Ultimate Guide to CV Building for Non-US Citizen IMG in OB GYN Residency

Understanding the Unique CV Challenges for a Non-US Citizen IMG in OB‑GYN

As a non-US citizen IMG applying to an OB GYN residency, your CV is more than a list of accomplishments—it is your bridge into a new healthcare system. Program directors use your medical student CV to quickly answer three questions:

1. Can this applicant succeed clinically and academically in a US OB GYN residency?
2. Do they understand what matters in US training environments?
3. Are they likely to contribute positively to our program’s culture and patient care?

For a foreign national medical graduate, the CV must also signal:

• Ease of transition to the US system (familiarity with US-style documentation and expectations)
• Visa feasibility (clear immigration status, timelines, and no ambiguity)
• Commitment to obstetrics and gynecology, not just “any specialty in the US”

Before diving into structure and strategy, keep these baseline principles in mind:

• Your CV must be US-style. Avoid your home country formats that emphasize age, marital status, photo, or parents’ names.
• Your CV must be laser-focused on OB GYN. Every section should show a clear narrative of interest and preparation for this specialty.
• Your CV must be easy to scan. Program staff may spend 30–60 seconds on an initial review.

The rest of this guide will show you exactly how to build a strong, targeted OB GYN residency CV as a non-US citizen IMG, with detailed residency CV tips and specialty-specific examples.

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Essential Structure of a Strong OB GYN Residency CV

Most programs will see your ERAS-generated CV, but many teaching hospitals, away rotations, and mentors will still request a separate PDF CV. Both need to tell a consistent story.

Core Sections for an OB GYN Residency CV

Use this order unless instructed otherwise:

1. Contact Information & Citizenship Status
2. Education
3. USMLE / Licensing Exams
4. Clinical Experience (US and international, with OB GYN highlighted)
5. Research & Scholarly Activity
6. Presentations & Posters
7. Teaching, Leadership & Professional Involvement
8. Awards & Honors
9. Volunteer & Community Service (especially women’s health–related)
10. Skills (Procedural, Language, Technical)
11. Professional Interests & Additional Information

Avoid including: date of birth, photograph, marital status, religion, or national ID numbers. These may be normal in your home country, but they are not appropriate in US residency applications and can raise red flags.

1. Contact Information & Citizenship Status

At the top of your CV:

• Full name (consistent with ERAS and USMLE)
• Professional email (e.g., firstname.lastname@gmail.com)
• Phone number with country code
• Current address (US address if available during application season)
• Citizenship / Visa status: e.g., “Citizenship: India | Visa: Requires J-1 sponsorship” or “Citizenship: Pakistan | Current Status: H-4, requires ECFMG-sponsored J-1”

This transparency reduces anxiety about your visa situation and helps coordinators filter appropriately.

Avoid:

• Using informal emails (e.g., doctorpretty123@…)
• Listing multiple phone numbers unless clearly labeled (e.g., “WhatsApp/Primary”)

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2. Education: Positioning Yourself as a Competitive Foreign National Medical Graduate

List your education in reverse chronological order:

Example format:

• Doctor of Medicine (MBBS equivalent)
  University of XYZ, College of Medicine – City, Country
  2016–2022
  • GPA/Class Rank (if strong and available): “Top 5% of class (2/180)”
  • Thesis title (if related to OB GYN): “Undergraduate thesis: Maternal anemia and preterm birth outcomes”

If you did a post-graduate internship (common in many non-US systems), list it clearly as well:

• Rotating Medical Internship
  ABC Teaching Hospital – City, Country
  2022–2023
  • Rotations: Obstetrics & Gynecology (4 months), Pediatrics (2 months), Surgery (3 months), Internal Medicine (3 months)

Tips specific to IMGs:

• Clarify degree equivalence if the title is unfamiliar to US readers (e.g., “Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), equivalent to MD”).
• Highlight OB GYN exposure inside the education section if your rotations were weighted toward women’s health.
• If your school is lesser-known, one brief descriptor can help: “Tertiary referral center with 800-bed university hospital.”

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3. USMLE and Exam Information

While ERAS has a dedicated section for scores, many faculty still glance at your CV for a quick summary. For your obstetrics match prospects, clarity and honesty here matter.

Suggested format:

• USMLE Step 1 – Passed (Month Year)
• USMLE Step 2 CK – Score ### (Percentile if strong, optional), (Month Year)
• USMLE Step 3 – (if applicable) Score ###, (Month Year)
• OET / English Proficiency Exams – if a requirement for ECFMG certification, you may list briefly.

Do not list failed attempts on the CV; those are visible in official score reports but don’t need to be highlighted here.

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Building the Clinical Experience Section for OB GYN Impact

For an OB GYN residency application, this section can make or break you, especially as a foreign national medical graduate who trained outside the US.

1. Separate US Clinical Experience from Home-Country Experience

Use subheadings:

• US Clinical Experience
• International Clinical Experience

Programs often screen for meaningful US clinical exposure. Make it easy for them to see.

A. US Clinical Experience

Include:

• Elective rotations (final-year electives)
• Sub-internships
• Observerships (labeled clearly as such)
• Externships or formal clinical training programs

Example entry:

Clinical Elective – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, XYZ University Hospital – City, State, USA
Aug 2024 – Sep 2024

• Participated in inpatient and outpatient OB and GYN care in a tertiary academic center.
• Assisted with H&Ps, rounding notes, and care plans under supervision.
• Observed and assisted in vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections, and gynecologic procedures (e.g., D&C, LEEP).
• Presented two patient-based case discussions during morning conferences.

Key residency CV tips for this section:

• Use strong action verbs: “Participated,” “Assisted,” “Co-managed,” “Presented,” “Documented.”
• Quantify when possible: “Assisted in 15+ vaginal deliveries,” “Observed 10 laparoscopic procedures.”
• Emphasize system familiarity: electronic medical records, multidisciplinary teams, handoff practices.

If you only had observerships:

Observership – Obstetrics & Gynecology
ABC Community Hospital – City, State, USA
Oct 2023 – Nov 2023

• Observed inpatient OB GYN rounds, labor and delivery triage assessments, and gynecologic surgeries.
• Attended departmental didactics, morbidity and mortality conferences, and grand rounds.
• Gained exposure to US documentation standards and communication with patients from diverse backgrounds.

Do not exaggerate observerships into hands-on roles. Dishonesty here is a serious risk.

B. International Clinical Experience (OB GYN-Focused)

You must show that your home-country training genuinely prepared you for obstetrics and gynecology.

Example:

Obstetrics & Gynecology Rotating Internship
National Women’s Hospital – City, Country
Jan 2022 – Apr 2022

• Managed antenatal clinic visits under supervision, including high-risk pregnancies.
• Performed normal vaginal deliveries (### total) under supervision and assisted in cesarean sections.
• Participated in postpartum rounds, family planning counseling, and gynecologic outpatient clinics.
• Participated in weekly departmental teaching sessions and on-call shifts.

Include brief context if your setting is high-volume: “Tertiary referral center with ~6,000 deliveries per year.”

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2. Aligning Clinical Experience with OB GYN Program Priorities

US OB GYN residencies look for:

• Comfort with acute situations (e.g., postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, obstetric emergencies).
• Interest in women’s health across the lifespan (adolescent to postmenopausal).
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and intense call schedules.
• Respect for patient autonomy, informed consent, and cultural sensitivity.

Highlight experiences that reflect:

• On-call responsibilities
• Managing complicated pregnancies or gynecologic emergencies
• Patient counseling in sensitive situations (terminations, contraception, sexual health, domestic violence)
• Team-based care with nurses, midwives, and other physicians

You can echo these in brief bullet points and later expand in your personal statement or interviews.

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Research, Presentations, and Scholarly Work that Strengthen an OB GYN CV

Research is not mandatory for every program, but for many competitive OB GYN residencies—especially academic ones—research can significantly boost a non-US citizen IMG profile.

1. Prioritize OB GYN and Women’s Health Topics

When deciding how to build CV for residency in this specialty, emphasize:

• Obstetrics outcomes
• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Gynecologic oncology
• Reproductive endocrinology and infertility
• Family planning and contraception
• Global women’s health

A. Research Section Format

Use reverse chronological order, separating Peer-Reviewed Publications, Accepted or In-Press Articles, and Other Scholarly Work if you have multiple.

Example:

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Doe A, YourLastName B, Smith C. “Maternal anemia and preterm birth: A retrospective cohort study in a tertiary center.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research. 2023;49(2):123–131.

Manuscripts in Preparation / Submitted (List only if genuinely in progress)

• YourLastName B, Lee D. “Cesarean section rates and maternal outcomes in a low-resource setting: A 5-year review.” Manuscript in preparation.

If your research is not OB GYN, you may still include it, but try to connect to relevant skills: statistics, data analysis, quality improvement, patient safety.

B. Posters and Presentations

Create a separate section:

Conference Presentations & Posters

• YourLastName B, Ahmed R. “Postpartum hemorrhage management in a tertiary teaching hospital: Implementation of a protocol.” Poster presented at the International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dubai, 2022.

Even small, local conferences add value, especially when you are a foreign national medical graduate with limited access to US research projects.

C. Quality Improvement and Audits

Many IMGs underestimate the value of audits and QI projects they performed during internship or rotations.

Example entry:

Quality Improvement Project – Obstetrics
National Women’s Hospital – City, Country
2021–2022

• Audited adherence to postpartum hemorrhage prophylaxis guidelines among 300 deliveries.
• Identified low adherence rates to active management of the third stage of labor.
• Helped implement a checklist and staff education session, contributing to improved compliance in follow-up audits.

Even though QI is not “research” in the traditional sense, US programs appreciate it because it translates directly into residency practice.

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Leadership, Teaching, and Service: Showing You Fit OB GYN Culture

OB GYN residencies value collaboration, advocacy, and resilience. Your residency CV should show more than technical skills—it should reveal who you are as a colleague and advocate for women’s health.

1. Teaching and Mentoring

Teaching demonstrates communication skills and professionalism:

• Medical student tutor or teaching assistant
• Clinical skills demonstrator
• Peer-led OSCE preparation sessions
• Teaching sessions for nurses, midwives, or community health workers

Example:

Clinical Skills Tutor (Obstetric Examination)
Department of Medical Education, XYZ University – Country
2019–2020

• Led small-group tutorials for 3rd-year medical students on antenatal abdominal exam and fetal heart auscultation.
• Developed checklists and feedback forms for OSCE preparation.

Even informal teaching (“mentored junior students preparing for OB GYN exams”) can be listed if you describe it professionally.

2. Leadership Roles

OB GYN is an advocacy-heavy specialty. Leadership experiences suggest you can coordinate teams and projects:

• Class representative
• Organizer of women’s health camps
• Officer in student OB GYN or surgery interest groups
• Committee roles in student associations

Example:

President – Obstetrics & Gynecology Student Interest Group
XYZ Medical College – Country
2020–2021

• Organized quarterly case-based lectures with OB GYN faculty, attended by 80+ students.
• Coordinated a cervical cancer awareness campaign reaching 500+ women in surrounding communities.

Tie leadership activities to organizational skills, advocacy, communication, and commitment to women’s health.

3. Volunteer and Community Service

For the obstetrics match, women’s health–focused service work can be a differentiator, especially for a non-US citizen IMG:

• Free antenatal clinics
• Cervical cancer screening camps
• Sexual and reproductive health education in schools
• Domestic violence support initiatives
• Maternal health outreach in rural or underserved areas

Example:

Volunteer Physician – Rural Maternal Health Camps
NGO “Safe Motherhood Initiative” – Country
2022–2023

• Participated in monthly outreach clinics providing antenatal care, anemia screening, and contraception counseling for rural women.
• Conducted group education sessions on danger signs in pregnancy and newborn care.

This kind of experience shows both humanistic qualities and authentic specialty interest.

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Formatting, Strategy, and Common Pitfalls for Non-US Citizen IMGs

Beyond content, how you present your residency CV can strongly influence program impressions.

1. Formatting Essentials

• Length: Generally 2–4 pages is acceptable for an IMG with multiple experiences. Avoid huge CVs (8–10 pages) filled with marginal details.
• Font: Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman, 10–12 pt; consistent throughout.
• Headings: Clear, bold, and uniform.
• Bullets: Use concise bullet points, 1–3 lines each.
• Dates: Align to the right or in a separate column; use “Month Year – Month Year.”

Ensure your ERAS entries and your standalone PDF CV are consistent in dates, titles, and roles.

2. Tailoring Your CV to OB GYN

To truly optimize your medical student CV for obstetrics match:

• Move OB GYN experiences higher within sections (e.g., OB GYN research before non-OB GYN research).
• Emphasize OB GYN‑relevant skills: pelvic exams, speculum exams, delivery assistance, patient counseling, fetal monitoring interpretation basics, etc.
• Use OB GYN language (e.g., “antepartum,” “intrapartum,” “postpartum,” “gynecologic oncology”) appropriately.

Where you have general experience (e.g., internal medicine), highlight transferable components:

• “Managed pregnant patients with comorbid diabetes and hypertension in internal medicine clinic.”
• “Participated in multidisciplinary rounds for pregnant women with cardiac disease.”

3. Addressing Gaps and Non-Linear Paths

Many non-US citizen IMGs have:

• Gaps awaiting exam results
• Periods focused on family responsibilities
• Years working in non-obstetric roles

Handle this gracefully:

• Briefly account for gaps in your ERAS application (Experience section or Additional Information) and personal statement rather than over-explaining on the CV.
• If you worked as a general practitioner, list it under Clinical Experience, emphasizing OB GYN‑relevant care (prenatal visits, family planning, postpartum care).
• Avoid leaving multi-year gaps completely unexplained—this invites speculation.

4. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Overly personal details (family status, religion, photo)
• Inflated titles (“Resident in OB GYN” when you were an intern or medical officer)
• Exaggerated procedural numbers that are unrealistic for your training level
• Copy-paste repetition in bullets across multiple roles
• Spelling/grammar errors—particularly in OB GYN terminology and US English
• Unprofessional email addresses or social media links

Consider having a mentor familiar with US applications—ideally an attending or senior resident in OB GYN—review your CV.

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Action Plan: How to Build Your CV for OB GYN Residency in 6–12 Months

If you’re still early in the process, use this checklist to systematically strengthen your CV:

Within 12 Months Before Applying

• Secure at least 1–2 OB GYN US clinical experiences (electives, sub-I, or observerships).
• Engage in at least one OB GYN-related research or QI project, even small.
• Take leadership or teaching roles in interest groups or student organizations, ideally linked to women’s health.
• Join professional societies (e.g., ACOG as a medical student member, if eligible; local OB GYN associations in your country).

Within 6 Months Before Applying

• Finalize your USMLE exams (Step 2 CK ideally completed).
• Polish your CV format, aligning it with ERAS structure.
• Request letters of recommendation from OB GYN faculty who have seen you clinically or academically.
• Review your CV for OB GYN focus, trimming non-essential content that doesn’t support your narrative.

1–2 Months Before ERAS Submission

• Ask two people to proofread: one for language, one for US residency expectations.
• Confirm your citizenship/visa line is accurate and consistent with ERAS.
• Cross-check all dates and titles with your ERAS application to avoid discrepancies.
• Prepare a short, 1–2 line “Professional Interests” section that resonates with your overall application.

Example:

Professional Interests

• Academic OB GYN with a focus on global maternal health disparities and quality improvement in labor and delivery.

This gives program directors an immediate sense of your long-term direction.

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FAQs: CV Building for Non-US Citizen IMGs in OB GYN

1. Should I include a photo on my CV as a non-US citizen IMG?
No. Unlike many countries, US residency applications do not require or expect photos on the CV. In ERAS, there is a separate photo upload, but your standalone CV should have no photo, no age, and no marital status. Including these can signal unfamiliarity with US norms.

2. How much OB GYN experience do I need on my CV to be competitive?
There is no strict number, but aim for:

• At least one substantial OB GYN rotation in your home country (often internship).
• At least one US-based OB GYN experience (elective, sub-I, or observership), ideally more if available.
• Some combination of OB GYN‑related research, teaching, or community work.
  More important than quantity is the coherence of your story—your CV should make it obvious that OB GYN is your priority.

3. My research is in a different field (e.g., cardiology). Should I still include it?
Yes, but keep it concise and place OB GYN or women’s health–related work first. When listing non-OB GYN research, highlight transferable skills: data analysis, statistics, critical appraisal, scientific writing, and teamwork. This still strengthens your profile as a thoughtful, evidence-based future OB GYN resident.

4. How long should my residency CV be as a foreign national medical graduate?
For most non-US citizen IMGs, 2–4 pages is ideal. If you have extensive research, presentations, or prior clinical employment, you may extend slightly, but ensure every line adds value for an OB GYN residency. Avoid padding your CV with minor certificates or non-relevant short courses; quality and relevance outweigh sheer length.

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By focusing your experiences around women’s health, organizing them clearly, and presenting them in a US-style format, you can transform your background as a non-US citizen IMG into a compelling narrative for OB GYN programs. Your CV is both your summary and your story—use it strategically to open doors in the obstetrics match and set up the strong application you deserve.