International Medical Graduates (IMG)

Promoting diversity in medicine
The International Medical Graduates Section (IMG) represents and promotes the interests of physicians who graduated from medical schools outside of the United States or Canada. Thirty-five thousand members strong, all AMA members who are IMGs are automatically members of the IMG Section.

Diverse Pool of Candidates Needed
The 2009 AMA IMG Section Nominating Committee is soliciting qualified lMG leaders to apply for the 2009-2012 IMG Section Governing Council. There are four expiring positions on the Governing Council for practicing physicians. Incumbents are eligible to run for a second term. Qualified candidates must be current AMA members who are international medical graduates with relevant organized medicine leadership experience as well as has ample time to commit to the work of a national governing group for three years.
Selecting the most diverse and representative slate of election candidates is the main priority of the Nominating Committee. All interested candidates should complete and forward electronically the following:

1. AMA Nomination Application (Word, 70KB)
2. biographical sketch form, (Word, 345KB) and
3. a jpg photo (headshot).

Materials should be sent  to img@ama-assn.org no later than Feb. 20, 2009.  Letters of organizational support are encouraged but not mandatory.  Online elections will take place in April 2009.  If you have any questions about the election or nominations process, contact the IMG office at the aforementioned e-mail address or call J. Mori Johnson at (312) 464-5678. 

Highlights from the AMA-IMG Section Interim Meeting
The AMA-IMG Section successfully conducted a new pilot process, which allowed its members to develop and promote resolutions in advance of the meeting and optimize face-to-face time at its congress and caucus. In addition, the section was able to obtain online testimony and subsequent approval, meeting the AMA House of Delegates handbook deadline. On Nov. 8 AMA-IMG Section Governing Council vice chair Jayesh Shah, MD, led an interactive sections and special groups caucus. On Nov. 10 the section hosted its caucus, as well as the Busharat Ahmad, MD, Leadership Program. During the program Regina Benjamin, MD, chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, inspired attendees to become effective and compassionate leaders. Read the AMA-IMG Section disposition of actions (PDF, 25KB) for more information from the AMA Interim meeting.

Join an AMA-IMG Section Committee
Your AMA-IMG Section is offering a new venue for AMA-IMG members to be actively involved with the AMA-IMG Section by joining one of the AMA-IMG Section committees. AMA-IMG Section members should carefully look at the listing of committees on the AMA-IMG Section Committee Web site and send an e-mail to indicating your interest. You will then receive a confirmation e-mail along with conference call scheduling information. We encourage you to take part in these committees and make your voice heard.

Wanted: IMG advisors
After a successful pilot year, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is once again seeking the participation of qualified physicians to serve on its IMG Advisors Network (IAN). IAN allow IMGS who are applying for J-1 visas through the Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program to communicate directly with IMGs who have successfully entered or completed GME training in the U.S. Learn more about serving as an advisor in the ECFMG IAN.

IMGs in the U.S. Physician Workforce Discussion Paper- 2007 edition (PDF, 419KB) The AMA-IMG Section is pleased to provide the 2007 edition of this document which provides information on IMG workforce related issues including: the role of IMGs in the U.S. physician workforce, statistics on IMGs, IMG contributions to the delivery of health care in the U.S. and much more. Additional information on IMG workforce issues is also available in a slide presentation (PDF, 1MB) given by Nyapati R. Rao, MD, MS in June 2007.

Practicing medicine in the U.S.
Information on immigration, certification and licensing. Applying for residency positions. Residency vacancies.

The AMA working for IMGs
Current advocacy on IMG issues and efforts to increase visibility of IMGs in the AMA and in organized medicine.

About us
History and evolution, mission statement, bylaws, accomplishments, and IMG Newsletters.

IMG leadership
Structure and leadership of the IMG Congress and Governing Council. Election procedures and results.

Meetings
The voice of the IMG Section influences policy and supports advocacy issues. This Web site includes Congress agendas, ethnic medical society meetings dates, actions from IMG Section meetings and links.

IMGs in the U.S.
Demographics of IMGs in the U.S.
State and Specialty IMG Sections.
Ethnic Medical Associations.
Setting the record straight on common myths.

FAQs
Frequently asked questions of concern to IMGs.

Contact us
Contact information for AMA Staff, IMG Governing Council and related services.

This AMA e-mail newsletter is sent weekly to IMGs. AMA eVoice informs IMGs about meetings and events, leadership applications and awards, up-to-date information from the IMG Section, current events in the healthcare industry, and much more!