Comments on: Answers to Readers’ Questions

By: Julian J Alfaro MD

Julian J Alfaro MD — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:24:37 +0000

I attended Universidad de Montemorelos in Nuevo Leon Mexico and graduated in 1994, passing the Mexican National Exam for Residency training is not that difficult, that’s why I don’t agree with Enrico, I took mine for Emergency Medicine without preparing myself and I ended up being the first one of 400 candidates, most of the Mexican Medical Grads pass this test, of course there are other that can’t, same as in the US. Residency training in Mexico is very different from the US,is very intensive, they are on call q2 or q3, no hours restrictions,if in Grand Rounds you don’t know an asnwer from an attendin question then be prepared to stay on call for another night.Those guys from US come here and do only 4 years without completing the whole 5 years in Med School plus the 2 extra years for internship and social service,so they don’t get their Med School Diploma and the chance to obtain their Mexican Medical License,but what the heck, they only want the transcripts to move to the US to continue their journey there, in my case I came to the US in 1997, I took the USMLE’s, passed them and did my Residency Training at UCLA. I really enjoyed the US Residency Training system it is very complete and is pretty much settle to make you a stronger medical professional once you done with your training.

By: Lyn

Lyn — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:23:44 +0000

I need Enrico to contact me. I am student at UAG. Please contact me by email.

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:38:37 +0000

so far so good. I’ve read a bit here and your blog seems interesting enough to post as one of my favorites on my blog. Good luck to you and your family. I really admire your determination and I believe there will be some great places for you in the world.

By: medschoolmom

medschoolmom — Sat, 05 May 2007 11:39:38 +0000

I applaud you for pursuing your dream, and wish you the best in completing medical school and getting to a great place where you can practice medicine. You probably know the old joke: What do you call a med student who graduated last in his class? Doctor. (Pre-USMLE) My new version: What do you call a Mexico med student who passes the US medical boards? Doctor. As a resident of rural Oregon, I can tell you, if a doctor knows what he’s doing, treats patients with dignity, and shows up sober, he can have a thriving practice. Most patients don’t care where you went to medical school, because we know about the licensing exam.

As our daughter paced herself through undergrad to achieve her dream of med school (atypically, through a math and philosophy major), we, her parents, encouraged her to not obsess about being admitted to an American school. We believed that if her dream was to be doctor, she should be willing to go to Mexico, Italy or the Caribbean in order to achieve it. In fact, we kinda liked the idea of visiting her there. She was admitted to an American school as it happens (what a crapshoot THAT is) but I would NEVER have thought of her, or anyone else attending a foreign school, as “second rate”. How can that be, when they’re handling not only med school, but a new culture?

I encourage you, and mapisa2381 to stay proud, and work hard. Good luck.

By: mapisa2381

mapisa2381 — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:36:28 +0000

I dont have anything incredibly insightful to say, but I wanted to leave a comment because I was particularly impressed at your answer to the last personal question. I have just moved to Dominica to attend Ross University for practically identical reasons that you have explained. For a long time I was embarrassed of my decision to attend a foreign medical school because some people reacted so negatively to the idea and instantly judged me as “second rate”. Thankfully I have gotten over that and I am so happy to be here pursuing my dream. However, I know there will always be people out there (including potential employers) who will believe that I am not a smart doctor because of where I received my degree. It is nice to be reminded that there are intelligent, driven people out there (like you) who will make excellent physicians without the ivy league medical degree.

By: Noma Khumalo

Noma Khumalo — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:13:23 +0000

I’m a south african student wanting to study medicine away from south africa. Do you think Mexico is a good idea?

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:06:29 +0000

I have really enjoyed searching through your page. My husband is seriously considering going to UAG. I’ve read that you’re married as well, but from what I’ve read it sounds like your wife and daughter live in Texas. If so why did you both decide to take that route?

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:59:48 +0000

Hi you are my first hope at an answer.. My ex who is from Guadalajara is currently living in San Francisco and as of January began having symptoms of Acute Chronic pain. It has developed so badly that he is now wheel chair bound and the doctors after Thousands of texts are stumped…. I am writing pleading if anyone In Mexico has heard of symptoms like this? If you have heard similar cases please help…. He is 24 yrs old was very fit until this year.
Thank you!

By: Rose

Rose — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:18:22 +0000

Just a quick question how old do you have to be before you start med school in Mexico? What is the typical age you start? Is it possible for an 18 year old to start medical school?

By: M Carnalla

M Carnalla — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:22:22 +0000

Hi, I read an interview in Medscape Med Students and I got here. I think you chose the worst(well, maybe not the worst, but a pretty bad) university to study medicine. I’m a med student myself, I’m in UNAM, believe me it’s different there. I just think you made a bad choice, you could have gone to UNAM o the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi (UAP), anyway.. that’s just me. If you ever come to the medicine’s faculty of unam, I’ll gladly give you a tour. bye.

By: Punchberry

Punchberry — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 14:15:24 +0000

Thoughtful answers and another great post! Good luck with the upcoming year!