADVISORS NETWORK FOR IMGS APPLYING TO U.S. GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION

ECFMG-ERAS News #5. Thursday, September 9, 2010

To: IMGs Using ERAS(r)

From: ERAS Support Services at ECFMG(r)


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IMG ADVISORS NETWORK FOR IMGS APPLYING TO U.S. GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION

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IMG ADVISORS NETWORK FOR IMGS APPLYING TO U.S. GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION

International medical students/graduates (IMGs) applying for U.S.
graduate medical education (GME) programs are reminded that they may be
eligible to participate as advisees in ECFMG's IMG Advisors Network
(IAN). IAN is a free service that connects qualifying IMGs who plan to
enter U.S. GME with advisors who may be able to answer many of their
questions about applying to U.S. GME programs and living and working in
the United States.

IAN advisors are IMGs who have already entered U.S. GME programs. Based
on their personal experience, these advisors can provide advice and
information on applying to U.S. GME positions, including the selection
of medical specialties and programs, application strategies, preparation
of personal statements, obtaining letters of recommendation, strategies
for successful interviews, and pursuing GME positions outside of the
National Resident Matching Program (the "Match"). IAN advisees also have
special telephone and e-mail access to the staff of Electronic Residency
Application Service (ERAS) Support Services at ECFMG for questions
regarding ERAS.

To be eligible to participate in IAN as an advisee, IMGs must be
registered with both ERAS and the Match for the 2011 season, or must
have been offered a position in an ACGME-accredited training program and
have submitted an application and payment to the ECFMG Exchange Visitor
Sponsorship Program for initial sponsorship as a J-1 Alien Physician.

For more information about the IAN program, including a complete list of
the qualifications of advisors and advisees, instructions on how to use
IAN, and the kinds of issues that advisors typically can address, visit
the IAN homepage at www.ecfmg.org/acculturation/ian.html .

If you are eligible to participate in IAN as an advisee based upon your
participation in ERAS and the Match, access ECFMG's OASIS from the ECFMG
website, click on the ERAS Support Services link, and follow the
instructions for the IMG Advisors Network.