Did you attend a Caribbean Medical school and you are interested in matching into a residency in Family Medicine in the US? Keep listening to find out how US-IMG Dr. Jessica Udeogu navigated this process and came out successful despite the COVID-19 pandemic!
Dr. Jessica Udeogu was born in Texas, but went to St. James School of Medicine in the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent. Though she had always wanted to be a physician, due to life's constraints she first worked for ten years in the medical field before graduating with her medical degree in January of 2021, with her residency beginning this summer. Her story was truly one of bravery and overcoming various obstacles in the path toward her dream. One of these challenges was indeedCOVID-19 which caused her to have to participate in the first-ever virtual residency interview process. 
In light of this, here are a few points that IMGs can note and learn from Dr. Jessica's journey:

Routine is key: Dr. Jessica noted the importance of having a schedule and sticking to it when preparing for exams such as the USMLE which led to her scoring 236 and 235 on her step 1 and 2 exams respectively, all while managing a full time job and pursuing a master's degree. 
Understand the importance of ECFMG certification: It's important to keep in the loop with the ECFMG organization so that you're not caught off-guard by anything. During her interview process, she was constantly asked about her ECFMG certification status. She was able to stay on top of things by being organized and prompt in her preparation. 
Stratify your applications according to relevant criteria: She was able to meticulously select the 95 programs that she would apply to based on her passions and eventually landed six interviews, all at institutions she had ranked. 
Optimize your virtual interviews: Dr. Jessica maximized her resources and ensured that her internet connection was reliable, that her lighting and background were optimal and paid attention to the requirements of each of the interviewing programs. 

But how was Dr. Jessica able to surpass various difficulties, financial and otherwise, to land her residency position? She states that it's because she lives by the following mantras:

Have a growth mindset - be open and receptive to the positive things that this world has to offer. 
Slow and steady wins the race - your journey is yours and takes place within your specific timeline. Never compare yourself to others!


You can contact Dr. Jessica via her Facebook @Jessica Udeogu and her Twitter @jessudeogu
Watch the full episode using the links below:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-img-roadmap/id1490731292
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/45NNJ7ewtqynqyssbwm1xz
Google Podcasts:https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1490731292/the-img-roadmap-podcast
RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/the-img-roadmap-GE0MMg

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