In this latest infographic, we explore the often overlooked but nonetheless pivotal role international medical graduates play in the American healthcare system.
International medical graduates (that is, doctors that graduated from non-US medical schools) make up 25% of physicians in the United States. This is because the United States only graduates 19,254 doctors a year from medical school, while having 28,849 residency slots to fill. Even with internationally trained physicians making up the shortfall, that only leaves the US maintaining rather than gaining ground on its physician shortage.
Most people then ask, where’s the bottleneck? It’s not admissions. Nearly 52,000 applicants applied to medical school in the United States last year, Just over 14,000 of whom were on at least their second try. Most of them were not selected. Many of them gave up. A not-insignificant amount looked to international schools like Trinity to receive their medical training. Several thousand return home each year and match into US residencies, not only proving that they have what it takes to practice medicine in the United States, but underlining two key factors. First, the US healthcare system is dependent on international medical graduates from schools like Trinity, to provide care for its citizens. Second, the US medical school system’s admission standards are leaving qualified future physicians out of every application cycle.
It just goes to show you that schools like Trinity (although let’s be honest, there aren’t any schools quite like Trinity) aren’t just giving qualified students the opportunity they need, they’re helping ensure the US has compassionate and skilled physicians who they are needed the most.
