Essential Guide for Caribbean IMGs: Researching OB GYN Residency Programs

Choosing where to apply for OB GYN residency as a Caribbean IMG is one of the most strategic decisions you’ll make. Strong scores and clinical performance matter, but how you research and target programs often determines whether you match—and where.

This guide walks you step-by-step through a program research strategy tailored specifically for Caribbean medical graduates interested in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Whether you’re from SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba, or another Caribbean medical school, you’ll learn how to research residency programs, evaluate your competitiveness, and build a smart, data-driven application list.

---

Why Program Research Matters Even More for Caribbean IMGs

For a U.S. MD student, a “broad list” might still yield good results. For a Caribbean IMG in OB GYN, that’s rarely enough. OB GYN is moderately competitive and increasingly focused on:

• U.S. clinical experience and letters
• Step scores and first-attempt passes
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Proven interest in women’s health

You’re competing in a specialty where many programs still heavily prefer US MD/DO applicants, and some explicitly do not sponsor visas or consider IMGs.

Thorough, targeted research helps you:

• Avoid wasting applications on programs that never interview IMGs
• Identify programs with a track record of Caribbean IMGs (e.g., SGU residency match data)
• Build a list with the right balance of reach, realistic, and safety programs
• Craft program-specific ERAS application content (like meaningful PS and experiences)
• Prepare for interviews with program-specific talking points

Program research is not just about finding a list—it’s about understanding where you fit and how to present yourself effectively.

---

Step 1: Know Your Profile and the OB GYN Landscape

Before diving into databases and spreadsheets, you need a clear, honest view of:

• Your applicant profile
• How OB GYN programs typically evaluate candidates
• How Caribbean IMGs fit into that picture

Key Elements of Your Applicant Profile

Write these out in a document; you’ll use them as filters later:

1. USMLE/COMLEX Performance

   • Step 1: Pass/Fail and number of attempts
   • Step 2 CK: Numeric score and attempts
   • Any failures on Step 1/Step 2 CK/CS (if applicable historically)

2. Clinical Experience

   • Number and quality of U.S. core OB GYN rotations
   • Any OB GYN sub-internships (sub-I) or acting internships
   • Additional women’s health electives (MFM, REI, family planning, gynecologic oncology)

3. Letters of Recommendation

   • How many are from U.S. academic OB GYN attendings?
   • Any letter from a program director, clerkship director, or well-known faculty?

4. Research and Scholarly Work

   • Any OB GYN-related poster, publication, QI project, or case report?
   • Evidence of sustained interest in women’s health

5. Non-Academic Factors

   • Visa status (US citizen/green card vs requiring J-1/H-1B)
   • Geographic ties (family, prior schooling, clinical rotations)
   • Red flags (gaps in training, professionalism concerns, remediation)

Understanding OB GYN Competitiveness for Caribbean IMGs

OB GYN isn’t as competitive as dermatology or plastic surgery, but it is consistently above-average in competitiveness, and many programs:

• Prefer first-attempt passes on USMLE
• May have unofficial Step 2 CK cutoffs (e.g., 230–240+)
• Have a limited number of interview spots for IMGs, if any

As a Caribbean IMG, assume you must be:

• More intentional in targeting programs likely to interview you
• More prepared with documentation showing your commitment to OB GYN
• More flexible about geography and program type

---

Step 2: Build Your Initial Program Universe

Your goal at this stage is to generate a large, unfiltered list of OB GYN programs, then progressively narrow it.

Start with the Official Sources

1. AMA FREIDA (Federation of State Medical Boards & AMA Database)

   • Filter by:
     • Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology
     • Program type: ACGME-accredited
   • Export or manually record:
     • Program name
     • City/state
     • Program size (number of residents)
     • Visa sponsorship indicated (if available)

2. ERAS Participating Programs List

   • Check that each program participates in ERAS (most do).
   • Flag any that use other application systems or have early deadlines.

3. NRMP Charting Outcomes & Program Director Survey (Specialty-Specific)

   • Review OB GYN sections:
     • Match rates by USMLE score and IMG status
     • Factors PDs rate as “very important” in offering interviews
   • Use this to understand what “competitive” looks like.

Use Caribbean-Specific Resources

Caribbean schools often publish match lists and detailed data, sometimes highlighting specialties like OB GYN.

• Search terms to use:
  • “SGU residency match OB GYN”
  • “AUC OB GYN match list”
  • “Ross University OB GYN residency matches”

Look specifically for patterns like:

• Which OB GYN programs regularly appear in Caribbean match lists
• Programs that matched multiple Caribbean IMGs in OB GYN over the past 3–5 years
• Repeated patterns in certain regions (e.g., NY, NJ, FL, Midwest community programs)

This gives you a Caribbean IMG-friendly baseline list that you can prioritize later.

---

Step 3: Design a Program Research Strategy and Spreadsheet

You’ll need a structured system. Random Googling and bookmarking is not enough.

Set Up Your Program Research Spreadsheet

Core columns to include:

1. Program Basics

   • Program name
   • Institution/hospital
   • City/state
   • Program size (residents per year)
   • Type (university, university-affiliated community, community)

2. IMG-Friendliness Indicators

   • Any IMG residents listed on the website? (Y/N)
   • Caribbean IMG present? (SGU, Ross, AUC, etc.)
   • Visa sponsorship: J-1 only, J-1/H-1B, no visa, unclear
   • Website states “we do/do not accept IMGs” (quote or summary)

3. Academic/Score Filters

   • Stated USMLE cutoff (if any)
   • Step 2 CK range of current residents (if posted)
   • Requirements: USMLE required? COMLEX accepted?

4. Program Features Important for OB GYN

   • Level 1/2/3 maternity care designation
   • Subspecialty fellowships (MFM, Gyn Onc, REI, Urogynecology)
   • Surgical volume / delivery numbers (if posted)
   • Night float system vs traditional call
   • Clinic structure (continuity clinic, underserved focus)

5. Your Fit and Priority

   • Geographic ties (Y/N; detail in notes)
   • Clinical rotation there or at affiliated site (Y/N)
   • Strength of your OB GYN experiences relevant to their focus
   • Personal rating (1–3): Reach / Realistic / Safety
   • Overall priority (High/Medium/Low)

6. Practical Details

   • Application deadline
   • Number of LORs specifically requested
   • Any required secondary forms or essays
   • Interview date windows & format (virtual vs in-person, if known)

Define Your Research Phases

To avoid burnout and analysis paralysis, break your program research strategy into phases:

1. Phase 1 – Broad Collection

   • Add all ACGME OB GYN programs from FREIDA.
   • Flag obvious exclusions: “no IMGs,” “no visas,” or extreme cutoffs (for your profile).

2. Phase 2 – IMG & Caribbean Focused Filter

   • Cross-reference with:
     • Your school’s match list (SGU residency match, AUC, Ross, etc.)
     • Program websites showing current residents
   • Tag programs that have historically taken Caribbean IMGs.

3. Phase 3 – Deep Dive on Top 60–80 Programs

   • For your most likely “realistic + safety” programs, do detailed website review.
   • Evaluate program mission, training structure, and culture.

4. Phase 4 – Final Target List

   • Based on your budget, decide final numbers:
     • Competitive Caribbean IMG in OB GYN: often 40–70 applications
     • Less competitive profile: often 60–90+ applications with wider geography

---

Step 4: How to Evaluate OB GYN Residency Programs as a Caribbean IMG

Once you have a structured list, the next step in evaluating residency programs is qualitative analysis. You want to answer two questions for each program:

1. Will they seriously consider a Caribbean IMG?
2. If they do, would I thrive and be well-trained there?

1. Evaluating IMG-Friendliness

Look for clear, objective signs:

• Current Residents and Alumni Pages

  • Do you see:
    • Any IMGs at all?
    • Recent Caribbean grads (SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba, etc.)?
  • A program with no IMG residents for several years may not be realistic.

• Program FAQs or Application Requirements

  • Explicit statements such as:
    • “We consider international medical graduates”
    • “We sponsor J-1 visas” or “No visa sponsorship”
    • “USMLE Step 2 CK minimum 230”
  • Programs that clearly say “We only consider U.S. MD/DO graduates” should be removed.

• Caribbean School Match Patterns

  • If a program appears multiple times on SGU residency match lists or other Caribbean match lists, that’s a strong signal of openness.

2. Assessing Academic Fit

Programs differ widely in academic intensity, research focus, and case volume.

• Compare your Step 2 CK score against posted or inferred ranges:

  • If a program tends to have very high-scoring residents (e.g., major university with strong fellowships), and your score is weaker, label it as a reach.
  • If your score is near or above what you infer from resident bios or PD statements, label as realistic.

• Consider your scholarly work

  • Research-heavy academic programs may expect at least some scholarly output.
  • If you have limited research, but strong clinical performance, community or hybrid programs might be a better fit.

3. Evaluating Training Quality and OB GYN Exposure

Ask:

• Does the program provide:

  • High-volume L&D experience (vaginal deliveries, VBACs)?
  • Robust gynecologic surgery exposure (laparoscopy, hysterectomy, oncologic cases)?
  • Subspecialty rotations (MFM, Gyn Onc, REI, Urogynecology, family planning)?

• Is the hospital:

  • A Level III or IV maternal care center?
  • A regional referral center for high-risk obstetrics?

As a Caribbean IMG, it’s crucial that your eventual program gives you strong clinical skills—this will help compensate for any bias against your school background when you later seek jobs or fellowships.

4. Culture, Support, and Wellness

This can be harder to gauge from outside, but pay attention to:

• Resident testimonials and videos
• Evidence of DEI, wellness, mentoring, and support programs
• Social media (program’s Instagram or X/Twitter) showing:
  • Resident camaraderie
  • Faculty engagement
  • How residents talk about their experience

Programs that visibly support their residents may be particularly valuable for IMGs adjusting to a new system and expectations.

5. Geographic and Personal Factors

Geo-preference is important, but as a Caribbean IMG pursuing an obstetrics match, flexibility helps. Still, consider:

• States with higher historical IMG representation (NY, NJ, PA, MI, FL, TX, IL)
• Proximity to your support system (family/friends)
• Cost of living and safety
• Training in underserved or diverse communities (this can align with your personal mission and be a strength in your application)

---

Step 5: Going Beyond Websites – Deep Program Research Methods

Once you’ve narrowed your list to a manageable number, learn how to research residency programs at a deeper level using:

1. Networking with Alumni and Current Residents

• Reach out to:
  • Alumni from your Caribbean school currently in OB GYN residency
  • Residents listed on program websites who are IMGs or Caribbean grads

How to approach:

• Use LinkedIn, your school’s alumni office, or email.
• Send a concise, respectful message:
  • Introduce yourself
  • Highlight your shared background (same school, IMG)
  • Ask 3–4 focused questions (not “Can you help me match?”)

Example questions:

• “How supportive is the program toward IMGs, especially early in PGY-1?”
• “What would you say are the program’s 2–3 greatest strengths?”
• “If you were applying again as a Caribbean IMG, would you choose this program?”

These conversations often yield insider information you can’t get from any website.

2. Program Social Media and Webinars

Many OB GYN programs now:

• Run Instagram accounts highlighting resident life, call rooms, ORs, and social events
• Host virtual open houses or Q&A sessions before ERAS opens

Actions:

• Follow programs on social media and watch their stories/posts.
• Attend open houses and take brief notes afterwards.
• Use what you learn to:
  • Refine your list
  • Tailor your ERAS and interview responses

3. Reading Between the Lines on Program Priorities

From websites, try to infer what each program values:

• Heavy emphasis on underserved communities? Emphasize your volunteer work and commitment to women’s health in resource-limited settings.
• Strong research and fellowship placement focus? Highlight any scholarly output and interest in subspecialty training.
• Emphasis on work-life balance and wellness? Mention your resilience, coping strategies, and interest in supportive environments.

Matching your narrative to the program’s stated mission improves perceived “fit.”

---

Step 6: Building a Balanced, Strategic Application List

Now that you’ve applied your program research strategy, you should have:

• A master list (all possible OB GYN programs)
• A filtered list (IMG-friendly + reasonable score ranges)
• A prioritized list (based on your competitiveness and preferences)

Categorize Programs: Reach, Realistic, Safety

Use your spreadsheet’s rating columns and consider:

• Reach Programs
  • Higher average scores
  • Highly academic or prestigious
  • Limited prior Caribbean IMG presence
• Realistic Programs
  • Score ranges align with yours
  • Some history of IMGs or Caribbean grads
  • Reasonable geographic stretch
• Safety Programs
  • Clear history of multiple IMGs/Caribbean grads
  • Score requirements within or below your range
  • Possibly smaller community or hybrid programs

A common distribution for a Caribbean IMG in OB GYN might be:

• ~20–30% Reach
• ~50–60% Realistic
• ~20–30% Safety

Adjust based on your scores, red flags, and budget.

Scenario Example

Applicant A: Caribbean IMG, Step 2 CK 243, strong OB GYN LORs, 1 OB GYN case report, needs J-1.

• Total applications: 60
  • 15 Reach (large university programs, some with fellowships)
  • 35 Realistic (univ-affiliated community + some mid-tier academic)
  • 10 Safety (community programs with known Caribbean IMG presence)

Applicant B: Caribbean IMG, Step 2 CK 223, one attempt on Step 1, strong clinical feedback, no research, US citizen.

• Total applications: 80–90
  • 10 Reach (IMG-friendly academic programs)
  • 45 Realistic (IMG-friendly community and hybrid)
  • 25–35 Safety (smaller community programs, Midwest/South)

Your exact numbers should incorporate financial realities (ERAS cost) and your risk tolerance.

---

Step 7: Using Research to Strengthen Your Application and Interviews

Program research isn’t just about where you apply; it’s about how you present yourself.

Tailoring Your ERAS Application

Use what you’ve learned to:

• Choose experiences and descriptions that highlight:

  • Women’s health and OB GYN focus
  • Cultural and linguistic competency (important in OB GYN)
  • Service to underserved or diverse populations

• In your personal statement:

  • Include 1–2 sentences that are easy to customize for specific programs:
    • E.g., “I am especially drawn to programs that prioritize care for underserved women and provide robust exposure to high-risk obstetrics.”

• For programs with specific values:

  • Emphasize matching attributes (e.g., research interest, community engagement, global health, family planning).

Preparing for Interviews

Your program research will give you:

• Specific reasons to say:
  • “I am particularly interested in your focus on X.”
  • “I noticed your residents are heavily involved in Y; that aligns with my background in Z.”

Tips:

• For each interview invitation, revisit your spreadsheet notes.
• Prepare 2–3 program-specific talking points and 2–3 questions:
  • “How does your program support IMGs in the transition to intern year?”
  • “What opportunities are there for residents to be involved in quality improvement in L&D?”

This shows genuine, informed interest and can set you apart from other applicants.

---

Common Mistakes Caribbean IMGs Make in OB GYN Program Research

Avoid these pitfalls:

1. Applying blindly to “big name” programs without checking IMG history
2. Ignoring visa policies until after submitting applications
3. Over-concentrating applications in just one or two states
4. Not leveraging Caribbean-specific match data (e.g., SGU residency match, Ross match lists)
5. Failing to document research process—leading to confusion when interview season starts
6. Underestimating community programs, which often provide excellent surgical and obstetric volume and are more open to IMGs

---

Final Thoughts

As a Caribbean IMG seeking an obstetrics match, your success depends on more than just your scores or letters. A strategic, systematic approach to researching and evaluating residency programs can:

• Save you money
• Increase your interview yield
• Help you find programs where you are both wanted and likely to thrive

Use structured tools (spreadsheets), objective data (IMG presence, visa policies), and qualitative insights (resident conversations, social media, mission statements) to build a smart, personalized OB GYN residency application plan.

---

FAQs: Program Research for Caribbean IMGs in OB GYN

1. How many OB GYN programs should a Caribbean IMG apply to?
There’s no magic number, but general ranges:

• Competitive Caribbean IMG (strong Step 2 CK, no red flags, solid U.S. OB GYN rotations): 40–70 programs
• Less competitive profile (lower scores, attempts, or gaps): 60–90+ programs

Focus on quality of targeting, not just number. A well-researched list of 60 programs is better than 100 random ones.

---

2. How can I quickly tell if a program is IMG-friendly?
Use a three-step check:

1. Review the current residents page:
   • Any IMGs? Any Caribbean grads?
2. Check the program’s FAQ/application section:
   • Statement about IMGs and visa sponsorship
3. Look up Caribbean school match lists (e.g., SGU residency match data):
   • Has this program taken Caribbean IMGs in the last 3–5 years?

If all three are negative, it’s probably low-yield.

---

3. Should I avoid university programs as a Caribbean IMG?
Not necessarily. Many university or university-affiliated OB GYN programs:

• Value diversity and may have explicit commitments to IMGs
• Offer strong research and fellowship opportunities

However, purely top-tier, highly academic university programs with no IMG history can be high-risk applications. Include a few as reach programs, but build your core list around realistic and safety options with proven IMG inclusion.

---

4. How important is it that a program has matched graduates from my specific Caribbean school (e.g., SGU)?
It’s helpful but not mandatory. If a program has previously matched any Caribbean IMG (SGU, AUC, Ross, etc.):

• It suggests they’re open to Caribbean backgrounds
• They may be more familiar with your curriculum and transcripts

If you see your own school specifically represented (e.g., SGU OB GYN resident), that’s an additional positive, but still only one factor among many (scores, clinical performance, fit, and visa needs).

---

By approaching your OB GYN residency search with this structured program research strategy, you’ll move from uncertainty and guesswork to a deliberate, data-informed plan—putting you in the best position to secure a successful obstetrics match as a Caribbean IMG.