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| Preface to the Second Edition | |
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| Preface to the First Edition | |
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| Evaluating Yourself | |
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| Four categories of IMGs: where do you belong? | |
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| Out of touch with medicine for a while? | |
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| Why do you want to go to the US? | |
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| Goal setting | |
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| Time table for the examination preparation | |
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| Professional goals | |
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| Getting to the United States | |
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| "Achieving" the visa--strategic moves | |
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| Refusal of visa | |
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| Types of visa | |
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| About Form DF-156 | |
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| Preparing for the Exams | |
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| Who needs to take the exams? | |
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| Obstacles facing IMG Examinees | |
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| Computer based testing (CBT) | |
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| Why CBT? USMLE's perspective | |
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| The Sylvan center | |
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| Registration | |
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| Rescheduling the exam | |
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| Reexamination | |
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| Where to take the test? | |
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| Dressing for the exam | |
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| Time management during the exams | |
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| Long vignettes: A method to the madness | |
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| A Few Last Things to Remember | |
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| USMLE Step 1 | |
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| Eligibility criteria for step 1 | |
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| What is WHO World Directory of Medical Schools? | |
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| Medical education credentials | |
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| Application process | |
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| Completing the application form | |
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| Paying the USMLE fee | |
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| Step 1, the exam | |
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| Pass/fail statistics | |
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| Course outlines | |
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| Topics likely to be overlooked by IMGs | |
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| What if I fail? | |
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| USMLE Step 2 | |
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| Eligibility criteria for USMLE 2 | |
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| Application process | |
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| Step 2, the exam | |
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| Pass/fail statistics | |
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| Course outlines | |
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| Compensating for different teaching styles | |
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| Topics likely to be overlooked by IMGs | |
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| What if I fail? | |
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| English Exam (TOEFL) | |
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| Importance of having a good grasp of English | |
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| Pros and cons of computerized TOEFL | |
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| Application process | |
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| Scheduling | |
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| TOEFL, the test | |
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| Preparing for TOEFL | |
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| Clinical Skills Assessment Exam | |
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| Stated purpose of CSA | |
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| Issues surrounding the CSA | |
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| Who needs to take CSA? | |
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| Eligibility criteria for CSA | |
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| Application process | |
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| Scheduling the test | |
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| Scheduling strategy | |
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| Timing the application for a visa | |
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| Making your travel arrangements | |
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| CSA, the exam | |
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| What is a SP? | |
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| Things not to do while working on each case | |
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| Scoring components | |
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| Step-by-step approach to doing well on the CSA | |
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| Use of abbreviations | |
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| Not sure of your command of English? | |
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| USMLE Step 3 | |
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| Registration | |
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| Scheduling | |
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| Computer based testing (CBT) | |
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| Computerese | |
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| Pass/fail statistics | |
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| Step 3: The exam | |
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| CCS, an introduction | |
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| Preparing for the exam | |
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| Getting into a Residency Program | |
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| The problem of low scores | |
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| Application process | |
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| What is ERAS? | |
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| How does ERAS work? | |
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| Computerese | |
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| Getting the application material | |
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| Eligibility criteria for applying through ERAS | |
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| Fees | |
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| Installation | |
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| Key issues raised by the introduction of ERAS | |
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| Choosing among the programs | |
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| Deciding where to apply | |
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| National residency matching program (NRMP) | |
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| Interview process | |
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| To the Program Directors | |
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| Building Your Nest | |
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| Getting a Social Security number | |
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| A thing called credit history | |
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| Finding a place to live | |
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| Obtaining a driver's license | |
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| Arranging for telephone service | |
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| Getting your wheels | |
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| Lining up car insurance | |
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| Opening a bank account | |
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| Enrolling in a health insurance plan | |
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| Finding your compatriots | |
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| Getting to know your town or city | |
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| Survival Skills | |
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| Your first month in residency | |
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| Frequently asked questions on an on-call day (or night) | |
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| Learning to function as a public relations (PR) person | |
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| Dealing with the members of your team | |
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| Surviving the ICU rotation | |
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| Getting Through the Residency | |
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| History taking, American style | |
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| Physical examination | |
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| H&P and daily progress notes | |
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| Electrocardiography (EKG) | |
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| The Mentor Program | |
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| How to get the maximum out of a rotation? | |
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| Clinical examination test | |
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| Evaluation | |
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| Some Distinctive Features of the Practice of Medicine in the United States | |
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| Ethics, patient rights and legal issues | |
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| Evidence based medicine | |
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| Computers in medicine | |
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| The Second Year of Residency | |
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| Fellowship hunting | |
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| The IMG Perspective | |
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| Timeline | |
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| Factors influencing acceptance into a fellowship program | |
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| Becoming a senior resident | |
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| Resident as teacher | |
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| The Final Year | |
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| Getting ready to go back home | |
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| Continuing with a fellowship | |
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| Job hunt | |
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| Your visa type | |
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| Your job options | |
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| An IMG's job hunt | |
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| CPT tangles | |
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| Your Contract--the fine print | |
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| Buying a house | |
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| Moving | |
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| Board certification | |
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| Licensing boards | |
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| Polishing the rough edges | |
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| Appendix | |
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| Important Organizations and Agencies | |
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| Web Addresses | |
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| Index | |