research opportunities for international medical graduates in usa

USMLE STEP PREP resource for IMGS

How to unlock research opportunities as an international Medical Graduate

Research experience and publications are important for keeping international medical graduates worldwide up-to-date and helping them give the best care possible. 

During the USMLE journey, IMGs are confronted with the question of their research and publishing experience. 

As the residency match gets more competitive each year, research experiences and published work can considerably boost one’s residency application. 

However, many IMGs are unfamiliar with the processes of conducting research and getting a paper published. 

There are, of course, numerous paths to doing research and getting published, including applying for research positions in the US.  

However, as it’s only an option for some IMGs, I’d like to share alternative research and publication methods. 

Interested? 

Let’s dive in!

Research experience VS individual research

First, it’s crucial to distinguish between research and publication. 

What I mean by that is, only some research results in publication and only some publications count as the result of research experience on a resume. 

So, what is the difference, and why does it count? 

Research experience:

Research experience is any professional or academic research done while working for an institution. 

In other words, it implies that you hold or were holding a position in an establishment. 

Besides potentially publishing the results of your work, research experience has many advantages, including the following:  

• You’ll benefit from the guidance and experience of mentors and fellows, which is especially helpful if you have no experience with research and publishing.
• Positive impact on a resume and ERAS application, regardless of whether or not the research resulted in publication.
• Opportunities to make connections.

Depending on whether it’s funded research or unfunded research, the flip sides of both research experiences are that: 

• Unfunded research proposes only unpaid positions. Therefore, you’ll have to sustain yourself financially throughout the research experience.
• Funded research offers paid positions. However, there are fewer positions for a large pool of applicants, and it usually requires applicants to have previous research experience and a solid resume to be considered.

What are the remaining options for IMGs who cannot sustain themselves financially to apply for unfunded research and do not have enough research experience to apply for funded research?

One answer to this question is – Individual Research!

Individual research:

So, what do we mean by individual research? 

Individual research can be conducted without working with an institution and results in the publication of an article.

Individual research won’t be considered as research experience; however, it’s a good compromise for IMGs and an excellent opportunity to acquire the skills to conduct research and get more familiar with the process of getting published. 

So, what are the key elements of conducting individual research? 

Which study type best fits individual research?

As you won’t hold a position in an institution, you won’t have access to a laboratory or direct access to patients to conduct the study. 

Therefore, the most straightforward way to run individual research is to work on existing data, which results in either conducting a Systematic Review or a Meta-Analysis.

The systematic review:

A systematic review involves the collecting, critical assessment, and synthesis of previous research on a particular topic.

The meta-analysis:

A meta-analysis is a systematic scientific approach that, using a repeatable process, combines the findings of numerous independent investigations on a specific issue. It’s a statistical synthesis of the research that was a part of a systematic review. By analyzing many cases and reaching a general conclusion, meta-analysis enables a more accurate interpretation of the data.

Here are some links that will guide you in the process of conducting a meta-analysis or a systematic review: 

• A Meta-Analytic Methodology Guide from frontiersin.org
• A very interesting article on how to run a systematic review from ncbi  

From topic selection to publication

Once you have decided which type of study you want to conduct, it’s time to start taking concrete actions. 

So, where do you start?

Select a subject

This step is crucial and shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

Taking the time to select the appropriate topic is vital. You don’t want to invest time and effort into something only to realize halfway through that your chosen topic is irrelevant and unfeasible. 

So, what is a good subject? 

Ideally, the topic you decide to investigate should revolve around an interest of yours. For example, if you are interested in dermatology, look for a subject in that field. 

Also, writing articles in the field you want to work in will help your application significantly. 

Once you have defined the field you want to research, you’ll have to clarify the research question, which is, in my experience, the trickiest part! 

To determine the research question, you must first go through what’s already been done and what new questions the researchers have brought to light.

Reading the trending articles in Pubmed or highly-accessed journals can help you in this step and familiarize you with how research is conducted, how results are presented, how a paper is written, and so on.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to doctors or medical residents in your home country or elsewhere to ask about what subject they think is worth investigating. 

I recommend you use the PICO method to formulate a research question.

What are the steps to publish a paper?

Form a team:.

Although we’re talking about “individual”  research, publishing a paper is a result of collective work. 

As you determine the tasks that need to be accomplished to achieve the goals of your study, you can start reaching out to individuals who possess the necessary skills and establish clear roles and responsibilities for each team member, as well as a system for communication and collaboration.

With your team, you’ll have to complete the following steps: 

Conduct a literature review:

Conducting a literature review will allow you to highlight what’s already been established and documented, and confront the study you’re conducting with the previous one. 

Define the design of the study:

Your research design is like your house’s foundation: Essential. 

Study design refers to the methods used to collect and analyze the data and ultimately represent the quality of your work. 

Collect the data and do a statistical analysis:

The data correspond to the articles selected to be integrated into your systematic review and meta-analysis. 

Once you have collected all the data, you will have to do a statistical analysis of the results.

Although you can task a statistician to do the statistical analysis, I highly recommend you learn and do it yourself as you will acquire a new valuable skill and get a better ,broader perspective of the study you are conducting. 

You can find courses on Coursera or Udemy .

While writing, pay special attention to the following: 

• Vocabulary and grammatical errors

Do not hesitate to ask mentors or fellows to proofread your work, or use professional tools to assist your writing, such as Grammarly. 

But remember that it’s not enough to proofread with this kind of tool. It’s better to seek assistance from a professional proofreader who’s a native English speaker. Feel free to contact us as we work with several native writers.

Identify a journal

The final step of your publication journey is to identify a journal where you want your work to be published.

However, don’t be too quick to shout victory, as this step can be daunting. 

Once you’ve identified a list of potential journals, I recommend you read their specific guidelines to ensure your research fits within the journal’s scope before submitting your work. 

Keep in mind that some journals have a longer turnaround than others and that the process can take many months. With that in mind, choose a journal that aligns with your timeline for publication. 

How to make it to the next level

Besides maximizing your chances of getting matched with your dream specialty, getting published is a unique opportunity to learn, acquire new skills, and make new connections.  

As you define a study question worth investigating, use it as an opportunity to contact doctors who have conducted studies on a related topic and, if possible, suggest a collaboration. 

Email the institution you want to apply to with your project study, motivations, goals, and an attached resume. 

Again, this is not just about getting published to put it on ERAS, but rather a chance to start taking action and building a network.  

Besides good scores and US clinical experience, research and publications have become much more important in the matching process. 

Since getting a research position might not always be an accessible option for all IMGs, individual research represents an excellent compromise to get started in research and publishing. 

Selecting the appropriate subject and acquiring the necessary skills to publish your first piece of work is key in the USMLE journey. It will help you match 

with your dream specialty, and it also presents a unique opportunity to start reaching out to hospitals and making new connections. 

About The Author

Dr. Zineb Moustaatif

• Weill Cornell Medicine

Year-Long Global Health Opportunities and Fellowships

Fully-funded:.

• VECD Fogarty Global Health Fellowships The WCMC Center for Global Health recently received NIH Fogarty funding as a consortium with Vanderbilt (V), Emory (E), Cornell (C), and Duke (D) to train medical students and post-doctoral fellows in global health research. Support is provided for one year (stipend, travel, supplies) to conduct mentored clinical research at one of the Center for Global Health international sites (Haiti; Tanzania; Brazil). There will be 1-3 slots per year at Weill-Cornell and the application process is competitive. The start date of the one-year training will be in July. Interested WCMC students should contact  Dr. Dan Fitzgerald  and  Lindsey Reif . (Note: The Fogarty Global Health Fellowship Program has replaced the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program.)
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Clinical Research Fellowship for Medical Students The Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship (CRF) provides support for one year of full-time clinical research training. The main goal of the program is to encourage medical students to pursue careers in clinical research. Interested medical students must be willing to take a year out from school and conduct fellowship research and training at one of 12 hosting medical schools. Six of the 12 participating schools offer international fellowship opportunities.
• BOTUSA Project - Research Fellowship for Senior Medical Students (6+ Month Elective) The BOTUSA Project is a collaborative effort between the Botswana Ministry of Health, the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\Division of Tuberculosis Elimination   (CDC\DTBE), and the Global AIDS Program (GAP). The principal goal of the BOTUSA Project is to expand our knowledge of the relationship between epidemic tuberculosis (TB) and epidemic HIV disease in a resource-poor country setting so that this information can be used to develop prevention strategies for the local and global control of TB. BOTUSA staff work closely with counterparts in the Botswana National TB Programme and AIDS Control Programme. BOTUSA has a medical student fellowship to provide third or fourth-year medical students the opportunity to participate in CDC research in Botswana, as well as gain experience with clinical medicine and culture in a developing country.
• Each year, eight competitively selected medical students from around the country spend 10-12 months at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. At CDC they gain an in-depth understanding of applied epidemiology, the role of epidemiology in medicine and health, and the role of physicians in the public health system. With the guidance of experienced CDC epidemiologists, they perform epidemiologic analyses and research, design public health interventions and assist in field investigations. Possible areas of concentration include birth defects, injury prevention, chronic disease, infectious disease, environmental health, reproductive health and minority health.
• CDC Foundation - O.C. Hubert Fellowship in International Health The year-long fellowship provides third- and fourth-year medical and veterinary students with valuable public health experience in an international setting. The main focus of the fellowship is a 6- to 12-week field assignment. Fellows are mentored by experienced CDC staff and learn through hands-on experience while working on a public health project in a developing country. Projects vary each year, and applicants may indicate a preference for up to five field assignments. The CDC-Hubert Global Health Fellowship is endowed by the O.C. Hubert Charitable Trust.
• Global Health Corps GHC provides opportunities for young professionals from diverse backgrounds to work on the frontlines of the fight for global health equity in year-long paid positions. During their fellowship year, fellows make a significant and measurable contribution to the partner organization and the target population. GHC partners with organizations that range from small grassroots organizations to large global institutions. Fellow candidates apply for specific positions with one of the partner organizations for which they have relevant skills and experience, and are selected jointly by GHC and the partner organization. In the 2013-2014 fellow class, GHC had 52 American fellows serving in Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and the US.
• biomedical research training for medical, dental, and veterinary students enrolled in schools in the U.S. The fellowship research may be conducted at any academic or nonprofit institution in the United States, except the National Institutes of Health. Research may be conducted abroad if the fellow's mentor is affiliated with a U.S. institution.
• Year-Off Training Program for Graduate or Medical Students in Clinical and Translational Science The Year-off  Training  Program for Graduate and Medical Students provides opportunities for students who are enrolled in graduate or medical degree programs to engage in biomedical research at the Rockefeller Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Those selected for the program come to the Center with the understanding that they will return to their degree-granting institution and program within one year. In an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research, trainees work under the supervision of some of the leading clinical and translational scientists in the world. The trainee can select from among the 75 different laboratories on the Rockefeller campus. In addition, trainees participate in the didactic programs and lectures developed for Clinical Scholars.

Volunteer/Partially Funded:

• American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Overseas Assistance Grant AMWA provides small grants, up to $1,500,  for assistance with transportation costs (airfare, train fare, etc.) connected with pursuing medical studies in an off-campus setting where the medically neglected will benefit. The Grants are awarded to national AMWA members completing their second, third or fourth year of an accredited U.S. medical or osteopathic medical school or a resident who will be spending a minimum of six weeks and no longer than one year in a sponsored program which will serve the needs of the medically underserved.
• International Society of Travel Medicine  The ISTM Research  Award program provides moderate grants (between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000) each year through a peer-review process implemented by the ISTM Research and Grants Committee. These grants are designed to stimulate travel medicine research by supporting comprehensive research projects or, for larger projects, providing support for pilot studies to enable researchers to collect data/test hypotheses so that they can then apply to other agencies for more substantive research grants.
• Remote Area Medical The Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world. Volunteer doctors, nurses, pilots, veterinarians and support workers participate in expeditions (at their own expense) in some of the world's most exciting places. Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated. To volunteer as a student, you must have school sponsorship and supervision in the form of a licensed practitioner. RAM aims at development rather than dependence so volunteers are typically involved in education and organization as much as direct health care service.
• Volunteer Missionary Movement The Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM)  was founded in 1969 by Edwina Gateley, an English laywoman, in response to a need for lay people to become more deeply involved in the mission life of the Church. After spending three years in Uganda, where she opened a very successful school for young girls and worked as a teacher, she returned to England and began to recruit and train volunteer missionaries to work in education, healthcare and pastoral projects in eastern Africa. As VMM became more widely known, it was able to send volunteers to communities in need throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Transportation, housing, and food can be covered by the organization.
• Unite for Sight Global Impact Corps Unite For Sight supports eye clinics in  Ghana, India and Honduras by investing human and financial resources in their social ventures to eliminate patient barriers to eye care. Unite For Sight applies best practices in eye care, public health, volunteerism, and social entrepreneurship to achieve our goal of high-quality eye care for all. Global Impact Fellows are volunteers that range from undergraduate students to medical students, public health students and professionals, nurses, educators, opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. They receive all necessary training from Unite For Sight so that they are able to assist the local doctors with global health delivery. Global Impact Fellows participating with Unite For Sight abroad have the option to also design and pursue a global health research study.

WCM Students

International Students

Weill Cornell Medicine Office of International Medical Student Education 1300 York Avenue (C-118) New York, NY 10065 Phone: (646) 962-8058 [email protected]

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International Research Fellowship

Contact Information

Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care (TESSCC)

165 Cambridge Street, Suite 810 Boston , MA   02114

Email: [email protected]

Explore This Fellowship

The approved applicant will hold a Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School (HMS) appointment as a research fellow. Applications from non-U.S. candidates are encouraged. The program involves clinical and laboratory research activities, allowing the fellow to participate in single- and multi-center studies as well as multiple clinical research projects related to retrospective, prospective and randomized controlled studies. The fellow will also participate in basic science research at the Trauma Research Laboratory and the animal operating rooms. The precise balance between clinical and laboratory research will be decided on a case-by-case basis according to the fellow’s preference and the divisional needs.

The research fellow will be assigned to one faculty member of the division and become actively involved in clinical and laboratory research. The research fellow will attend all educational programs of the division and participate in an observational capacity in clinical activities. At the end of the fellowship, the fellow is expected to have rich knowledge in trauma, emergency surgery and surgical critical care research as well as have completed multiple studies, which can be presented at major surgical meetings and published in major surgical journals.

Note:  Direct contact with patients is not allowed within this program.

Requirements

Individuals interested in applying for a research fellow position must meet the following criteria:

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written
• Medical degree (MD equivalent)
• Minimum two-year commitment

Although United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores are not an absolute prerequisite for admission to the Research Fellowship Program, applicants who have taken their USMLE's are preferred. 

The research program of the division is funded by multiple federal agencies and industry. Financial support is possible through grants, but limited, and therefore cannot be promised. Evidence of external institutional financial support is highly desirable. Decisions about financial support are made on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability of funds, nature of research and performance of the fellow.

The fellow is expected to be familiar with study design and methodology as well as simple statistical analysis (univariate analysis, t-test, chi-square).

How to Apply

To apply for a research fellow position, interested individuals should submit:

• Application Form , including current photo
• Letter of intent (one page) describing the applicant's goals and expectations from the research fellowship. The statement should clarify whether the candidate requests full, partial or no financial support, and clearly state the intent (or lack of intent) to pursue residency in the U.S. upon the completion of the program
• A   curriculum vitae  that is detailed and chronologically organized
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from professors or directors at the applicant's institution (from the past 12 months)

This material should be properly ordered and compiled into one (1) PDF and emailed to [email protected] . The applicant will be notified via e-mail within five (5) business days upon receipt of the requested documentation.

Important Dates

Start dates are normally in/around July. The selection committee—chaired by George Velmahos, MD, PhD, Division Chief and John Hwabejire, MBBS, MPH, Director of Trauma Research—will review all applications and select fellows based on need and funding availability (usually, two to four fellows are selected each year). Zoom interviews will be arranged during the selection process. Important dates in the application and selection process are approximate:

• Deadline for applications: October 14, 2024
• Selection Committee meeting: November 18, 2024
• Notifications to applicants: December 30, 2024

Appointment Process

If accepted, the fellow will receive a research fellow appointment package, which should be promptly completed and returned. Delays on receiving a completed appointment package may compromise the appointment. Please note that the appointment and visa process can take three to four months.

Among other forms, the package includes:

• Application for initial appointment to professional staff of Mass General and HMS
• Doctoral degree diploma, translated to English and notarized
• Letter verifying source and level of any external institutional financial support
• Visa application

Note: As part of the appointment process, candidates are required to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check.

Selection Committee

These are the members of the selection committee for the International Research Fellowship program.

John Hwabejire, MBBS

• Director, Trauma Research
• Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon

George Velmahos, MD, PhD

• Division Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care
• John F. Burke Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Teaching Generations of Health Care Professionals

Mass General is the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. We train future healthcare professionals in innovative therapies.

Contact the International Research Fellowship team for more information.

Research and Training Opportunities

New section.

Looking for ways to enrich your medical school experience? Check out our directories of clinical, research, and public health opportunities.

Looking for ways to enrich your medical school experience? Search for fellowships, internships, summer programs, scholarships, and grants currently available in the United States and abroad.

Earn two degrees in four to five years to improve the health of the individuals and communities you serve.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) is a comprehensive, year-long research enrichment program designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical, dental, and veterinary students to the intramural campus of the NIH in Bethesda, MD.

Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

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Mayo Clinic is a leading academic medical and research center with an annual research budget of $890 million, of which $565 million comes from external grants and contracts.

During your training, you have the opportunity to work on a wide range of basic, translational and clinical research projects in state-of-the-art facilities. You can also conduct clinical research in conjunction with your clinical rotations.

Most residencies and fellowships include dedicated research time designed to enhance the training experience.

Yassmeen Abdel-Aty, M.D.

One of the cool things about Mayo Clinic is how much emphasis we put on research and innovation, and how it's not just in the lab with basic science, but it's actually translated in our clinics, and we can take part of trials and register patients in trials. You feel like you're part of what could be a therapy that changes the world.

Yassmeen Abdel-Aty, M.D. Otolaryngology Residency (Arizona)

Research by the numbers: People

Research personnel

Physicians involved in research

Scientific faculty (career scientists)

Research by the numbers: Facilities

Core research laboratories

393,328 sq. ft.

Research laboratory space

1,002,899 sq. ft.

Total research space

Research by the numbers: Studies and publications

New IRB-approved human research studies in 2020

Peer-reviewed publications in 2020

Active grants and contracts in 2020

Gallery of laboratories and research facilities photo gallery

Mayo Clinic has about 50 research centers and programs , more than 20 core resources , and nearly 400,000 square feet of research laboratory space. Click through the gallery to see actual research spaces you may encounter.

Research at Mayo Clinic

Key factors that distinguish Mayo Clinic research include:

• Collaborative, sharing environment
• Outstanding laboratories and facilities
• Access to clinical data for research
• Centralized research resources
• Biostatistics and scientific publication services

Choosing Mayo Clinic