Reflections on CARMs presentation

Its daunting every time to read those statistics, even thought they havent changed much. That 44% number will probably get lower every year, as more CSAs will be applying from Carribeans, Australia, Ireland and other countries -- meanwhile, # of residencies will stay the same (based on CARMs CEO).

Its a lot easier, if you plan on doing GP. However, if you would like to try for a specialty residency, US is a better option by a lot. Just make sure its ACGME accredited.

I have some experience with IMGs who finally make it Canada and some don't. These individuals are brilliant people who go through enormous hardship to become certified. As a fully trained doctor in their home country, they might drive a cab or become a janitor in the hospital. They usually leave home at the peak of their career to find themselves doing these kind of jobs. It's tremendously sad.

If you are a Canadian studying abroad (CSA) you are doing so because you did not have the right GPA, MCAT or interview scores. There might be a few individuals who actually might have a legitimate reason, but for the most part CSAs are not brilliant students. They are mediocre students who are stubborn. (Mediocre student does not mean you are not intelligent)

These IMG quota residencies were made to alleviate the struggle of these IMGs. Not for CSAs. Yes, not for CSAs. Its important to set things straight in my opinion.

And even with our (overall) weaker MCCEE scores, we tend to have a higher chance of getting a residency. The residency, that was made for that middle aged frustrated cardiologist who has been picking up trash in the morning to pay bills for his/her family. Why?

1) It could be because CSAs tend to be younger. Resident directors prefer a clean slate

2) It could be because we talk, act and walk like Canadians. No language barrier issues, no clash of cultures etc.

Canada is supposed to a country for immigrants. In terms of job security, we treat our immigrants like crap. I've seen successful professionals get discriminated simply because of their accents or cultural differences, give up on their goals and settle for a menial job. This is wrong because a country which is made for immigrants should embrace accents and cultural differences in the work force. As a Canadian, I see that the government of Canada does embrace the cultural differences, but not employers. Employers tend to discriminate. Especially if you are a from a 3rd world country.

I believe, we CSAs are a part of that problem.

With our lower MCCEE scores, weaker GPAs/interview scores/MCAT scores (you could even argue weaker work ethic)................we take residencies from the IMG who worked extremely hard to get into medical school and worked hard to get that residency spot.............the IMG who is struggling to keep his/her family afloat in Canada...............simply because we're younger and we are Canadian.

Rather than integrating immigrants into Canadian society, these IMG quota residencies are being misused by Canadians for their own gains. That is un-Canadian. And I am a part of the problem.