Dear Colleagues,
Today we want to talk about something that might seem small at first, but actually carries a lot of weight.
Language shapes perception. And perception shapes opportunity.
For a long time, the term International Medical Graduate, or IMG, has been used to describe physicians who completed their medical training outside the United States. It is a familiar term. Many of you have used it to describe yourselves for years.
But increasingly, across this movement, you will start to see another term used alongside it, and in many cases in place of it.
Internationally Trained Physician. ITP.
Why This Shift Matters.
The term IMG centers on where someone graduated. It implies, even unintentionally, that the most important fact about a physician is the location of their diploma.
The term ITP centers on something different. It centers on training. On clinical experience. On the years spent caring for real patients, often under demanding conditions, often with limited resources, and often with outcomes that rival or exceed what is seen in U.S. training programs.
This is not just a branding exercise. WeAreDocs is reframing our identity.
You are not defined by where you graduated. You are defined by the physician you have become.
Policy makers, medical boards, and healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting ITP as the preferred terminology because it more accurately reflects what these pathways are actually evaluating. Not pedigree. Competence. Not geography. Capability.
As this movement continues to gain legitimacy at the state and national level, the language we use matters. WeAreDocs will be incorporating ITP into our communications going forward, alongside IMG, as this terminology becomes more widely recognized across the industry.
You trained. You practiced. We are doctors. The term should reflect that truth.
Community Spotlight: Dr. Win Mar Lar Kyin.
We want to take a moment to recognize someone who embodies everything this movement is about.
Dr. Win Mar Lar Kyin continues to be a spotlight within this community. She has been an incredible advocate for this pathway, helping spread the word throughout her own network and showing up consistently in support of the broader alternate pathway effort. Her energy and generosity in lifting up other physicians on this same journey have not gone unnoticed.
Most recently, Dr. Kyin was featured by World Education Services in a piece discussing the physician shortage facing the United States. You can see the feature here:
This is exactly the kind of visibility this movement needs. A physician with real training, real experience, and real determination, being recognized by one of the most respected organizations in this space. We are proud to have her as part of this community, and we hope her story inspires others to share their own.
If you have a story worth telling, do not be afraid to share it. The world needs to hear from physicians like you.
Traction Is Happening.
Awareness is the first step of this entire pathway, and we want you to see exactly how that awareness is being built.
We are actively attending conferences and board meetings across the country to introduce this pathway to organizations that may not yet know it exists.
We have begun early conversations with MultiCare in Washington State. There are no guarantees yet, but every conversation is a seed, and this is exactly how awareness turns into action.
We are also speaking with employers in Texas to build traction in a state with one of the largest physician shortages in the country and real potential for this pathway to grow.
On June 26th, we will be holding our first workshop with the Whitetulip Health Foundation alongside Dr. Servet Tatli and Dr. Lutfullah Baskoy. Together we will be introducing this pathway to their organization and discussing how it can be implemented to address the physician needs they are facing.
We are also in active conversations with several organizations on the East Coast, introducing this model to a part of the country that has not yet seen widespread adoption.
None of these conversations guarantee an outcome. But every single one moves this pathway forward. Every conversation plants something. And we are planting everywhere we can.
This is what momentum looks like in its early stages. Quiet conversations. Repeated introductions. Persistence in rooms where this idea is brand new. Traction is happening, and you are part of the reason we have the credibility to walk into these rooms in the first place.
To Those Who Have Joined Us and Are Still Waiting.
We want to say something directly to those of you who joined WeAreDocs early, submitted your information, and have not yet heard about a specific opportunity that fits your background.
We have not forgotten about you.
This pathway is growing quickly, but it is not growing evenly. Some specialties have more open doors right now than others. Some states are moving faster than others. If your specialty or location has not aligned with an active opportunity yet, that is not a reflection of your value as a physician. It simply means the right door has not opened yet.
It will.
We are working every single day to expand the number of doors available, and your information remains active in our system. The moment something aligns with your background, you will hear from us.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you have questions, concerns, or just want an update on where things stand, email us anytime at info@WeAreDocs.com. You are not waiting in silence. You are waiting with a team that is actively working on your behalf.
This movement continues to grow because of language that reflects who you really are, because of conversations happening in rooms across this country, because of physicians like Dr. Kyin who lift up others along the way, and because of physicians like you who keep showing up even when the timeline is uncertain.
You are a physician. Trained. Tested. Ready.
And we are not done yet.
Schedule to speak with us if you haven’t already done so:
Join Our NetworkFollow us on LinkedIn at WeAreDocs to stay connected, and visit https://wearedocs.com/articles/ anytime to catch up on what you may have missed.
With gratitude,
Sam Hsieh, MD FACS FACHE
Chief Medical Officer | Co-Founder
Physician Pathway Solutions | WeAreDocs
WeAreDocs.com