Are you wondering how IMG-friendly (or unfriendly) plastic surgery is as a US medical specialty? Do you want to know your chances of matching in this highly competitive field? Would you love to figure out what plastic surgery programs an IMG would stand the best chance?
This article will give you the most up-to-date information on IMG-friendly plastic surgery programs. Use this information to strategize on whether – and where – to apply to maximize your chances of matching as an IMG in plastic surgery.
Summary:
- Plastic surgery is among the least IMG-friendly US medical specialties.
- However, many of the top plastic surgery programs have at least some IMGs.
- Some plastic surgery programs have a moderate number of IMGs, including Brown (17% IMGs) and Carilion (17% IMGs).
- In addition, some programs favor US IMGs while others prefer non-US IMGs.
- See the full list of searchable residency programs to strategize where IMGs have recently been the most welcome.
- Be sure to bookmark this page – and sign up for the newsletter – to keep up with the latest residency and USMLE trends and maximize your chances of matching.
Table of Contents
What is an IMG Again?
Let’s start with some definitions.
IMG: International Medical Graduate
- You attended a medical school outside of the United States and Canada
US- vs. Non-US IMGs
IMGs consist of two sub-groups:
- US-IMGs: US Citizens or permanent residents who attended a “foreign” medical school. Example: someone born in the US but went to a Caribbean medical school (a non-US school).
- Non-US IMGs: Non-US citizens or permanent residents who attended a “foreign” medical school. Example: someone born in South Korea, who does not have US citizenship or a green card, and who went to medical school in South Korea.
NRMP: “National Resident Matching Program®”
- The organization that administers the “Match.” In the Match, the NRMP pairs residency applicants with a residency program.
Note that “International Medical Graduate” (IMG) refers to the medical school you attended. Thus, a foreign citizen who attends a US medical school is NOT an IMG. However, a US citizen attending a med school outside the US would be considered an IMG. (Technically, s/he would be a US IMG).
For more on how IMGs can attain residency in the US, see The IMG’s Guide to Obtaining Residency in the United States (2022).
Plastic Surgery is Not IMG-Friendly
Looking at the percentage of spots filled by IMGs in the 2022 Match, we can see that plastic surgery is among the least IMG-friendly specialties. Only five specialties had a lower proportion of positions filled by IMGs.
Similarly, the match rate for IMGs in plastic surgery is among the lowest of all the specialties in the 2022 Match:
Here are the same data represented in a table:
| % Spots Filled by IMGs | % Spots Filled by US IMGs | % Spots Filled by non-US IMGs | Total Positions Offered | Total # All Applicants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | 8% | 3% | 4% | 1,969 | 2,560 |
| Child Neurology | 15% | 4% | 11% | 188 | 182 |
| Dermatology | 3% | 1% | 1% | 544 | 834 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 8% | 2% | 6% | 1,155 | 1,568 |
| Emergency Medicine | 7% | 6% | 1% | 2,921 | 2,813 |
| Family Medicine | 21% | 13% | 8% | 4,916 | 5,055 |
| General Surgery | 9% | 3% | 5% | 1,622 | 2,400 |
| Internal Medicine | 36% | 9% | 25% | 9,809 | 11,598 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 5% | 2% | 2% | 392 | 458 |
| Interventional Radiology | 2% | 0% | 2% | 169 | 226 |
| Neurological Surgery | 8% | 1% | 7% | 240 | 379 |
| Neurology | 25% | 5% | 18% | 1,014 | 1,249 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 5% | 2% | 3% | 1,503 | 2,044 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 2% | 1% | 1% | 875 | 1,435 |
| Otolaryngology | |||||
| Pathology | 41% | 7% | 31% | 631 | 827 |
| Pediatrics | 18% | 7% | 11% | 3,016 | 3,153 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 6% | 2% | 3% | 532 | 725 |
| Plastic Surgery | 6% | 1% | 4% | 194 | 340 |
| Psychiatry | 15% | 7% | 6% | 2,047 | 2,560 |
| Radiation Oncology | 11% | 5% | 7% | 185 | 162 |
| Vascular Surgery | 7% | 0% | 7% | 84 | 143 |
For more on the most IMG-friendly medical specialties, see this article.
The Most IMG-Friendly Plastic Surgery Residency Programs
While plastic surgery as a field is not very IMG-friendly, the same cannot be said of every plastic surgery residency program. For example, four plastic surgery residencies in the most recent GME census had IMG percentages of 10% or higher: Brown (17%), Carilion (17%), Oregon (13%) and Baylor (11%).
Here is a list of the most (and least) IMG-friendly plastic surgery programs. It includes data from the most recent National GME Census Survey. Percentages are of all residents in the program in 2020.
| ACGME residency program code | Residency program name | City | State | % residents IMG (US + Non-US) | % residents US-citizen IMGs | % residents non-US-citizen IMGs | % residents US MD graduates | % residents US DO graduates | Program consider applicants with J-1 visa? | Program consider applicants with H-1B visa? | Program consider applicants with F-1 Visa (OPT 1st year)? | # of positions offered (2021 NRMP Main Match) | # of positions (2021 NRMP Main Match) | # of applications submitted to this program in 2021 | % of applicants interviewed by the program in 2020 | Average hours/week in year one that resident works (excluding beeper call) | Maximum consecutive hours resident is allowed to work in year one (excluding beeper call) | Program allows residents (beyond PGY1) to moonlight? | % of training spent in year 1 in hospital outpatient clinics | % of training spent in year 1 in ambulatory nonhospital community-based settings | Average hours/week in year one of program spent in structured didactic activities (e.g., lectures, conferences) | Program curriculum includes a dedicated research rotation | Percentage of completed residents with non-academic U.S. practice career plans | Percentage of completed residents with plans to continue training in another program | Percentage of completed residents with plans to obtain a full-time or part-time academic position | Percentage of completed residents with other career plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3624300150 | Brown University Program | Providence | RI | 17 | 17 | 0 | 83 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 272 | 5.7 | 80 | 16 | No | 30 | 6 | OPT | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625100154 | Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Program | Roanoke | VA | 17 | 17 | 0 | 83 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 241 | 12.5 | 60 | 16 | No | 10 | 4 | OPT | 0 | 33 | 67 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624000148 | Oregon Health & Science University Program | Portland | OR | 13 | 13 | 0 | 88 | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 | 3 | 266 | 10.8 | 80 | 24 | No | 4 | REQ | 60 | 40 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624831099 | Baylor College of Medicine Program | Houston | TX | 11 | 0 | 11 | 89 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | 3 | 279 | 9.3 | 80 | 16 | No | 25 | 5 | 3 | OPT | 33 | 67 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623600156 | University of North Carolina Hospitals Program | Chapel Hill | NC | 8 | 8 | 0 | 92 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 274 | 13.1 | 65 | 16 | No | 20 | 20 | 5 | NA | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624821130 | Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Medical Center (Temple) Program | Temple | TX | 8 | 0 | 8 | 92 | 0 | No | No | No | 2 | 2 | 251 | 10.8 | 60 | 24 | Yes | 50 | 0 | 6 | REQ | 25 | 75 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623300151 | Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School Program | Newark | NJ | 6 | 6 | 0 | 94 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 266 | 10.1 | 72 | 24 | No | 20 | 3 | NA | 20 | 80 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500155 | NYU Grossman School of Medicine Program | New York | NY | 5 | 0 | 5 | 95 | 0 | Yes | No | Yes | 4 | 4 | 262 | 14 | 60 | 24 | No | 20 | 20 | 2 | NA | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625621109 | University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Program | Madison | WI | 5 | 5 | 0 | 95 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | 3 | 268 | 19.2 | 70 | 24 | No | 15 | 0 | 5 | REQ | 50 | 33 | 0 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621112140 | University of South Florida Morsani Program | Tampa | FL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 88 | 8 | Yes | 4 | 4 | 261 | 16.6 | 80 | 16 | No | 25 | 4 | NA | 0 | 0 | 83 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623800149 | Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program | Cleveland | OH | 4 | 0 | 4 | 87 | 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4 | 4 | 286 | 13.4 | 75 | 16 | Yes | 15 | 3 | REQ | 20 | 40 | 0 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624821097 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Program | Dallas | TX | 4 | 0 | 4 | 96 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 5 | 5 | 266 | 13.8 | 65 | 28 | No | 15 | 5 | NA | 14 | 57 | 29 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3620100001 | University of Alabama Hospital Program | Birmingham | AL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621100002 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Program | Jacksonville | FL | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 | 40 | 24 | No | 85 | 0 | 4 | REQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621100159 | University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program | Miami | FL | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 265 | 12.5 | 60 | 24 | No | 20 | 20 | 5 | NA | 0 | 50 | 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621200001 | Emory University School of Medicine Program | Atlanta | GA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 2 | 272 | 7.8 | 80 | 16 | Yes | 40 | 20 | 3 | NA | 33 | 0 | 0 | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621600001 | University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago Program | Chicago | IL | 0 | Yes | No | No | 80 | 14 | No | 30 | 10 | 4 | OPT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621600146 | University of Chicago Program | Chicago | IL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | Yes | 3 | 3 | 283 | 12.9 | 65 | 24 | No | 17 | 10 | 4 | REQ | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3621600147 | Loyola University Medical Center Program | Maywood | IL | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 236 | 13.4 | 48 | 24 | No | 25 | 5 | NA | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623200001 | Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital Program | Lebanon | NH | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 | 1 | 239 | 10.2 | 65 | 24 | No | 20 | 3 | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623300152 | Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital Program | Camden | NJ | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 234 | 9.9 | 70 | 24 | No | 5 | 10 | 4 | REQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623400001 | University of New Mexico School of Medicine Program | Albuquerque | NM | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 212 | 7.2 | 70 | 12 | No | 20 | 10 | 4 | REQ | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500142 | Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Program | New Hyde Park | NY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | No | No | No | 3 | 3 | 262 | 11 | 70 | 16 | No | 5 | NA | 25 | 75 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500145 | University of Rochester Program | Rochester | NY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 253 | 18.6 | 72 | 24 | No | 10 | 5 | 3 | OPT | 40 | 60 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500152 | New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) Program | New York | NY | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 270 | 11 | 65 | 16 | No | 25 | 10 | 3 | NA | 33 | 67 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500154 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Program | New York | NY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | 3 | 3 | 274 | 11.2 | 70 | No | 15 | 8 | NA | 0 | 60 | 20 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500157 | Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University Program | Bronx | NY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | Yes | No | 2 | 2 | 266 | 13.1 | 65 | 16 | No | 25 | 15 | 4 | NA | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623500158 | Nassau University Medical Center/Stony Brook University Program | Garden City | NY | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 236 | 12.8 | 72 | 24 | No | 10 | NA | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623521055 | Albany Medical Center Program | Albany | NY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 8 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 248 | 11.4 | 60 | 24 | No | 5 | 0 | 4 | REQ | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623600155 | Duke University Hospital Program | Durham | NC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | 3 | 281 | 9.6 | 65 | 16 | No | 21 | 10 | REQ | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623611074 | Wake Forest University School of Medicine Program | Winston-Salem | NC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | 3 | 262 | 14.7 | 80 | 12 | No | 75 | 15 | 6 | REQ | 75 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623800144 | Wright State University Program | Dayton | OH | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 205 | 12.8 | 60 | 26 | Yes | 10 | 30 | 12 | REQ | 0 | 50 | 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623821081 | Ohio State University Hospital Program | Columbus | OH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 4 | 4 | 271 | 10.3 | 75 | 16 | No | 20 | 10 | 4 | REQ | 33 | 67 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3623821112 | University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine Program | Cincinnati | OH | 0 | No | No | No | 1 | 1 | 238 | 7.1 | 72 | 24 | No | 10 | 5 | NA | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624100159 | University of Pennsylvania Health System Program | Philadelphia | PA | 0 | 3 | 3 | 273 | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624100161 | Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine Program | Allentown | PA | 0 | No | No | No | 1 | 1 | 223 | 8.9 | 78 | 24 | No | 5 | 5 | 5 | NA | 0 | 50 | 0 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624100162 | Geisinger Health System Program | Danville | PA | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 212 | 9.2 | 70 | 24 | No | 20 | 5 | 3 | REQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624121087 | Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program | Hershey | PA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 262 | 10.8 | 75 | 16 | No | 20 | 10 | 5 | OPT | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624121090 | UPMC Medical Education Program | Pittsburgh | PA | 0 | 3 | 3 | 281 | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624500001 | Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine Program | Charleston | SC | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 246 | 6.5 | 60 | 24 | No | 10 | 10 | 3 | NA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624500002 | Prisma Health/University of South Carolina SOM Columbia (Columbia) Program | Columbia | SC | 0 | No | No | No | 1 | 1 | 213 | 11.7 | 74 | 24 | No | 0 | 2 | REQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624700002 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program | Nashville | TN | 0 | Yes | Yes | No | 1 | 1 | 267 | 50 | 30 | No | 10 | 2 | OPT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624800001 | University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Program | Houston | TX | 0 | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624811098 | University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals Program | Galveston | TX | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 4 | 4 | 253 | 19.1 | 56 | 24 | No | 20 | 5 | OPT | 25 | 50 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3624900001 | University of Utah Health Program | Salt Lake City | UT | 0 | Yes | No | No | 3 | 3 | 247 | 10.2 | 50 | 16 | No | 30 | 20 | 5 | REQ | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625100153 | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program | Richmond | VA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 249 | 14.5 | 75 | 24 | Yes | REQ | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625100155 | Eastern Virginia Medical School Program | Norfolk | VA | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 80 | No | 8 | OPT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625111104 | University of Virginia Medical Center Program | Charlottesville | VA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 277 | 12.6 | 70 | 14 | No | 20 | 4 | REQ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625400147 | University of Washington Program | Seattle | WA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 | 5 | 271 | 12.4 | 80 | 12 | No | 10 | 4 | NA | 50 | 0 | 13 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625500001 | West Virginia University School of Medicine Program | Morgantown | WV | 0 | Yes | No | No | 1 | 1 | 209 | 23.3 | 65 | 24 | No | 20 | 5 | OPT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3625621110 | Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Program | Milwaukee | WI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | Yes | No | No | 2 | 2 | 251 | 11 | 70 | 16 | No | 20 | 6 | NA | 75 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
Concluding Thoughts
Plastic surgery is among the least IMG-friendly of fields. That said, for the top of the top applicants, there are still places for IMGs. Moreover, one of the most prestigious programs counts IMGs among their residents.
Are you despairing at your chances of matching into plastic surgery as an IMG? Then, check out Never Forget, where you can learn how to master – not memorize – for the impressive USMLE scores to match at your dream residency. And if you’re looking for a residency advisor, look at our residency advisory services.
