Essential Guide for Non-US Citizen IMGs Researching Global Health Residency

Understanding Your Goals as a Non‑US Citizen IMG in Global Health

Before you dive into researching programs, you need a clear picture of what you want from a global health–oriented residency. This matters even more if you are a non-US citizen IMG or foreign national medical graduate, because your visa status, funding eligibility, and long-term career plans all interact with program structure.

Clarify Your Global Health Priorities

“Global health” means very different things across programs. As you research residency programs, define your priorities in concrete terms:

• Type of international involvement

  • Short-term electives vs. longitudinal global health residency track
  • Fieldwork (e.g., 4–8 weeks per year abroad) vs. home-based work with immigrant/refugee populations
  • Focus on low-resource settings, humanitarian response, policy, or academic research

• Clinical vs. academic focus

  • Are you mainly interested in:
    • Providing clinical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)?
    • Epidemiology, implementation science, and research?
    • Policy, advocacy, and health systems strengthening?
    • Medical education and capacity building?

• Geographic or population focus

  • Specific regions (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America)
  • Specific populations (e.g., refugees, migrants, rural communities, conflict-affected populations)

• Career trajectory after residency

  • U.S.-based global health faculty
  • Work with NGOs (e.g., MSF, Partners In Health, IRC)
  • WHO, CDC, or MoH positions
  • Returning home to strengthen your country’s health system
  • Fellowship in global health, infectious disease, or health policy

Write out a short statement, for example:

“I am a non-US citizen IMG aiming for internal medicine with a strong global health residency track that offers fieldwork in sub-Saharan Africa, opportunities for operational research, and mentorship for an academic global health career in the U.S. or internationally.”

This statement becomes your program research strategy anchor. You will use it to filter and compare programs.

Recognize Constraints Specific to Non‑US Citizen IMGs

For a foreign national medical graduate, some practical issues must be considered early:

• Visa support

  • Does the program sponsor J-1, H-1B, or both?
  • Are there historical patterns of actually matching non-US citizen IMGs?

• Funding for international work

  • Are travel and housing covered for international rotations?
  • Are foreign nationals eligible for the same scholarships as U.S. citizens?

• Licensing and exam expectations

  • USMLE performance expectations may be higher for IMGs
  • Some global health tracks expect earlier completion of Step 3 (relevant for H‑1B)

These factors will shape not only how you research residency programs, but which programs you ultimately prioritize.

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Step-by-Step: How to Research Residency Programs in Global Health

This section lays out a structured, repeatable method for evaluating residency programs, tailored to non-US citizen IMGs.

Step 1: Build a Long List of Potential Programs

Start broad. The first step in how to research residency programs is to discover which ones actually have global health–related options.

Use multiple sources:

1. FREIDA (AMA Residency & Fellowship Database)

   • Filter by specialty (e.g., Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Emergency Medicine).
   • Use search terms in descriptions: “global health”, “international”, “refugee”, “underserved”.
   • Start a spreadsheet with:
     • Program name
     • Institution
     • City/State
     • Visa types supported
     • IMG friendliness (if indicated)

2. Program websites

   • Search:
     "[Specialty] residency global health track site:.edu"
     or
     "residency global health pathway [specialty]".
   • Include both well-known academic centers and mid-size teaching hospitals.

3. Global health consortia lists

   • Many universities list their global health residency track partners or affiliated programs.
   • Look at global health centers’ websites for residency offerings (e.g., “Center for Global Health” pages).

4. Word-of-mouth and networks

   • Ask faculty at your medical school who work in international medicine.
   • Connect with past graduates who matched into U.S. residency; ask which programs they considered for global health.

Aim for an initial list of 30–60 programs, depending on your specialty and competitiveness.

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Step 2: Apply First-Pass Filters (Must-Haves)

Next, narrow that long list using must-have criteria aligned with your background as a non-US citizen IMG.

A. Visa Support

Go to each program’s website or FREIDA entry:

• Confirm:
  • J-1 supported?
  • H-1B supported?
• If unclear, email the program coordinator with a very short, polite query:
  • “Do you sponsor J-1 and/or H-1B visas, and have you matched non-U.S. citizen IMGs recently?”

Actionable tip:
If you require an H‑1B (e.g., long-term U.S. career, or you already passed Step 3), prioritize programs that:

• Explicitly state H‑1B sponsorship
• Have a history of taking IMGs on H‑1B

If you are comfortable with J‑1, you will have a larger pool, but consider:

• Future waiver requirements
• Commitment to underserved settings after residency (which can align well with global health interests)

B. IMG-Friendliness and Match History

Look for:

• Proportion of current residents who are IMGs
• Alumni lists (names or medical school countries often signal diversity)
• Any explicit language such as:
  • “We welcome applications from international medical graduates.”
  • “We have a long history of training non-US citizen IMG residents.”

If this information is not obvious:

• Search:
  "program name" + international medical graduate
"program name" + non-US citizen IMG"

Rank programs as:

• High IMG-friendliness (several IMGs in recent classes; explicit support)
• Possible
• Low (rarely or never list IMGs; non-committal responses)

C. Global Health Relevance

At this stage, you only need to confirm that some global health or international medicine element exists:

• Dedicated global health residency track or pathway
• Global health electives or international rotations
• Partnerships with international institutions
• Strong local care for immigrant/refugee or underserved communities as a structured component of training

Programs without any of these are likely not worth deep investigation for your specific goal.

After this filter, you might shrink your list from 50 to 20–35 programs.

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Diving Deep: Evaluating Global Health Content and Structure

Once you have a manageable list, the next phase of evaluating residency programs is a detailed comparison of their global health elements, training environment, and support for foreign national medical graduates.

Analyze the Global Health Track or Pathway

On each program’s website, locate the Global Health Track, Global Health Pathway, or International Health Program page. Capture the following:

A. Structure and Time Commitment

Key questions:

• Is the global health residency track:

  • Optional or required?
  • A formal, multi-year longitudinal curriculum?
  • Or just a set of occasional elective opportunities?

• How many residents join the track each year?

• Is there a separate match code in ERAS for the global health track, or do all categorical residents have access?

Programs differ widely:

• Some offer 2–3 dedicated global health residents per PGY class, chosen before or after Match.
• Others open their track to any interested resident who meets basic criteria.

B. Clinical and Fieldwork Opportunities

Look for:

• Specific countries and partner sites (e.g., Malawi, Haiti, India, rural U.S. Native American reservations)
• Duration of typical rotations:
  • 4 weeks vs. 2–3 months
• Levels of supervision:
  • Are there on-site faculty? Local preceptors? Is it a well-established partnership or a one-off elective?

Ask:

• Are rotations during elective time, or protected outside standard electives?
• Are there opportunities across PGY2 and PGY3 (or beyond)?

C. Curriculum and Skills

Evaluate the didactic and skills curriculum:

• Regular seminars/workshops on:

  • Global burden of disease
  • Health equity, social determinants of health
  • Health systems and policy
  • Humanitarian response and disaster medicine
  • Tropical and travel medicine
  • Implementation science or program evaluation

• Certificate or degree options:

  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Certificate in Global Health
  • Medical Education in Global Health

If your interest is research-heavy, prioritize programs that emphasize:

• Study design in low-resource settings
• Mentored research projects
• Conference presentations and publications

Assess Financial and Logistical Support

For a non-US citizen IMG, funding is particularly important, as you may have less access to U.S.-based scholarships.

Key items to evaluate:

• Is travel funded by:

  • The residency program?
  • A global health center?
  • Departmental grants?

• Are housing and living costs covered abroad?

• Are foreign nationals eligible for these funds?

  • Some grants explicitly restrict to U.S. citizens/permanent residents
  • Look for inclusive language or ask directly

Actionable email template:

“As a non-U.S. citizen IMG interested in your global health track, could you please clarify whether international residents are eligible for institutional funding for overseas rotations or global health projects?”

Programs that confirm equal access to funding earn a higher priority in your program research strategy.

Evaluate Mentorship and Career Outcomes

A global health track is only as strong as its mentors.

Look for:

• Faculty profiles with:
  • Long-term field experience
  • Publications in global health journals
  • Leadership in international collaborations
• Current resident projects posted on the website
• Alumni working at:
  • NGOs (e.g., Partners In Health, MSF)
  • Academic global health divisions
  • WHO, CDC, or Ministries of Health
  • Back in their home countries in leadership roles

Ask during virtual info sessions:

• “Can you share examples of where graduates of the global health track are working now?”
• “How are non-U.S. citizen graduates supported in pursuing global health careers or fellowships?”

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Considering Institution, Location, and Support Environment

Beyond global health track details, your experience as a foreign national medical graduate will depend heavily on the overall program environment.

Institutional Culture and Diversity

Signs that a program will be supportive of a non-US citizen IMG in global health:

• Visible diversity among residents and faculty
• DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) offices that include support for immigrants
• Global health or international medicine integrated into the institution’s mission statement

Check:

• Photos of resident classes (for gender, racial, and international diversity)
• Statements on equity and inclusion
• Support for visa, immigration, and international students/staff

Location and Patient Population

Program location affects the type of global health–relevant exposure you get even when you’re not abroad.

Consider:

• Urban vs. rural setting
• Immigrant and refugee population density
• Connections with local agencies:
  • Refugee resettlement organizations
  • Community health centers
  • Migrant worker clinics
• Opportunities for:
  • Working with interpreters
  • Caring for patients from your home region
  • Participation in community outreach and advocacy

For someone interested in international medicine, a U.S. location with a large, diverse, underserved community can provide excellent “local global health” training.

Institutional Resources for Research and Travel

Look for:

• A Center for Global Health / Global Health Institute
• Existing global research collaborations
• Offices supporting:
  • International travel logistics
  • Safety and security for overseas rotations
  • IRB processes for global research

Programs with established infrastructure reduce the administrative burden on residents and are more likely to support foreign nationals fairly.

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Using Networking and Direct Contact Strategically

Websites rarely tell the full story. Direct contact with programs and people is a key part of how to research residency programs effectively, especially when you are a non-US citizen IMG.

Connect with Current Residents and Recent Graduates

Your best information sources are those on the inside.

How to find them:

• Residency website “Current Residents” page
• Program’s social media (Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Alumni profiles on institutional sites

Who to prioritize:

• Residents in the global health track
• Other non-US citizen IMG or IMG residents (even if not in global health)
• Recent graduates working in global health fellowships or NGOs

Sample email message:

Subject: Prospective Applicant – Question About Global Health Track

Dear Dr. [Name],

I am a non-U.S. citizen IMG from [Country] planning to apply for [Specialty] residency this cycle. I am particularly interested in global health and noticed that your program offers a global health track.

If you have a few minutes, I would be grateful to learn about your experience in the track, especially regarding overseas rotations, mentorship, and how the program supports non-U.S. citizen IMGs in pursuing international work.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Prepare concise questions:

• How competitive is entry into the global health track?
• How many weeks abroad did you actually complete?
• Were you funded for travel and living expenses?
• As a foreign national medical graduate, did you encounter any specific hurdles?
• How supportive is the program leadership of residents doing extended global work?

Attend Virtual Open Houses and Information Sessions

Most programs now offer virtual sessions—some focused specifically on global health tracks.

During these sessions:

• Introduce yourself briefly as a non-US citizen IMG with global health interests.
• Ask 1–2 targeted questions:
  • “Can you speak about how the program supports non-U.S. citizen residents who are interested in overseas rotations?”
  • “How integrated is the global health pathway with core residency training?”

Take detailed notes after each session and update your comparison spreadsheet.

Leverage Faculty and Mentors from Your Home or Current Institution

If your medical school has any global health–oriented faculty, they can:

• Recommend strong global health residency programs
• Introduce you to colleagues at U.S. institutions
• Help you interpret the seriousness and quality of programs’ global health claims

Send them:

• Your CV
• Personal statement draft emphasizing global health
• Preliminary list of programs, asking for feedback on your program research strategy

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Building a Comparison Framework and Finalizing Your List

Once you’ve gathered information, you need a disciplined way to compare and prioritize. This is where evaluating residency programs becomes an organized decision process rather than guesswork.

Create a Weighted Scorecard

Make a table (spreadsheet) with rows as programs and columns as factors. For a non-US citizen IMG focused on global health, possible factors:

1. Global Health Track Strength (0–5)

   • Longitudinal curriculum
   • Structured international sites
   • Documented resident projects and outcomes

2. Visa and IMG-Friendliness (0–5)

   • J‑1/H‑1B availability
   • History of matching non-US citizen IMG residents
   • Openness in communication

3. Funding for Global Health (0–5)

   • Guaranteed vs. competitive funding
   • Eligibility of foreign nationals
   • Frequency of funded opportunities

4. Mentorship & Research Opportunities (0–5)

   • Global health faculty density
   • Ongoing projects at partner sites
   • Resident involvement in publications/presentations

5. Local Global Health Environment (0–5)

   • Diversity of patient population
   • Refugee/migrant care
   • Community partnerships

6. Personal Fit & Location (0–5)

   • Geographic preferences
   • Family/spousal considerations
   • Perceived culture and supportiveness

Assign weights based on your priorities (for example: visa 25%, global health 25%, funding 20%, mentorship 15%, local environment 10%, location 5%), then calculate a composite score for each program.

Example: Comparing Two Hypothetical Programs

• Program A

  • Strong longitudinal global health residency track with 2–3 months of funded fieldwork
  • Offers only J‑1, but many non-US citizen IMG residents
  • Multiple faculty with decades of field experience

• Program B

  • Has a one-time 4-week elective abroad with partial funding
  • Supports both J‑1 and H‑1B, but has only 1 IMG resident
  • Limited structured curriculum

If H‑1B visa is crucial for you, Program B might rank higher despite weaker global health content. If you are comfortable with J‑1 and prioritize depth of global health training, Program A could clearly outrank B. This structured approach keeps your decision aligned with explicit priorities rather than marketing language.

Finalize Your Application List

Most applicants submit 15–30 applications, depending on specialty and competitiveness. For a non-US citizen IMG in global health:

• Include:
  • A mix of highly competitive academic global health programs
  • Several mid-tier, IMG-friendly academic or community-based programs with meaningful international medicine exposure
• Avoid:
  • Applying only to the “famous” global health powerhouses that receive thousands of applications and rarely take non-US citizen IMGs

Strive for balance:

• 5–8 “reach” programs with exceptional global health tracks
• 8–15 “target” programs with solid global health opportunities and good IMG history
• 3–6 “safety” programs that are IMG-friendly and at least have underserved or refugee-focused work

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FAQs: Researching Global Health Programs as a Non-US Citizen IMG

1. How can I tell if a global health residency track is more than just marketing?

Look for evidence of structure and outcomes, not just words:

• A clear curriculum with scheduled seminars and defined competencies
• Named partner sites and specific rotation descriptions
• Lists of resident projects, publications, or presentations
• Alumni working in global health roles If the website is vague, ask residents directly about how many people actually go abroad and what support they receive.

2. As a foreign national medical graduate, should I prioritize H‑1B over J‑1 visas?

It depends on your long-term goals and flexibility:

• H‑1B:

  • More control after residency, no J‑1 waiver service requirement
  • Fewer programs offer it; may be more competitive
  • Often requires Step 3 before starting

• J‑1:

  • Widely available; more programs to choose from
  • Requires a waiver (usually 3 years in underserved areas) or returning home
  • Can align with global health interests if you plan to work in underserved U.S. communities or return to your home country

Decide early which visas you are open to and filter programs accordingly.

3. What if a program has great global health opportunities but a poor track record with IMGs?

Be cautious. A strong global health reputation does not guarantee openness to non-US citizen IMGs. Look for:

• At least a few IMGs in current or recent classes
• Clear, supportive communication from program leadership
• Evidence that IMGs are integrated and successful

You may still apply, but don’t build your list mostly from such programs. Balance them with places that are explicitly IMG-friendly.

4. How do I show genuine interest in global health without over-committing?

Be honest and specific:

• Clearly describe past experiences and future goals in your personal statement
• Avoid promises like “I will spend my entire career abroad” unless you truly mean it
• Emphasize skills and values (equity, systems thinking, working in resource-limited settings) that are beneficial in both global and local contexts
• Show that you understand global health is long-term, partnership-based work, not just short trips

Programs appreciate well-informed, realistic applicants who see global health as integrated with their overall clinical career.

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By approaching program research systematically—clarifying your goals, understanding visa and IMG-specific constraints, evaluating residency programs using structured criteria, and leveraging networking—you can identify global health residency options that truly fit you as a non-US citizen IMG and support your vision for an international medicine career.