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Were you under the impression that preparing for the US Medical Residency application cycle had to take upwards of six months? Are you worried that you won’t have enough time to match? Cameroonian-born Dr. Agyingi Kimbong is here to show you how he was able to match with only two months to prepare his application packet. Keep listening to find out more about his intriguing journey!
Dr. Kimbong earned his medical degree from the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon in 2014. He then practiced as a general physician for two years there, before he was inspired by a few colleagues and mentors to pursue residency in the US.
He currently serves as an Internal Medicine Hospitalist at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Here are some of the highlights of his USMLE journey:

Dr. Kimbong prepared for Step 1 in Cameroon and then wrote it in Accra Ghana.
He studied independently and did not take any courses such as Kaplan.
He had a study partner to help hold him accountable.
He finally scored 240 in Step 1.

How did Dr. Kimbong manage his residency application?

He had only two months to prepare, as he came to the US shortly after completing his MPH program in Europe.
Fortunately, he had already taken all of the USMLE steps.
He then realized that step scores are just one part of the application packet and that networking is essential!
He strategically reached out to people for help and advice.

When Dr. Kimbong was asked about whether the transition into being a physician with a J1 visa requirement was difficult, he stated the following:

It was a bit of a hassle but since the process is standardized, it’s not as difficult and daunting as people think.
Knowing where to look for jobs and where to prioritize your applications is important.
Working in the US as a physician, regardless of location or institution is advantageous.
There are tons of opportunities to choose from.
There can be certain financial and time-oriented benefits.

As such, Dr. Kimbong advises IMGs who may be in a similar position as he was to:

Get the best scores possible.
Network like your success depends on it!
Prepare for your interviews–Four or five interviews is more than enough to match.

You can reach out to Dr. Kimbong on his facebook @Kimbong Agyingi.
You can also listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts.

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