Latest news with #UnitedStatesMedicalLicensingExamination
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Can doctors from some countries work in the US without residency? Here's what we know
For decades, international medical graduates (IMGs) had one clear path to practicing in the United States: completing a US residency. That remains the rule in most of the country. But with a looming physician shortage, a growing number of states are opening new doors for foreign-trained doctors. According to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), at least 18 states have now created licensing programs that allow certain IMGs to begin practicing without first completing a full US residency. At least 18 US states have now created licensing programs that allow certain international medical graduates to start practicing without first completing a full US residency.(Representative image/Unsplash) States including Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, and Texas issue provisional licenses to doctors who already hold an active license abroad, pass the US medical exams, and work under supervision for a set period (FSMB). Also read: 'Both will have to make concessions': Marco Rubio on Ukraine-Russia peace deal How state programs are changing the rules The details vary state by state. Tennessee, for example, lets internationally trained doctors with significant prior experience practice under supervision for two years before applying for a full license. The Cato Institute notes that Florida, Virginia, and Idaho have similar pathways, designed to get qualified physicians treating patients sooner while still ensuring oversight. Other states, including Colorado and Iowa, offer re-entry or restricted licenses to IMGs. These programs allow foreign-trained physicians to practice, but often come with limits on scope. As the resource site USMLE Sarthi points out, eligibility criteria differ widely. Some states are more flexible, while others impose strict requirements before granting any independent practice rights. Also read: 'Absolutely disgusting': ICE arrest of TikToker Tatiana Martinez sparks anger on social media National standards still apply Despite state-level reforms, national rules have not gone away. The American Medical Association (AMA) stresses that all IMGs must still obtain certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which verifies that foreign degrees meet US standards (AMA). Nearly all states also require passing scores on all three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before granting a full license. The push for change comes amid mounting concerns about access to care. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the US could be short more than 40,000 primary care physicians by 2030, a gap that has many states rethinking traditional barriers (WSJ). At the same time, research published in the BMJ and highlighted by Time Magazine found that patients treated by foreign-trained doctors in the US had slightly lower mortality rates than those treated by US-trained physicians, underscoring the value IMGs can bring to the system. FAQs Can foreign doctors practice in the US without residency? In most states, residency is still required, but around 18 states now allow provisional licensing for qualified IMGs. Which states allow doctors to work without residency? States including Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Idaho, and Texas have created alternative pathways. Do IMGs still need to pass exams? Yes, ECFMG certification and USMLE exams remain mandatory nationwide. Why are states changing rules for IMGs? The reforms aim to address America's growing physician shortage, projected to exceed 40,000 doctors by 2030. Are foreign-trained doctors as qualified as US-trained ones? Studies, including one published in the BMJ, suggest that patients of foreign-trained doctors in the US had slightly better outcomes.
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Microsoft is working on a surprising way to help you live longer
Several years ago, I developed a strange disease. Too much sitting and too much stress from my IT job took its toll. Describing the symptoms is very difficult. It feels like something is moving in my calves. It is not painful, but I'd rather be in pain than feel that strange sensation. The doctors were clueless. They did all the tests. Ultrasound. Electromyoneurography. MRI of the lumbar part of the spine. The radiologist was having so much fun with me that he suggested I should also do an MRI of my brain. Related: OpenAI makes shocking move amid fierce competition, Microsoft problems I was looking for different opinions, and I never got a diagnosis. Not that specialists didn't have "great" ideas for experiments on me. That is what happens when you don't have a run-of-the-mill disease. Surprisingly, Microsoft, which isn't exactly known for being a medical company, may have a solution to finding the proper diagnosis, especially for difficult cases. Dominic King and Harsha Nori, members of the Microsoft (MSFT) Artificial Intelligence team, blogged on June 30th about their team's activities. According to them, generative AI has advanced to the point of scoring near-perfect scores on the United States Medical Licensing Examination and similar exams. But this test favors memorization over deep understanding, which isn't difficult for AI to do. The team is aware of this test's inadequacy and is working on improving the clinical reasoning of AI models, focusing on sequential diagnosis capabilities. This is the usual process you go through with the doctor: questions, tests, more questions, or tests until the diagnosis is found. Related: Analyst sends Alphabet warning amid search market shakeup They developed a Sequential Diagnosis Benchmark based on 304 recent case records published in the New England Journal of Medicine. These cases are extremely difficult to diagnose and often require multiple specialists and diagnostic tests to reach a diagnosis. What they created reminds me of the very old text-based adventure games. You can think about each of the cases they used as a level you need to complete by giving a diagnosis. You are presented with a case, and you can type in your questions or request diagnostic tests. You get responses, and you can continue with questions or tests until you figure out the diagnosis. Obviously, to know what questions to type in, you have to be a doctor. And like a proper game, it shows how much money you have spent on tests. The goal of the game is to spend the least amount of money to give the correct diagnosis. Because the game (pardon me, benchmark) is in the form of chat, it can be played by chatbots. They tested ChatGPT, Llama, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek. To better harness the power of the AI models, the team developed Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO). It emulates a virtual panel of physicians. MAI-DxO paired with OpenAI's o3 was the most efficient, correctly solving 85.5% of the NEJM benchmark cases. They also evaluated 21 practicing physicians, each with at least 5 years of clinical experience. These experts achieved a mean accuracy of 20%; however, they were denied access to colleagues and textbooks (and AI), as the team deemed such comparison to be more fair. More Tech Stocks: Amazon tries to make AI great again (or maybe for the first time)Veteran portfolio manager raises eyebrows with latest Meta Platforms moveGoogle plans major AI shift after Meta's surprising $14 billion move I strongly disagree with the idea that the comparison is fair. If a doctor is facing a difficult to diagnose issue and does not consult a colleague or refer you to a specialist, or look through his books to jog his memory, what kind of doctor is that? The team noted that further testing of MAI-DxO is needed to assess its performance on more common, everyday presentations. However, there is an asterisk. I write a lot about AI, and I think it is just pattern matching. The data on which models have been trained is typically not disclosed. If o3 has been trained on NEJM cases, it's no wonder it can solve them. The same is true if it was trained on very similar cases. Back to my issue. My friend, who is a retired pulmonologist, had a solution. Who'd ask a lung doctor for a disease affecting the legs? Well, she is also an Ayurvedic doctor and a Yoga teacher. She thinks outside the box. I was given a simple exercise that solved my problem. Years have passed, and if I stop doing it regularly, my symptoms return. What I know for sure is that no AI could ever come up with it. Another problem is that even if this tool works, and doctors start using it, they'll soon have less than a 20% success rate on the "benchmark." You lose what you don't use. Related: How Apple may solve its Google Search problem The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
The Star
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Is your education helping?
Is one school better than another, or do smart students succeed no matter where they study? One way to see if schools, universities and teachers really make a difference in learning is by measuring the impact of educational institutions using the 'value-added' approach, which looks at how much students improve over time. Instead of only focusing on final grades, it measures progress, giving a clearer picture of how well a school or teacher is performing. 'Value-added' compares what a student is expected to achieve based on their starting point with what they actually achieve by the end of a course or school year. This method focuses on improvement rather than just final scores, showing how much a student has grown academically. Traditional ways of judging schools and teachers rely heavily on test scores. However, these scores can be influenced by factors outside a school's control, like family background and early education. For example, a child from a low-income family may start school with fewer skills, while a child from a wealthier family may have an advantage. Comparing only final test scores can be unfair. The 'value-added' approach looks at progress, recognising the hard work of both students and teachers. It measures how well each child reaches their full potential. A good example of how the 'value-added' approach works in practice comes from medical schools in the United States. Students enter medical school based on their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores and graduate by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Schools that accept high-scoring students in the MCAT usually produce high-scoring graduates in the USMLE. However, some schools help students improve beyond expectations, while others underperform. If you were choosing a medical school, you would want one that not only helps students grow, but also 'adds value' to the individual. Here's a look at the benefits of using 'value added' as a measure of educational success: > Focuses on progress Instead of teaching just for test scores, schools and teachers help every student improve, no matter their starting level. This builds academic skills, confidence, and a love of learning. > Fairer for teachers Teachers work with students of different backgrounds and abilities. A great teacher may not always have the highest- scoring students, but they can still help them improve significantly. > Promotes educational fairness Schools in low-income areas are often judged unfairly based on test scores alone. The 'value-added' approach highlights schools that are helping students grow, even in challenging situations. > Helps parents make better choices Parents want the best education for their children. A school may not have the highest overall scores, but if it helps students improve a lot, it could be a great choice. > Guides policy decisions Education leaders can use the 'value-added' approach to decide where to invest resources. Schools that help students make big improvements can serve as models, while struggling schools can receive extra support. Focusing on the 'value-added' approach benefits society as well. It encourages effort and resilience – qualities that are valuable in education and the workplace. Employers appreciate candidates who have shown steady growth and the ability to overcome challenges. Of course, no single measure can fully capture the impact of education. Some critics argue that 'value-added' oversimplifies learning. However, when used alongside other methods, it provides valuable insight into student progress. It reminds us that education is not just about where students end up but also how far they have come. 'Value-added' offers a fair and meaningful way to measure the impact of schools and teachers. By focusing on student growth, it provides a clearer picture of success than traditional test scores. It recognises great teaching, encourages improvement, and helps address educational inequalities. In a world where every student's potential matters, 'value-added' is not just a trend – it is an important step towards a better and more supportive education system for all. Prof Dr David Whitford is vice-chancellor and chief executive of University of Cyberjaya. He earned a doctorate from Cambridge University and has held leadership roles in medical education. With over 70 research publications on disadvantaged communities and quality healthcare delivery, his academic journey includes positions at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin and in Bahrain, where he established community-based teaching and led postgraduate studies. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
White House withdraws Surgeon General pick over foreign medical school controversy
The White House is understood to have made the decision to withdraw Dr Janette Nesheiwat's nomination to be United States Surgeon General, the second time one of President Donald Trump's top health care policy picks has faltered before being considered by the U.S. Senate. The decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg News, comes just days before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee had been scheduled to hold a hearing on her nomination. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor who is also the sister-in-law of former Trump White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, had been selected to be one of the country's top public health official largely on the strength of her record as a television personality. But as her confirmation hearing approached, Nesheiwat had become a magnet for controversy after a CBS News report called into question whether she'd been forthright about her education and background. ADVERTISEMENT Last month, the television network reported that Nesheiwat had listed herself on LinkedIn as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, the institution where she completed her medical residency. The board-certified physician actually attended and earned her doctoral degree from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, which is located on the Caribbean island of St Maarten. It's not uncommon for Americans to attend medical schools in the Caribbean, as those schools are known as having slightly more relaxed admissions standards than schools in the United States. But those schools still teach a standard medical curriculum and award a Doctor of Medicine degree. At AUC, students complete a four-year program of two years in a classroom and an additional two years in clinical rotations at a licensed medical facility. CBS News reported Nesheiwat was enrolled there for six years, from 2000 to 2006. Completing one's medical education after studying abroad also requires passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. ADVERTISEMENT Passing the USMLE is also required for aspiring physicians to be eligible for residency programs at American hospitals, the final step in education before being permitted to practice medicine. It's at the University of Arkansas where Nesheiwat completed her medical education with a multi-year residency. Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General who served in that role during the first Trump administration, wrote on X that he did not know what was 'more troubling' to him, the possibility that 'stigma against foreign medical graduates' would have led to Nesheiwat's nomination being withdrawn, or the possibility that it would have been due to her support for vaccines. 'The FMG talk is ill informed and troubling. Much of our U.S. medical care (esp rural) depends on foreign grads. And Dr. N completed a U.S. residency (which is where you really learn how to practice medicine anyway). Hoping this doesn't stigmatize docs who trained outside U.S.,' he added.
Business Wire
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pathway Sets a New Benchmark for Specialty Medical AI with Transparent Just-in-Time Reasoning
MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pathway today announced that its proprietary large-language model (LLM) scored 96% on a validated set of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) questions, the highest accuracy yet reported for a specialized medical AI. The result strengthens Pathway's position as a leading evidence-based decision-support tool for frontline clinicians. Pathway "Deep" achieves 96 % accuracy on the USMLE, the highest publicly reported score for any medical AI model. Share In head-to-head testing, Pathway's 'Deep' AI model surpassed domain-specific peers MediSearch Pro, OpenEvidence and Hippocratic AI, and outperformed generalist systems such as ChatGPT 4o, o1, and GPT-4.5 on complex diagnostic scenarios. Independent academic validation studies are currently underway to further corroborate these groundbreaking results. Pathway attributes the performance to its transparent just-in-time reasoning pipeline, which combines retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with chain-of-thought (CoT) analysis and agentic tool calling. The architecture allows the model to evaluate multiple information sources simultaneously, surface potential knowledge gaps, generate follow-up questions, and apply clinical scoring and prediction rules—all without adding latency for the user. 'Trust and transparency are foundational for bringing AI into clinical workflows,' said Dr. Louis Mullie, Chief Medical Officer at Pathway. 'Clinicians need speed and accuracy, but they also need verifiable evidence. Pathway's assistant reveals its reasoning step-by-step and links every recommendation to expert-vetted guidelines and a comprehensive drug reference. By giving users the context to double-check dosages and key guidance, Pathway helps them leverage AI efficiently while maintaining full control over patient-safety decisions.' This milestone builds on Pathway's rapid growth and industry recognition. In 2024 Pathway became the first generative-AI medical tool to receive continuing-medical-education (CME) co-accreditation, making every clinical question asked through the platform eligible for CME credit. Earlier this year the company added HIPAA support for Pathway Plus subscribers, enabling secure, compliant integration of patient-specific data into AI queries. Pathway also recently surpassed one million registered users across more than 10,000 healthcare institutions, underscoring its widespread adoption and trust within the medical community. About Pathway Pathway helps clinicians deliver better, faster, safer care by providing instant, evidence-based answers to medical questions. With 1 million+ registered healthcare professionals spanning 10,000 care centers, the AI-powered platform has established a strong presence across the United States and internationally. To learn more or try Pathway, visit
