The Star Malaysia - Star2

Consider specialist training in the US

-

MALAYSIA is one of the few countries that produces a large number of medical doctors. Every year, countless number of medical students graduate and search for the next step in postgradua­te studies. The sad truth is most are trapped in a grey zone after they graduate.

In Malaysia, after completing housemansh­ip, these young graduates try to make their way to the top of their field but unfortunat­ely, most do not get to the next step because of the constant use of the same pathway.

Most medical graduates pursue postgradua­te studies in countries like Australia and the UK, overlookin­g the fact that the United States Medical Licensing Examinatio­n (USMLE) is an alternate pathway to achieve their specialist career.

Kaplan, being the premier test-prepping centre in the US, prepares medical students worldwide for the USMLE. Kaplan Medical in Malaysia programme specialist, Hareen Theivasiga­many, provides free seminars and university talks on the declining number of medical physicians in the US and lack of specialist­s in Malaysia.

Last year, the Health Ministry emphasised the shortage of specialist­s in Malaysia and advised medical graduates to venture into alternate pathways to receive specialist training. The declining supply of physicians in the US presents an opportunit­y for internatio­nal medical graduates to pursue their specialisa­tion and practice in the US.

The flexible three-step specialist licensing examinatio­n provides everything a medical student or graduate needs to become a proficient specialist.

Students can even sit for the first part of the USMLE exams in Malaysia. Upon completing the USMLE exams and residency (paid specialist training in the US), students can practise in fields such as surgery, cardiology, orthopaedi­cs, dermatolog­y and more.

The beauty of the USMLE is that students can sit for the first profession­al exam while in medical school. Also, there is no financial bonding to the programme.

This allows them to become a specialist by the age of 30.

Nugrahan is the national representa­tive of Kaplan Medical here in Malaysia and has assisted many medical students in becoming specialist­s in the US.

The USMLE and US residency process is the most efficient pathway to become a specialist.

Since 2012, many Malaysian medical graduates from both local and internatio­nal medical universiti­es have successful­ly attained a residency position in US hospitals through Kaplan and Nugrahan.

■ Call now to receive a free oneon-one consultati­on about the USMLE and specialist training in the US. Contact Hareen at 016377 2853 or e-mail your queries to hareen.kaplan@gmail.com.

You may also contact 03-2166 2740 or 1800 222 939 or check out https://www.facebook.com/ nugrahanus­mle

 ??  ?? The United States Medical Licensing Examinatio­n (USMLE) is an alternate pathway Malaysian medical students can opt for to pursue their specialisa­tion.
The United States Medical Licensing Examinatio­n (USMLE) is an alternate pathway Malaysian medical students can opt for to pursue their specialisa­tion.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malaysia