canadian IMG going back to canada after medschool in uk

[yatinsardana]

Right.. I know there have been multiple posts and questions on this very point. But I have this question that I would really appreciate if some of you addressed. I'm a Canadian citizen who has come to uk to do his medschool. I'm starting my 4th year now. I have come to understand that even though you're canadian and it may hold a bit of an edge over other international students, when it comes to wanting a residency in canada after medschool, it's pretty hard. Therefore, most recommend taking usmle and doing residency in the states and then going to canada from there....
Fair enough.

My point is, preparing for usmle takes a lot of time and effort. Is all of this really necessary? Would you not be better off in spending your years at med school building up your cv and also doing electives in a couple hospitals in canada to build up a rapport with doctors and get that under your cv too. Then after graduating you can apply to canada.. chances are you won't get in the first time. It's ok.. you start with your foundation programme in the uk and apply next year. In the meantime you continue to brighten your cv. You may or may not get in next year. If you don't you continue to finish f2 and become FULLY registered with the GMC too.
If you're a bright student who has worked hard enough to steer your cv towards going back to canada, surely you'd get accepted after 2-4 attempts??

My question I guess is, why work so hard in doing usmle and also in doing so you forget to enjoy your years at med school.. and then go to USA just to get back to canada. I mean why even go to usa when you don't even want to settle there and all you want to do is go back to canada.

Are you not better off just spending 2-3 more years in the uk (years that you'll be spending in USA) and applying every year and then finally getting into canada. The other benefit of that obviously is that in this time you'll also become fully registered with the gmc, which surely is a bonus. You also cut out the costs of taking usmle, moving to usa, getting used to another healthcare system... don't forget in usa you'll be straight into residency, whereas if you stay in the uk you have foundation programme, which will provide you with good experience too.

Now this theory is something i've come up with myself.. so I would LOVE for a few of you to actually reply to it telling me what you think about it so I can know whether there is a major flaw in my thinking or not.
Please please please.. reply! This is a crucial time in my life!

Thank you !

[canuck]

If I were in your position, I would definitely do the USMLEs and keep the US option open. You'll be back in Canada faster if you do your residency in the US.

[t0ny]

Whats the foundation program that you are talking about after you are done med school? I am not familiar with this. Also i am just curious about which med school in the UK you are attending.

Thanks

[MedStart108]

Originally Posted by t0ny

Whats the foundation program that you are talking about after you are done med school? I am not familiar with this. Also i am just curious about which med school in the UK you are attending.

Thanks

Foundation program is done right after you graduate from medical school in the UK. Its akin to an internship. You are paid around the same as a Canadian PGY-1 but you work way less hours. After 2 years you then apply to a specialty.

And yes i agree with you OP, you can avoid the USMLE and focus solely on Canada. Although i don't understand the obsession with practicing in Canada and treating the US as some sort of pathway to Canada. Doesn't anyone else actually prefer the US? The US provides many opportunities and has many residency programs even better than Canadian ones.