The Ultimate IMG Residency Guide: Researching Global Health Programs

Understanding the Landscape: Global Health Residency Options for IMGs

For an international medical graduate interested in global health, the U.S. residency landscape can feel confusing. Unlike traditional specialties (internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery), “global health” is rarely a standalone residency. Instead, it is usually:

• A track or pathway within a core specialty (e.g., Internal Medicine with a Global Health Track)
• A scholarly concentration or certificate in global health
• A global health equity or global medicine curriculum layered on top of standard training
• A combined training program (e.g., Internal Medicine + Preventive Medicine with global health focus)
• A fellowship in global health completed after residency

As an IMG looking for an IMG residency guide specifically for global health, your research should focus on:

1. Core specialty choice (often Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, EM, OB/GYN)
2. Programs with a global health residency track, global health pathway, or international medicine curriculum
3. Residency cultures that are genuinely supportive of international work and of international medical graduates

Before you dive into how to research residency programs, clarify three things for yourself:

• Primary training goal: What core specialty do you want? (e.g., Internal Medicine with strong global health exposure)
• Career vision: Academic global health researcher, humanitarian physician (MSF, NGOs), policy and health systems, or hybrid clinical–academic?
• Constraints as an IMG: Visa needs, step scores, graduation year, funding considerations, need for J-1 waiver/H-1B later.

Having these in mind will make your program research strategy targeted rather than overwhelming.

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Step 1: Define Your Global Health Priorities Before Searching

Most applicants start by asking, “Which programs are IMG-friendly?” For global health–focused IMGs, a better starting question is: “What kind of global health physician do I want to become?” That will guide which programs fit you, and how to research residency programs in a meaningful way.

Clarify Your Global Health Profile

Write down a short “global health profile” for yourself. Include:

• Regions of interest: e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, refugee health in Europe or North America
• Type of work:
  • Clinical care in low-resource settings
  • Health systems strengthening and quality improvement
  • Public health, epidemiology, or implementation science
  • Humanitarian and emergency response
  • Policy, advocacy, or global surgery/OB care
• Skills you want to acquire:
  • Tropical medicine
  • Research and data analysis
  • Program design and evaluation
  • Health leadership and management
  • Language skills (French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.)
• Duration and intensity of global work during residency:
  • Short electives (4–8 weeks)
  • Recurring annual rotations
  • Longitudinal track with structured curriculum, mentorship, and scholarly work
  • Protected time for research in international medicine

This will help you distinguish between:

• A program that simply offers one optional international elective, versus
• A true global health residency track with:
  • Required global health coursework
  • Faculty with global health careers
  • Ongoing partnerships with international sites
  • Opportunities for scholarly projects, QI, or implementation research
  • Regular seminars, journal clubs, or case conferences related to global health

Example: Two Different Applicants, Two Different Needs

• Applicant A: Wants to work long-term with NGOs in East Africa, focusing on HIV/TB and health systems.
  • Needs strong global health track, robust mentorship, and sustained overseas rotations.
• Applicant B: Wants to practice in the U.S. with strong refugee, immigrant, and underserved care but only occasional short-term global work.
  • Needs programs with strong local global health equity, migrant health clinics, refugee resettlement ties, and perhaps 1–2 international electives.

Both are interested in international medicine and global health, but they should research programs in different ways and look for different indicators.

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Step 2: Build a Long List Using Databases and Directories

Once you know what you want, you can start building a long list of candidate programs. This is the “wide net” phase of your program research strategy.

Use Formal Databases (FREIDA, NRMP, etc.)

1. AMA FREIDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access)

   • Filter by:
     • Specialty (e.g., Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, EM)
     • Visa sponsorship (J-1, H-1B)
     • IMG percentages or international medical graduate friendliness
   • Look for programs that mention:
     • “Global health track”
     • “International health”
     • “Global medicine pathway”
     • “Health equity” or “underserved track”

2. NRMP and ERAS program lists

   • Use the official program directories for your chosen specialty.
   • While these don’t always highlight global health explicitly, note all university-based and large academic programs—they are more likely to have a global health residency track or international electives.

3. Specialty society websites

   • Internal Medicine: American College of Physicians (ACP) global health resources
   • Family Medicine: Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Global Health, AAFP
   • Pediatrics: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on International Child Health
   • Emergency Medicine: Global Emergency Medicine Academy
   • OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Surgery: their national societies often list global health initiatives or training programs.

These listings can yield dozens of options for each core specialty.

Search Explicitly for Global Health Tracks

Many programs advertise their global health–related content clearly on their websites. Use targeted search combinations like:

• “Internal Medicine residency global health track”
• “Family Medicine residency international medicine pathway”
• “Pediatrics residency global health equity program”
• “Emergency medicine global health residency + IMG”
• “[Your State] global health residency track”

Then create a spreadsheet or tracking document with:

• Program name and location
• Specialty and any specific global health labeling (e.g., “Global Health & Equity Track”)
• Visa policy (J-1 only, J-1 + H-1B, none)
• Required US clinical experience? (Y/N)
• Percent of IMGs (if available)
• Website link to global health or international medicine curriculum
• Notes on your first impression (strengths, unknowns, concerns)

For an IMG residency guide focused on global health, this kind of organized list is critical; it keeps you from losing track of good options.

Consider Geographic and Visa Constraints Early

As an international medical graduate, some limiting factors may override even the best global health curriculum:

• Visa sponsorship:
  • J-1: Most academic programs offer this.
  • H-1B: Fewer programs; often require higher USMLE scores and ECFMG certification at the time of application.
• State-level opportunities:
  • Some states are more likely to have global health networks (e.g., coastal states, states with large academic centers).
• Future J-1 waiver or practice plans:
  • If you anticipate a J-1 waiver in a medically underserved area, consider programs with strong domestic underserved and immigrant health experiences.

You can eliminate programs that clearly cannot sponsor your visa or have strict “no IMG” policies. This refines your long list into a realistic starting pool.

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Step 3: Deep-Dive Into Program Websites and Curricula

After building a long list, the next step is evaluating residency programs more carefully. This is where you look beyond “exists” or “does not exist” and into quality and fit for your global health training goals.

What to Look for on Program Websites

On each program’s website, read:

• Global Health / International Health / Health Equity section
• Curriculum page (look for tracks, pathways, or concentrations)
• Resident bios and scholarly projects
• Faculty profiles (particularly those doing global work)
• News, blog posts, or research highlights about international medicine or health equity

Key markers of a robust global health residency track:

1. Structured Curriculum

   • A defined global health pathway or track with:
     • Required seminars, case conferences, or courses
     • Reading lists, journal clubs, or didactics on global health topics
     • Curriculum in topics like health systems, social determinants of health, epidemiology, tropical medicine

2. Sustained Partnerships

   • Long-term relationships with specific sites:
     • Examples: partner hospitals/clinics in East Africa, South Asia, Latin America, or refugee camps/NGOs
   • Evidence of bilateral exchange (not just U.S. residents visiting, but also capacity-building, co-authorship, or training of local partners)

3. Dedicated Global Health Faculty

   • Faculty with titles such as:
     • “Director of Global Health”
     • “Global Health Curriculum Director”
     • “Global Medicine Track Director”
   • Faculty bios that show:
     • Ongoing global health projects
     • Peer-reviewed publications in global health
     • Regular travel and program leadership in partner sites

4. Resident Participation

   • Examples of recent residents:
     • Completing electives abroad
     • Presenting global health–related posters/papers
     • Winning or applying for global health scholarships or awards
   • Evidence of resident-led initiatives (e.g., global health interest group, quality improvement projects in international or refugee populations)

5. Support and Funding

   • Mention of:
     • Travel grants or stipends for global electives
     • Institutional funding for global health projects
     • Protected time for research or fieldwork
   • Formal policies on safety, supervision, and risk management for overseas experiences

Evaluating Whether It’s More Than “Medical Tourism”

A serious global health residency track is very different from “a vacation elective with a clinic week.” Look for:

• Pre-departure training (ethics, security, cultural humility)
• Defined objectives for electives
• Supervision and feedback while abroad
• Longitudinal relationships rather than one-off trips
• Emphasis on mutual benefit and capacity-building, not simply one-directional service

If a program mentions only “an optional international elective” without details, treat it as a bonus, not a central reason to rank it highly.

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Step 4: Assess IMG-Friendliness and Institutional Culture

A perfect global health curriculum is not enough if the program is not supportive of international medical graduates in everyday training.

Indicators of IMG-Friendliness

When evaluating residency programs, specifically as an IMG, consider:

1. Current and Recent Residents

   • Does the website show resident photos with medical schools listed?
   • Do you see multiple IMGs among current residents?
   • Is there diversity in regions of origin (South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America)?

2. Visa and Policy Transparency

   • Clear statements about:
     • J-1 sponsorship (almost universal in academic programs)
     • H-1B availability (not universal; important if you prefer H-1B)
   • If no visa information is listed, email the program coordinator early.

3. Program Reputation Among IMGs

   • Use:
     • Alumni networks
     • Online forums (take with caution, but patterns are informative)
     • Personal contacts or mentors who know the U.S. system
   • Ask: Are IMGs in this program successful? Do they:
     • Match into fellowships (including global health or academic fellowships)?
     • Publish, present, and take leadership positions?

4. Overall Supportive Culture

   • Look for signs of:
     • Wellness initiatives and academic mentorship
     • Respect for cultural diversity
     • Support for language skills and cross-cultural communication
   • Programs heavily focused on service volume without academic or mentorship support may not be ideal for a global health–oriented career.

Balancing Global Health With Training Quality

As you research how to choose the right residency program for global health, remember:

• Clinical training quality comes first. You need a strong foundation in your specialty to be effective in global health settings.
• A program with excellent global health branding but poor clinical training or toxic culture can harm your long-term career.
• Conversely, a program with outstanding core training and robust underserved care—but modest international options—can still be an excellent stepping stone, especially if it:
  • Encourages research
  • Has strong mentors
  • Is flexible about electives

Ask yourself: If global health opportunities were temporarily unavailable (pandemic, political instability), would I still want to train here?

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Step 5: Contact Programs, Network, and Ask the Right Questions

Once you have a refined list of programs that meet both your global health and IMG needs, move from passive research to active engagement.

Find People to Talk To

Your goal is to hear directly from:

• Current residents in the global health track or with global health interests
• Global health faculty or track directors
• Program directors or associate PDs for general questions about IMG support

Use:

• Program website email contacts
• LinkedIn and professional profiles
• Alumni connections from your medical school
• Global health networks (e.g., global health conferences, organizations)

Write short, respectful, and specific emails such as:

Dear Dr. X,
I am an international medical graduate planning to apply to Internal Medicine in the U.S. with a strong interest in global health and health systems strengthening. I have been very impressed by your program’s global health pathway, especially your work in [Country/Region].
Would you be willing to briefly share how IMGs have participated in the global health track at your institution, and whether residents are able to engage in longitudinal projects or research?
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Key Questions to Ask About Global Health

When you get the chance to speak with residents or faculty (by email, virtual open houses, or during interviews), ask:

1. Structure and Access

   • Is the global health track open to all residents, including IMGs?
   • How many residents per year participate?
   • Are there prerequisites (e.g., prior experience, research proposal, language skills)?

2. Practical Experience

   • How many weeks of international or domestic global health rotations can residents realistically do?
   • Are those rotations well-supervised and integrated into the curriculum?
   • Can residents return to the same site multiple times?

3. Research and Scholarship

   • Are there opportunities to join ongoing global health research?
   • Do residents commonly publish or present at conferences in global health?
   • Are there mentors skilled in areas you care about (HIV, TB, maternal health, NCDs, refugee health, climate and health, etc.)?

4. Funding and Logistics

   • Is there financial support for travel, housing, and project materials?
   • How does the program handle safety, insurance, and risk during international work?

5. Outcomes

   • What have recent graduates of the global health track gone on to do?
   • Are there alumni in global health fellowships, NGOs, or academic global health positions?

Questions to Ask About IMG Integration

In parallel, inquire about:

• How many IMGs are in the program each year?
• Any unique supports for IMGs (e.g., visa help, orientation to the U.S. system)
• Whether IMGs have held leadership roles (chief resident, QI leads, research leads)
• Success of IMGs in matching into fellowships, especially global health–relevant fields (ID, Pulm/CCM, EM global health fellowship, etc.)

These direct conversations bring to life what you cannot see on websites—and powerfully inform how you rank programs.

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Step 6: Prioritize, Compare, and Create a Rational Rank List

By the end of this process, you may have:

• 20–40 programs on your “serious consideration” list
• Different levels of information about each

Now refine this into a prioritized list using a balanced framework.

Build a Comparison Matrix

In your spreadsheet, add columns such as:

• Core specialty and program type (university, community, hybrid)
• Presence and strength of:
  • Global health residency track or pathway
  • International electives
  • Domestic global health/immigrant health opportunities
• Faculty and mentorship:
  • Number of global health–active faculty
  • Known mentors aligned with your interests
• IMG factors:
  • Visa options
  • Current number of IMGs
  • Perceived IMG-friendliness
• Career development:
  • Research infrastructure
  • Fellowship match outcomes
• Location/lifestyle:
  • Cost of living
  • Proximity to diaspora communities
  • Family or social support nearby

Rank each on a simple scale (e.g., 1–3 or 1–5). This does not need to be perfect or fully objective—but it will help you see patterns.

Use a Weighted Perspective

You can assign more weight to:

• Must-haves: visa sponsorship, acceptable clinical training, non-toxic culture
• Very important: strong global health curriculum, supportive mentorship, IMG track record
• Nice-to-have: specific region of international partners, specific disease focus, ideal city

Remember:

• A program with excellent core training and moderate global health can sometimes be better than a program with moderate training and excellent global health branding.
• Your long-term goal is to become a competent specialist who can then work effectively in global health, not just to travel during residency.

Revisit Your Personal Statement and Application Strategy

Your program research will also refine how you present yourself:

• Tailor your personal statement and ERAS application to highlight:
  • Consistent global health engagement (research, volunteering, NGOs, public health)
  • Cultural humility and ethical awareness
  • Clear, realistic career goals in global health
• Align your stated interests with what specific programs offer:
  • If a program has a health systems emphasis, describe your interest in implementation science.
  • If another has strong maternal and child health partnerships, emphasize that area.

This alignment makes you a stronger fit and helps global health faculty advocate for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As an IMG, should I prioritize “IMG-friendly” programs over global health opportunities?

You need both, but safety comes first. Start with programs that:

1. Regularly sponsor visas (at least J-1; H-1B if essential for you), and
2. Have a track record of accepting and supporting international medical graduates.

Among those, prioritize programs with the strongest combination of:

• Clinical training quality
• Global health residency track or equivalent
• Supportive mentorship

A program with excellent global health but no visa or no IMG history is not realistic. A well-balanced program with solid global health exposure and strong IMG support is ideal.

2. How important is it to have prior global health experience before applying?

It helps, but it is not mandatory. Programs look for:

• Genuine interest and consistent engagement (clinical work with underserved populations, research, public health projects, NGO work, or health policy involvement)
• Reflection and maturity about ethics and power dynamics in global health
• Commitment to learning, not just a desire for travel

If you have limited direct experience, focus on:

• Local global health–equivalent activities (refugee health clinics, immigrant health, TB/HIV clinics, public health departments)
• Educational courses or certifications (e.g., online global health coursework, public health modules)
• Thoughtful discussion in your personal statement about why global health matters to you and how you plan to grow in this area.

3. Can I still build a global health career if my residency has only modest global health opportunities?

Yes. Many global health leaders trained in programs that were not “branded” as global health residencies. To maximize your trajectory:

• Choose a program with:
  • Strong clinical training
  • Open-minded leadership
  • At least some flexibility for electives or research
• Seek:
  • Mentors at other institutions (through conferences, online networks, collaborative projects)
  • Online or short-course training in global health or public health
• Plan for:
  • A global health–focused fellowship (e.g., global health equity, global EM, ID with global health concentration)
  • Later degrees (MPH, MSc in Global Health) if appropriate

Your career is long. Residency is a critical foundation, but not the only stage.

4. How do travel restrictions or pandemics affect global health residency tracks?

Global health training is more than just physically being in another country. During periods of travel restrictions (e.g., pandemics, political instability):

• Strong programs adapt by:
  • Emphasizing domestic global health (refugee health, immigrant communities, border health, telemedicine outreach)
  • Continuing collaborative research, remote education, and shared case conferences with partner sites
• When you research programs, ask:
  • “How did your global health track function during COVID-19 or other travel disruptions?”
  • “What domestic global health experiences are available when international travel is not possible?”

Programs that maintained meaningful global health engagement during such periods are more likely to offer robust, resilient training that prepares you for real-world global health challenges.

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By following this systematic approach to how to research residency programs—from defining your goals, using structured databases, and evaluating residency programs deeply, to networking and building a rational rank list—you can identify programs that truly fit you as an international medical graduate committed to global health. Your path in international medicine will be shaped not only by the name of your program, but by how strategically you choose it and how actively you engage once you are there.