April 11, 2026
Dear IMG Colleagues,
A few weeks have passed since Match Week.
For many of you, things are beginning to settle. The emotions have quieted, and whether you matched or not, you are starting to think about what comes next.
That is exactly where we want to meet you.
Because a lot has happened, and we want to make sure you are aware of where things stand and where they are going.
The Pathway Is Growing. Faster Than Most People Realize.
There are now 24 states with enacted or proposed alternate licensure pathways for internationally trained physicians. More are coming online. This is no longer a fringe idea. It is becoming a recognized and expanding component of how the United States plans to address its physician shortage.
But we want to be honest with you, because you deserve transparency.
Of those 24 states, only about 9 have truly adopted and implemented this pathway with clear rules, regulations, and operational frameworks in place. The remaining states are still working through legislation, rulemaking, and the practical questions of how to make this work on the ground.
This is not a reason for discouragement. It is a reason for patience and for participation.
The pathway is real. The momentum is real. But this work is still being built, and it requires all of us.
WeAreDocs is at the Table.
We are not waiting on the sidelines for states to figure this out. We are actively working with state legislatures and medical commissions to help educate lawmakers and healthcare organizations on how to implement this pathway effectively.
We have done significant work in building compliance frameworks, helping define supervision regulations, and creating the operational infrastructure that makes this model work in practice. This is some of the most important and least visible work we do, and it is what separates WeAreDocs from anyone else operating in this space.
Right now, we are working directly with hospitals in Louisiana and Washington State to define how specialty physician services can be delivered through the alternate pathway without requiring a U.S. residency. This is new ground. No one has fully mapped this before. And we are leading that effort.
The specialties we are currently working to define and place within this model include:
- Pulmonology (with or without Critical Care)
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Pain Management
- Neurology
- Hematology/Oncology
- Urology
- OB/GYN
- Pediatrics
- Wound Care
- Gastroenterology
If you have completed a fellowship in any of these specialties, including U.S. based fellowship training, we want to hear from you specifically. Employers in both Washington State and Louisiana are willing to sponsor visas for the right candidates. This may be the opportunity you have been waiting for.
Please reach out to us directly at info@WeAreDocs.com and tell us your specialty, your fellowship training, and your current status. We will prioritize your application.
We continue to work on expanding into additional specialties because we know every specialty is needed. If yours is not on this list, please do not lose hope. This work takes time, but we are moving intentionally and we are not stopping.
Where to Focus Your Energy Right Now.
While we continue to build out the specialty framework, we want to give you something practical and actionable.
The lowest hanging fruit in this model, the organizations that are most adaptable, most in need, and most open to implementing this pathway right now, are Federally Qualified Health Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, and Post-Acute Care facilities.
These organizations are operating in communities with severe physician shortages. They are already under pressure to find solutions. And they are far more flexible in adopting new models than large academic health systems.
Here is the key insight to remember. If an organization is already utilizing a physician assistant or nurse practitioner to fill a physician gap, they have the structural foundation to implement the alternate pathway where one exists in their state. The supervision and oversight model is already familiar to them. They just need someone to introduce it.
That someone can be you.
This work cannot be done by one organization alone. Awareness is everything right now. Every conversation you have with a clinic administrator, a hospital leader, or a colleague in healthcare moves this forward. You do not need to have all the answers. That is what we are here for.
A Personal Note.
I also want to take a moment to speak to many of you directly.
I know many of you have been waiting three to four weeks for a scheduled phone call appointment. I want you to know that I am aware of that, and I am grateful for your patience.
I made a commitment when we started this that I would speak with each of you individually. Not because it is the most scalable thing to do, but because I genuinely want to understand your journey, your training, your goals, and your circumstances so that I can help develop a plan that is tailored specifically to you. That commitment has not changed.
I am also aware that waiting weeks for a conversation is not ideal, especially when you are in a moment of uncertainty and transition. We have begun trialing group sessions as a way to reach more of you faster, and we will be expanding those moving forward. These are not a replacement for our individual conversations. They are an addition, so that no one has to wait too long to get information, clarity, and a sense of direction.
I look forward to every single call. Every time I get to hear your story, I am reminded of why this work matters. Thank you for trusting us with your journey.
What You Can Do Right Now.
If you have fellowship training in any of the specialties listed above, email us at info@WeAreDocs.com with your specialty, training background, and current status. Visa sponsorship is available and employers are ready.
If you are interested in learning more about how this pathway works and whether you qualify, fill out the form below:
And if you know a colleague who needs to hear this, forward this email to them. Share it on LinkedIn. Tag WeAreDocs. Every physician who learns about this pathway is one more step toward solving a crisis that has gone unaddressed for too long.
You are a doctor. This community is growing. And the work we are doing together is beginning to change what is possible.
We are building this, together.
Sincerely,
Sam Hsieh, MD FACS FACHE
Chief Medical Officer | Co-Founder
Physician Pathway Solutions | WeAreDocs
WeAreDocs.com