
Doc Ock
2K posts





Hello #MedTwitter, My name is Ziad Khalifa, a non-US IMG from Egypt. I graduated in 2021 and currently work as a cardiology resident in my final year of training. I'm ECFMG certified and completed my USMLE Steps in 2023. Despite my efforts and sacrifices, I have faced five US visa refusals, and I went unmatched this cycle. I would truly appreciate any insight on how to get past this bottleneck. I know I still need US clinical experience (USCE) and Step 3, and I’m seeking guidance from those who have been in a similar situation. It’s been a difficult journey, and at times, it feels like all the effort and financial investment may have been in vain, but I’m still trying to find a way forward. At this point, I’m unsure whether I should keep applying for the visa again or if I need to take a different approach before trying. Any advice from those with experience would mean a lot. #USMLE #MATCH #MATCH2026 #IMG @ProjectImg @StoriesImg



Hello #MedTwitter, My name is Ziad Khalifa, a non-US IMG from Egypt. I graduated in 2021 and currently work as a cardiology resident in my final year of training. I'm ECFMG certified and completed my USMLE Steps in 2023. Despite my efforts and sacrifices, I have faced five US visa refusals, and I went unmatched this cycle. I would truly appreciate any insight on how to get past this bottleneck. I know I still need US clinical experience (USCE) and Step 3, and I’m seeking guidance from those who have been in a similar situation. It’s been a difficult journey, and at times, it feels like all the effort and financial investment may have been in vain, but I’m still trying to find a way forward. At this point, I’m unsure whether I should keep applying for the visa again or if I need to take a different approach before trying. Any advice from those with experience would mean a lot. #USMLE #MATCH #MATCH2026 #IMG @ProjectImg @StoriesImg



The problem is more upstream than the residency match or IMGs. Did you know that 52,000 American premed students apply to medical school and 30,000 are rejected not on basis of qualification? Did you know almost 20% w 3.7 GPA and > 517 MCAT? Want to know the culprit? Post inc…


“We need foreign medical students to take care of our most vulnerable!” 88% of residents who match in Internal Medicine abandon primary care and go on to specialize. 24% of those spots are handed to foreigners.












The AMA advocates increased scholarships to foreigners attending US medical schools. This is a resolution passed at their June 2025 House of Delegates meeting.



