cpuploads333

Hey guys, so I am currently getting my med school degree in Montreal, but since I don't speak French I am planning to move to the states, but I am not too sure what the best city would be, especially in terms of finding jobs and salary. I was thinking of heading south since I am not a fan of cold weather either.

Any input would be great on most pleasant cities to live in! Thanks!!

Ackislander

Probably not the right place to look for information since most of the people who post here are more likely to be patients than medical personnel.

What is your likely specialty? When will you finish? Private practice or HMO? Or maybe not practice medicine but work in pharma or regulatory agencies.

AustinTraveler

I would like to suggest Central California, and especially San Luis Obispo County. You might not make millions but you'll be living in a beautiful area and one that needs doctors. The city of SLO is fine but I would suggest the north part of the county, like Templeton, Atascadero or Paso Robles. Doctors are needed and the living is amazing. If you like wine, you're in for a treat.

Underhill

San Diego has the fine University of California medical school and hospital, along with pleasant weather. But if you're willing to move a little on the weather, or a lot, then Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD, both of which have an abundance of good hospitals.

thursdaysd

"I am planning to move to the states"

Have you checked the immigration requirements and whether your qualifications will transfer?

If you are good to go there are several hospitals in the Research Triangle area in NC, but you may find the summers oppressive. Ditto DC and Baltimore.

IMDonehere

There are many questions you need to answer first, as to what is best

Best salary
Best for your specialty
Best chances of being associated with a teaching hospital
Rural docs are always needed

mlgb

Kaiser Permanente here in SoCal always seems to be hiring new MDs so many of their boomer aged docs are nearing mandatory retirement.

Christina

You can move almost anywhere, doctors are a very transportable profession. So it depends what "best" means to you. Of course the higher salaries will probably be in the areas with highest cost of living.

So you have to decide what kind of lifestyle you want, and what kind of social life and recreational opportunities. If you don't want cold weather, sure, there are zillions of good places in the South with good medical facilities. Florida has a lot of hospitals, so does southern California, and Texas has too many. But there is usually a good teaching hospital in any state capital.

I have no idea about which would give you the best possibility of a job, I would hope your professional contacts and school could give you a clue about that.

Some people might find Jacksonville FL a pleasant city to live in (it has a good hospital) but I would not. It really depends what you want. San Francisco and surrounding area has good hospitals, and the climate is moderate, but it costs a fortune to live there.

I think you need a special visa and you'll need training before you can be certified in the US, if you have a foreign degree. I believe you need a residency program or fellowship.

These are all things to consider. Here's one article you might peruse
http://www.seak.com/blog/uncategoriz...ysicians-make/

http://www.workpermit.com/immigratio...oreign-doctors

I'm sure plenty of other good info, I think your school should have some idea about this.

Kathie

I'd suggest choosing a city with a medical school. I live in Seattle, with the excellent University of Washington Medical School, but it has become very expensive in the last few years.

Since you are just finishing med school, I'd recommend you choose a residency in the US, which will make it easier to get a position in the US.

tomfuller

I hope we haven't scared off cpuploads333. I'll ask directly, have you read Christina's articles and given thought to them?
There are some areas in the US that have too many doctors and other areas are very under served.
I just checked on the area of Pennsylvania that I used to live in. My old doctor opened a new practice and hired several new doctors in 2003 and more since then. He still comes in from time to time if one of his doctors is out.
He is now 85.
My advice after clearing the h 1b hurdles is to find a a small practice in an under served area with a doctor who wants to retire within 5 years.

Barbara

The OP doesn't say whether he's Canadian or a US citizen studying in Canada.

Citylghts

I'll go out on a limb and call this a troll.

If the OP is just getting my med school degree in Montreal, he/she must serve at least a one-year residency before receiving a medical license (or licence).

The only two medical schools in Montreal are McGill University, the Anglophone school, and Université de Montréal, the Francophone school.

I can't imagine that McGill doesn't assign its students an advisor/counselor who meets with them for periodic academic reviews and reminds them about deadlines for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) http://www.nrmp.org or Canadian Resident Matching Service (CARMS) http://www.carms.ca/en which places graduates throughout their respective countries.

The deadline to apply through either program was in November. Prospective hospitals interview candidates, then both submit their preferences with matches for that year's graduates announced in March.

Applicants through either program agree to abide by the process and accept matches they are given. Further, I can't see a hospital accepting resident candidates outside the system because that would open a floodgate of people who wanted hospital A but were assigned to hospital D.