Why You Don't Want to be an IMG*

Here is a little taste of how you are treated by Canadian universities--below is a timeline of correspondences that started last August when I was offered an elective (by the head of the department) for four weeks this summer. 

Anytime I'd email the hospital staff I'd get prompt, professional replies. When I'd email a question to the university in charge of overseeing this elective every reply started like this (I am the one who put things in bold):

The &*& Visiting Elective Office will not accept any email registrations until after February 1st, 2012 for April 2012 onwards.  I will not be keeping  a copy of this email so please email again on or after Feb 1, 2012 to officially register for this elective. 

(This in reply to a question regarding police record checks--i.e. do I need one from Ireland or from Canada or from both?)

Visiting student applications for the clerkship year April 09, 2012 – February 28, 2013 can only be considered after February 1, 2012. (There are no visiting electives between Feb 27 - April 08, 2012.) Please get in touch with me again at that time and I will provide you with department contact information. Thank you for your understanding.

  

That was a little annoying. But I rolled with it.

When the hospital coordinator emailed my offer and dates to the university a few days before Feb 1st the reply came to me:

 I will not be keeping  a copy of this email so please email again on or after Feb 1, 2012 with the department confirmation (email below from *&* is fine) to officially register for this elective.

So that was a little frustrating. But I just chalked it up to normal university proceedings and waited for the magical day that I could send my offer of elective email....again. 

Feb 1st rolls around. I send in my offer letter. Hear nothing for two days and then get...

Visiting student applications for the clerkship year April 09, 2012 – February 28, 2013 could only be considered after February 1, 2012. Once the mandatory rotation schedules for the next class had been distributed to the departments. As such applications for visiting electives opened Feb 1, 2012.

Thank you for your message requesting elective time at the University of &*&.  Unfortunately, with the increase in the number of our own students we are no longer in a position to accommodate all of the requests we get from visiting students. On Jan 30, 2012 UMEC has just passed a motion that is effective immediately that at the present time we accept applications (medical students) from LCME accredited international medical schools. With the increase in the number of U of &*& and Canadian medical students, it is felt that we can no longer accommodate students other than those from LCME Accredited schools. LCME Accredited schools are only in Canada and the US. Please go to the LCME website for a list of LCME accredited medical schools - http://www.lcme.org/directry.htm

Therefore your elective has been cancelled.  

Repeat.

I would suggest that you try one of the larger medical schools in Eastern Canada to see if they would be able to assist you.

 

I suspect s/he is referring to those Eastern Canadian schools which rejected my applications in the FALL because all the electives were already full there. Thanks, tips, for the help! 

And thanks for the apology for pulling the rug out this late in the game. Oh wait, there was no apology. 

Here are some simple equations for the uninitiated: IMG + electives in Canada = possible shot at Canadian residency

IMG + no Canadian electives = Would You Like Fries With That? + MD + $300 000 Debt. 

It does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I think about how hard I am trying to get back to a country that doesn't want me. 

Oh, Canada. 


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*International Medical Graduate