Essential Questions for IMGs Pursuing Global Health Residency Programs

Residency interviews are not only about programs evaluating you—they’re also your best opportunity to evaluate them. As an international medical graduate (IMG) interested in global health, the questions you ask programs can make the difference between a generic residency experience and one that truly prepares you for a career in international medicine.

This IMG residency guide focuses specifically on questions to ask programs—and why those questions matter—so you can walk into interviews confident, focused, and prepared.

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Why Your Questions Matter (Especially as an IMG in Global Health)

Programs pay close attention to the kinds of questions you ask. Thoughtful questions:

• Show that you have done your homework
• Demonstrate maturity and long-term planning
• Signal genuine interest in global health residency tracks and their resources
• Help you assess whether a program understands and supports the unique needs of international medical graduates

As an IMG, you may face added challenges: visa sponsorship, differing clinical training background, cultural adaptation, and navigating a new health system. For global health–oriented applicants, you must also assess whether the program can realistically support meaningful international work during residency without compromising your core training.

Your questions should help you answer:

1. Will this program support my career goals in global health and international medicine?
2. Does this environment support IMGs socially, professionally, and structurally (visa, onboarding, mentorship)?
3. What is it actually like to train here day-to-day?
4. How does the program respond to challenges and support resident well-being?

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Core Strategy: How to Plan Your Questions

Before we get into specific question lists, use this simple framework:

Ask targeted questions to three main groups:

1. Program leadership (Program Director, Associate PDs, Chair)
2. Current residents (especially IMGs and those in global health tracks)
3. Support staff (coordinators, GME office, visa office, sometimes faculty advisors)

And organize your questions into these categories:

• Global health & international medicine opportunities
• IMG support and integration
• Education, supervision, and culture
• Logistics: visas, contracts, and scheduling
• Career outcomes and mentorship
• Well-being and resident support

You don’t need to ask every question. Select 10–15 that matter most to you, and adapt them to each program based on what you already know from their website or virtual info sessions.

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Questions About Global Health & International Medicine Opportunities

If you’re applying with a clear interest in global health, you must look beyond labels. Many programs advertise global health, but the depth and structure vary widely.

For Program Directors and Faculty

1. “Can you describe the structure of your global health residency track or pathway?”
Follow-up points:

• Is it a formal track with a curriculum, or an informal collection of electives?
• Are there required didactics or certificate programs?
• Is there dedicated mentorship in global health?

2. “How much protected time is available for global health activities during residency?”
Clarify:

• Number of elective weeks that can be spent abroad or on domestic global health/underserved projects
• Whether these electives are truly protected (no last-minute cancellations to cover service)

3. “What types of international partnerships does your program currently have?”
Ask:

• Which countries/institutions?
• How long have these partnerships existed?
• Are they longitudinal and bidirectional (visits in both directions), or short-term, one-way electives?

4. “How are global health experiences funded?”
Key points:

• Are travel, housing, or per-diem costs covered?
• Are there internal grants, scholarships, or stipends for global health projects?
• Is funding consistent year-to-year, or dependent on variable grants?

5. “How do you ensure that international rotations are ethically and educationally sound?”
Look for:

• Pre-departure training (culture, ethics, safety, scope of practice)
• Supervision on-site
• Avoiding ‘medical tourism’ and ensuring host community benefit

6. “Can residents in the global health track still meet all ACGME and board requirements on time?”
You need reassurance that:

• Your global health engagement won’t delay graduation
• The program has experience successfully doing this for previous residents

7. “What proportion of current residents are engaged in global health work, and what are some examples of recent projects?”
This gives you:

• A sense of how active the track really is
• Specific examples you can follow up on with residents

For Current Residents

8. “How easy is it in practice to get approval for global health electives?”
Ask:

• Did they need to fight for them, or was the process smooth?
• Were there any last-minute cancellations?

9. “What support do you receive before and after going abroad?”
Look for:

• Pre-departure orientation, security briefings, occupational health guidance
• Debrief sessions upon return

10. “Do you feel your global health work is integrated into your overall training, or does it feel like an extra burden?”
You want:

• Integrated, supported experiences—not burnout and extra work on your own time only.

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Questions About IMG Support, Visa, and Integration

As an international medical graduate, you must evaluate how experienced the program is with IMGs and how they handle visas, onboarding, and cultural integration.

For Program Directors or GME/Program Coordinators

11. “How many IMGs are currently in the program, and what has been your experience training international medical graduates?”
Clarify:

• Rough proportion of IMGs in each class
• How long they have been taking IMGs
• Examples of IMG successes in the program

12. “What types of visas do you sponsor, and how consistent has that sponsorship been over the years?”
Key details:

• J-1 vs H-1B (if offered), and any restrictions
• Whether they have ever reversed course and stopped H-1B sponsorship mid-cycle
• Who handles visa-related questions (in-house legal, GME office, external counsel)

13. “Can you walk me through the timeline for visa processing for incoming residents?”
You want to know:

• When they usually start the process
• How they support applicants who are still awaiting exams, ECFMG certification, or other paperwork

14. “Do you provide any structured orientation or support specifically for new IMGs?”
Examples:

• US clinical documentation training (EPIC, notes, coding)
• Communication coaching (hand-offs, calling consults, difficult conversations)
• Sessions on US healthcare system and culture

15. “How do you support residents who may be adjusting to a new country and healthcare system simultaneously?”
Look for:

• Formal mentoring, buddy systems
• Social support, wellness resources, cultural sensitivity

For Current IMG Residents

16. “What were the biggest challenges you faced as an IMG here, and how did the program respond?”
This reveals:

• How transparent and supportive the culture is
• Whether problems were ignored or actively addressed

17. “How comfortable do you feel with supervision, feedback, and expectations as an IMG?”
You’re assessing:

• Whether IMGs feel judged unfairly or fully integrated
• Whether there are extra supports early on (e.g., close supervision early in PGY-1)

18. “Did you ever feel disadvantaged compared to US grads here? If so, in what ways?”
Listen for:

• Honest examples of bias or challenges
• Also examples of solutions and advocacy from leadership

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Questions About Education, Supervision, and Program Culture

You want to ensure that the training environment will be safe, supportive, and conducive to growth—which is especially important when you’re adapting to both a new specialty context and a new health system.

For Program Directors and Faculty

19. “How would you describe your program’s teaching philosophy?”
Pay attention to:

• Balance between service and education
• Attitudes towards feedback and resident autonomy

20. “What does supervision look like for interns, particularly early in the year?”
Clarify:

• In-house attending vs senior resident coverage
• How quickly they grant independence

21. “How does your program give feedback to residents, and how often?”
Seek:

• Structured evaluations plus informal feedback
• Openness to upward feedback from residents

22. “How do you handle residents who are struggling academically or clinically?”
You want to hear:

• Clear remediation processes
• Early identification and supportive interventions
• Not punishment or shame

23. “What changes have you made to the program in the last 3–5 years based on resident feedback?”
This tells you:

• Whether the program is responsive and evolving
• Specific examples (e.g., modified call schedule, added wellness resources)

For Current Residents

24. “On a typical day, how much of your time is true learning versus pure service?”
Ask for:

• Concrete examples of an inpatient day and call shifts
• A sense of whether workload allows for learning and global health projects

25. “How approachable are faculty, especially when you’re unsure or need help?”
Listen for:

• Stories of supportive attendings
• Or red flags about intimidation and fear

26. “Do residents feel comfortable speaking up about concerns, including patient safety or mistreatment?”
You want:

• Psychological safety
• Transparent examples of issues raised and addressed

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Questions to Ask About Career Outcomes, Research, and Long-Term Global Health Pathways

Your residency should position you for the next step—whether that’s fellowship, academic global health, work with NGOs, or practicing in underserved regions.

For Program Directors and Faculty

27. “What have recent graduates interested in global health gone on to do?”
Look for:

• Fellowship placements (ID, global health, health policy, etc.)
• Careers in NGOs, WHO, MSF, academic global health roles
• Examples of IMGs achieving these outcomes

28. “Are there formal mentors or a mentorship structure for residents pursuing global health careers?”
Ask:

• How mentors are assigned
• Whether there are faculty with protected global health time
• If you can start mentorship early (PGY-1)

29. “What types of global health research or scholarly projects are available to residents?”
Clarify:

• Ongoing projects and how residents plug into them
• Opportunities for abstracts, publications, and conferences
• Support for IRB, data analysis, and writing

30. “How does the program support residents to attend conferences, especially in global health or international medicine?”
You want to know:

• Stipends for travel/registration
• Time off for presentations
• Any preference for presentations vs poster attendance

31. “Do you collaborate with schools of public health, global health centers, or international organizations?”
This affects:

• Your exposure to interdisciplinary learning
• Access to dual-degree or certificate programs (e.g., MPH, global health certificates)

For Current Residents

32. “How easy is it to get involved in research as an IMG here?”
Ask:

• Whether mentorship and projects are realistically accessible
• If IMGs have successfully published and presented at conferences

33. “Have you felt supported in exploring different career paths, including global health-focused positions or fellowships?”
Look for:

• Career advising
• Faculty support for letters and networking

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Practical Logistics: Schedule, Location, and Daily Life Considerations

Your life outside the hospital matters—immensely. For IMGs, you may have additional factors: distance from your home country’s consulate, specific community support, or cost of living.

For Program Directors and Coordinators

34. “How flexible is the schedule for residents participating in the global health track?”
Clarify:

• Whether global health electives cluster toward certain years
• How they handle re-entry after time abroad (jet lag, transitions, call schedules)

35. “Are there any restrictions on international travel for residents—for example, related to visas, malpractice, or institutional policies?”
You need to know:

• Approval process for out-of-country rotations
• Whether J-1 or H-1B restrictions affect global health electives

36. “What support do you offer residents who may need to travel internationally for family emergencies?”
For IMGs, this is critical:

• Flexibility in urgent situations
• Use of vacation days, schedule swaps, and program culture around this

For Current Residents

37. “How manageable is the cost of living here on a resident salary?”
Ask:

• Typical rent ranges
• Commute options and parking
• Whether many residents share housing

38. “What is the general culture among residents outside of work?”
You want:

• Whether there is a supportive community
• Inclusion of IMGs in social events and informal networks

39. “If you could change one thing about this program, what would it be?”
Often the most honest and revealing question—listen carefully to the answers.

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How to Phrase Questions to Program Directors vs. Residents

The same topic can be approached differently depending on whom you’re asking:

• To Program Director (more formal, systems-focused):
  “How does the program support IMGs in adapting to the US healthcare system?”

• To Residents (more personal, experience-focused):
  “As an IMG, what support actually helped you most when you started here?”

Consider also:

• Avoid yes/no questions; make them open-ended.
• Show you’ve done your homework:
  • “I saw on your website that you have a global health track with rotations in Kenya and Haiti. Can you tell me how residents typically fit these experiences into their schedules?”
• Use follow-up questions to go deeper into issues you care about.

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Organizing and Using Your Questions Before and After Interviews

To make your questions work for you:

1. Create a one-page overview for each program

   • Key features (location, size, global health track details)
   • Specific items you want to confirm or clarify

2. Prepare 5–7 “must-ask” questions per program

   • Mix of global health, IMG concerns, culture, and career outcomes
   • Prioritize those not answered elsewhere (website, open houses)

3. During interview day

   • Ask leadership higher-level structural questions
   • Ask residents for the “unfiltered reality” and concrete examples

4. Immediately after each interview

   • Write down answers while fresh:
     • Global health opportunities: realistic or mostly marketing?
     • IMG support: strong, average, or minimal?
     • Culture: supportive vs. competitive/toxic?
   • Use these notes later when finalizing your rank list

5. Compare programs using your personal priorities

   • For example, rank each on a 1–5 scale for:
     • IMG friendliness
     • Strength of global health track
     • Visa reliability
     • Resident happiness and support

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Sample Question Sets for Different Parts of the Interview Day

Here’s how you might structure your questions in a typical day:

To the Program Director (PD) or Associate PD

• “How do you envision the role of global health within your residency’s mission?”
• “What kinds of global health projects have residents completed in the last few years?”
• “How do you support IMGs specifically in transitioning to practice here, both clinically and culturally?”
• “Can you tell me about your recent graduates who are working in global health or underserved settings now?”
• “What feedback have you gotten from current residents about the global health track, and how have you responded to it?”

To Current Residents (Especially IMGs and Global Health Track Residents)

• “What made you choose this program over others, especially regarding global health?”
• “Have you felt well supported as an IMG here—academically, socially, and with visa/administrative issues?”
• “How many residents realistically participate in international rotations or global health research?”
• “Do you feel the workload is compatible with maintaining global health involvement?”
• “If you were back in my position, knowing what you know now, what questions would you ask about this program?”

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Turning Your Questions Into a Strong Impression

Thoughtful questions not only give you information; they also demonstrate your readiness for residency in global health.

To maximize your impact:

• Connect questions to your story

  • “As someone who has worked in rural clinics in [country], I’m very interested in ongoing, longitudinal global health partnerships. Could you tell me how residents typically stay engaged with the same site over time?”

• Show awareness of realities and limitations

  • “I know that residency is busy and service-heavy. Realistically, how many weeks do residents typically spend in global health activities over the course of training?”

• Demonstrate concern for ethics and sustainability in global health

  • “How do you ensure that international rotations are beneficial for your partners and not just for visiting trainees?”

• Signal long-term commitment to the specialty and setting

  • “My long-term goal is to work in [type of global/underserved setting]. How do you see your program helping residents prepare for those career paths?”

By asking smart, targeted questions, you position yourself as a serious candidate who understands both the privileges and responsibilities of training in global health as an IMG.

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FAQs: Questions to Ask Programs for IMG Applicants in Global Health

1. How many questions should I ask during each residency interview?
Aim for 2–4 well-chosen questions per interview segment (PD, faculty, residents). It’s better to ask fewer, thoughtful questions than many superficial ones. Prioritize what you cannot find online and what truly matters to you: global health structure, IMG support, and culture.

2. Is it appropriate to ask directly about visas and IMG support?
Yes. Visa sponsorship and IMG support are critical, objective factors. You can phrase them professionally:

• “Could you clarify what types of visas you currently sponsor for residents?”
• “How experienced is your program with IMGs, and what resources are available to support their transition?”
  These are standard, appropriate interview questions for them as program representatives.

3. What are the most important questions to ask a program director specifically?
Focus on “big picture” topics:

• Overall educational philosophy and culture
• Structure and sustainability of the global health residency track
• Long-term outcomes for residents interested in international medicine
• How the program responds to resident feedback and challenges
  Framing matters; think in terms of what to ask program director to understand if the system will support your goals.

4. How can I avoid asking questions that are already answered on the website?
Before the interview:

• Review program website, global health pages, and FAQs
• Note anything unclear or incomplete
  Then convert that into deeper questions. For example, if the website says “we offer international electives,” ask:
• “I saw that you offer international electives in your global health track. Could you share more about how those sites are selected and how residents are prepared for them?”
  This shows initiative and deeper engagement, rather than missing information that’s already public.

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By preparing intentional, well-researched questions, you transform your interviews from passive Q&A sessions into genuine, two-way conversations. That’s how you find the residency that not only accepts you as an international medical graduate—but truly equips you for an impactful career in global health.