Overview

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) represent a significant portion of the US physician workforce and play a critical role in advancing health equity and improving access to care. Despite their contributions, IMGs often encounter unique and underrecognized challenges during the transition to US graduate medical education, including differences in communication norms, clinical systems, and feedback culture. While many Internal Medicine residency programs have a long history of supporting IMG trainees, other programs may have less experience and less infrastructure to create an environment where IMGs can thrive. This workshop will discuss challenges faced by IMGs during onboarding and review literature relating to IMG onboarding and orientation. Participants will participate in a guided reflection where they will consider current challenges, strategies for gathering local data to understand their current and future needs, and think about available local stakeholders, allies, and resources. We will present an example of a structured IMG resident-led orientation curriculum specifically designed to support IMG interns in internal medicine. Participants will learn about the curriculum’s development, implementation, and evaluation. The curriculum includes training on EMR navigation, written communication (SOAP notes), de-escalation strategies with difficult patients, and community-building efforts through peer mentorship. Building on this example, workshop participants will have the chance to consider designing their own institutional curriculum. Participants will sketch out ideas for their curricular innovation on a worksheet highlighting Kern’s 6 Steps of Curriculum Development. It will conclude with key takeaways for supporting IMG success and a broader conversation on fostering inclusion and equity within the residency onboarding process.

Speakers

Andrea Schnell, MD
Jeremy Smith, MD
Andy Coyle, MD

Content Track

DEI

Audience

GME

Program Type

University-Based, Community-Based

Additional Information

Year Published: 2025 - APDIM Fall Meeting 2025