Holding on and letting go: acculturation versus biculturalism among international medical graduates in residency training

Abstract

Acculturation is perhaps the most difficult problem many international medical graduates (IMGs) face during their training in the USA. Yet little is known about how residents and fellows progress through this aspect in the adaptation process. This study is an attempt to understand the acculturation process in the USA for IMGs by using a demographic survey and the General Ethnicity Questionnaire. In our study, IMGs reported fewer struggles with general adaptation, perhaps due to pre-residency experience living in the USA. International medical graduates generally embrace a life blended from the best of their country of origin and appreciated qualities found in the USA. Training programs focusing on the celebration of diversity in communities may further enhance adaptation and acculturation to life in the USA.

Keywords:

• residency training
• international medical graduates
• cultural adaptation
• biculturalism
• acculturation

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank Blake Merrian and Jennifer Olsafsky for all their help in the editing of the manuscript.