IMG Track to Offer Wisdom on the ‘Lifespan of One’s Career’

It may be an anxious time for International Medical Graduates (IMG) in psychiatry, but for the next few days, meeting attendees can select from a plethora of IMG-tailored sessions that will offer guidance on how to successfully navigate their career while maintaining well-being.

“The sessions are geared toward having a broad appeal while honing in on topics that are of interest and relevance for IMG members,” said track chair Tanuja Gandhi, M.D., an adult, child, and forensic psychiatrist and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Brown University. “The track will capture the lifespan of one’s career, from finding a residency or fellowship position to becoming a seasoned psychiatrist.”

Three sessions on Monday will feature presentations about career transitions, including how to obtain residency and fellowship training, find mentors, move into a first job, and build a practice.

• Navigating the Road Ahead: Career Transitions Part 2: From Early Career to Seasoned Psychiatrists.
  Monday, May 19, 8 – 9:30 a.m. PT, Room 406B
• Dress for Success: How International Medical Graduates Can Navigate Their Career Paths in Psychiatry
  Monday, May 19, 1:30 – 3 p.m. PT, Room 402B
• Navigating the Road Ahead: Career Transitions Part 1: Residency to Practice
  Monday, May 19, 3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. PT, Room 406A

“It is hard to know where to start in the process and how to develop contacts professionally,” said track co-chair Vanita Sahasranaman, M.D., a psychiatrist at Henderson Behavioral Health, a community mental health center in south Florida. “It can be anxiety-inducing to apply for residency and fellowship positions.”

The strategies presented in the IMG Track will align with the Annual Meeting’s overall theme of “Lifestyle for Positive Mental and Physical Health.” Sessions will offer pointers on addressing discrimination, burnout, and other challenges in the workplace, and discuss how psychiatrists can help themselves and their immigrant patients via promoting cultural identity and social connectedness. ■

(Image: Getty Images/iStock/piola666)