What residency applicant IMGs need to know when applying to US Family Medicine Residency Programs.

S ince 1997, international medical graduates (IMGs) have been a growing population within the entering classes of US family medicine residency programs. In 1997, IMGs made up approximately 14.5% of first-year family medicine residents. In 2009, that percentage had increased to 42.4%.1 Without a doubt there exists a diversity of perspectives regarding the relative advantages and disadvantages of increasing IMGs in US family medicine residency programs.2 IMGs bring to US family medicine programs individuals with widely varying backgrounds, skills, and levels of preparation for clinical practice in the US health system.3-5 It is natural, therefore, for IMG applicants to have had widely varying experiences and expectations as they seek to enter the US system of graduate medical education. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Division of Medical Education and the IMG Special Constituency leadership have responded to hundreds of related questions from IMGs and participate in many forums and discussions about challenges facing IMG applicants. In the interest of providing the best possible advice to IMG applicants for family medicine residency training, we offer the following recommendations: Pre-planning