Trying To Help A Thai Doctor To Work Abroad...any Ideas?

[caulfield2]

She has finished six years at Chulalongkorn Medical program, one year of internship and now is in her 3rd month of emergency room residency at a private hospital here in Chonburi.

She's my "private" student now at a language school...if she wants to work abroad, what ideas should I give her?

Of course, she can take the TOEFL or IELTS, but she's not trying to get into a medical school or study program, she's already past that point...I guess she's essentially looking for opportunities to practice medicine outside of Thailand in places where she would have to speak English everyday or improve her English and possibly be able to work at a foreign hospital in the future.

I thought about programs like Doctors Without Borders, but I'm not sure if they would accept a resident, and her English skills (while very good for Thailand), still need improvement.

But something along the lines of a medical volunteer program where she could either work in an English-speaking country or work with other doctors/nurses who would speak to her in English as the primary means of communication?

For instance, most of the doctors from abroad doing volunteer work in West Africa have to speak English and/or French there.

Other ideas? South Africa? India? Australia/New Zealand? Ireland/Scotland/UK? Canada? US? Belize? Mali? Philippines?

My friend who works in BKK says many Thais study at Stanford, in Seattle and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but she's not looking to enter a medical program, she's more looking for a "TEACHING HOSPITAL" I think. I don't have the feeling her current hospital, while a private one, gives her the mentors she needs....she mostly picked it because her family wanted her to live at home and be close, from my understanding.

Maybe the Philippines would be a good idea...she would have to speak ENG there, in Manila, for example.

[Garret]

Her Medical College would have all the information she needs I would think. I know a lot of Thai doctors go abroad to practice. I also know that in western countries all foreign grads have to pass a test just to qualify for a residencey program. Maybe it's to soon for her to think about leaving maybe she should be qualified 100% then look for a job abroad.......

[noahvail]

As far as the US goes, she would not only have to pass a test, but be retrained unless her university is on the 'accepted' list of a given state's requirements. I new a married couple, both fully qualified doctors in the former Yugoslavia, he a specialist surgeon. They were both really good, and had good English. But they had to re-qualify. The big hospital in my state wanted them, and provided them with quarters while they retrained; and got them jobs in the hospital cafeteria. To their credit, they worked hard at those jobs, worked hard at retraining, kept a positive outlook, and in a year had their positions in the hospital. Real people, up against hard times, had to give them credit.

In New Zealand, they're begging for doctors. The 'brain drain' has hit. Not much money, but lots of opportunity.

Don't know about the other countries.

edit: last line added

Edited September 8, 2009 by noahvail

[mrtoad]

In New Zealand, they're begging for doctors. The 'brain drain' has hit. Not much money, but lots of opportunity.

But they will still need a 7.0 score in IELTS.

[reallyok]

In New Zealand, they're begging for doctors. The 'brain drain' has hit. Not much money, but lots of opportunity.

But they will still need a 7.0 score in IELTS.

How about trying the Queensland State Health department (Aust). They claim to be recruiting doctors from overseas and believe me the climate and lifestyle is far better than anything that NZ can offer !

[flightcrew1]

Well if she graduated from Chulalakorn and want's to leave the country she will have to pay back the Thai government for her medical school education. I know this as several friends are Thai doctors. Also it seems surprising that she does not know how to go about getting a fellowship or some time of internship abroad. I'm sure her medical school friends or advisors could assist.

[DP25]

I'm sure her medical school friends or advisors could assist.

No, I think asking Thai Visa Forum is the way to go here.