Why the USA for Medical Residency?

I’m in medical school in the UK but once I graduate I will leave to train in the United States, here’s an outline of why I made this decision.

I like a challenge

The US process is no joke. People are easily put off when they hear about the competition in the exams and residency. I personally welcome challenge. I think it’s exciting. Seeing the sheer volume of content in the USMLE Step 1 and 2 makes me want to perform and have a go.

I remember when I was applying to medical school I was often told ‘Medical school? That’s so hard are you sure you’ll get in?’

I managed to make it into medical school, so I don’t have an issue with doing difficult things. If thousands of IMGs move to the US every year, why can’t I?

Money matters in the modern world

Medicine is not about the money, but this definitely is part of the decision making process for me. After graduation I will need to fund my living costs and once I have a family (insha’Allah - God willing) I will be financially responsible for them too.

I would rather be in a position where I can give them the best life with little to no restrictions. As easy as it would be to train in the UK, it will leave me in a difficult financial position and I would like to avoid that.

The average salary of attending physicians in the United States is around $313,000/year. If I had that salary, I would be able to support my family comfortably. I have studied 2 degrees, spent 8 years so far to become a doctor, I believe that amount of hard work is deserving of a high salary.

Time is your most valuable asset

As I am a post-graduate student I have done my fair share of exams. I will graduate at 27 years old and ideally want to finish my medical training quickly. I don’t want to be a 40 year old dad studying for exams because I chose the long pathway for medicine.

In the United States to train as a Psychiatrist (my chosen speciality) the length of training is 4 years after medical school. That means after 4 years I would be an attending physician, with no more exams and the ability to open my own practice.

I would also have that $300K+ salary from the age of 32, which is very appealing for my lifestyle. As someone who is also a content creator, I have other ambitions in life other than medicine. Once I finish my training I will be able to grow my business and work on other avenues as well as medicine, so this one is a no brainer.

Oh and if you were wondering, to complete the same training in the UK it would take me an additional 6-10 years, after which I would make around £80K which sounds nice but after tax is not a lot at all.

The quality of training is better

The quality of training in the United States is of a higher standard than the UK. This is due to the simple fact that the NHS is underfunded, so they are not able to provide the best training due to costs. One of the reasons the training in the UK is so long in comparison is because it is physically impossible to get the right amount of clinical exposure in a short amount of time.

In the United States the funding is much better since it is a private healthcare system. They also have several principles that make training better in my opinion. For example, in some hospitals doctors are limited to a maximum of 10 patients at once for patient safety. In the UK it is common to have 40+ patients under your care at once which is unsafe, although it happens often.

I am well aware that wherever I train I will work long hours, be that the US or the UK. The US simply has more incentives than the UK for me.

The future is brighter in the USA

The current state of the NHS is worrying. I am yet to meet a doctor in the NHS who recommends working here. When asking for advice I have been told by many consultants that the US is a great decision for my future.

Currently in my twenties I don’t mind moving around for medical school and university. Once I’m graduated I would like long term stability. I want to settle and be comfortable working in a place where my job doesn’t feel threatened.

I won’t go into details, but there are specific opportunities and people I would like to work with in the future, who I can only connect with if I’m in the USA.

I want to be in ONE location

In the UK you have to reapply for jobs at the end of foundation training (2 years post-medical school) and probably again during speciality training. This might mean that you are 5 years into training and have to change location. New house. New city. New school for the kids. New job for your wife.

In the United States residency will be in one place, meaning I don’t have to relocate during training. Actually, in the US after completing residency it isn’t that difficult to find a job. There are several vacancies and hospitals often approach you offering you work.

In addition to this, the US has a varied climate. Some areas are cold and some are scorching hot. As someone who has been brought up in the UK I am sick of British weather and would rather live somewhere warm. Seasonal depression is real and I always feel happier in warmer climates. I think living in a place with good weather will be better for me mentally. That’s something I can have if I move to the US.

I like adventure

I lived my whole life in the UK.

I have already completed everything here. I have visited Scotland, London, Manchester, Birmingham, as a child I did the Alton Towers and Thorpe Park summer trips, the Peak District and Lake district, the beaches in the South - I have seen all the sites. If I stay here and raise my kids here, I am likely to take them through the same upbringing as I had. There isn’t much excitement in that.

If I move to the States it’s a whole new world. More new areas to see and experiences to have. That really excites me and makes me want to move even more.

Since I started creating content I have made a lot of connections with creators internationally and the majority of them are in the US. Moving over opens the doors to collaboration, business and opportunity that doesn’t exist in the UK.

I’m good at making decisions

Decision making is an important skill. I have a good process of making decisions. I consult my parents, Allah (through prayer) and I look at the pros and cons behind it. I didn’t wake up today and decide to go to America, I spent years researching and considering all of my options before I made the decision.

If you’re someone who is thinking of doing the same, do not have haste with your decision making. Take your time and think it through. Most importantly, make the decision without letting others influence it.

Ultimately this is my life. My future. My work. My time. My efforts.

I am the one who will be affected most by this decision.

It might not make sense to the vast majority of others, but that’s okay, it doesn’t need to.

It just needs to make sense to me.

And it does.