March 9, 2026
Dear IMG Colleagues,
This week is Match Week. I know many of you are experiencing a mix of excitement, anticipation, and nervousness as results approach. I sincerely wish each of you the very best and hope you match into the residency program you have been working toward.
But if things do not go as planned, please do not lose hope or become discouraged.
Every year, many highly qualified International Medical Graduates do not match, despite strong exam scores, clinical experience, and years of dedication. Often this is not a reflection of your ability as a physician, but simply a reflection of how competitive and limited the system has become.
Not matching does not mean your journey as a doctor is over.
You are a doctor.
You trained for this profession. You studied, sacrificed, and committed years of your life to caring for patients. That identity does not disappear because of one result.
What many people do not realize is that several states are now developing alternate physician licensure pathways that allow qualified IMG physicians to practice medicine under supervision without completing a traditional U.S. residency. These pathways are expanding as more states recognize the growing physician shortage and the need for qualified doctors. A great example is the State of California that are ready to enact theirs.
Through Physician Pathway Solutions and the WeAreDocs platform, we have been working with healthcare organizations that are willing to adopt this model. These organizations are actively seeking motivated physicians to serve in their communities, particularly in areas experiencing physician shortages.
Through this pathway, physicians are able to begin practicing in structured clinical environments while working toward full licensure depending on the state’s requirements.
We have already helped place many IMG physicians into real physician roles through these programs, and more opportunities continue to develop as awareness grows.
In some cases, we have even worked with clinics willing to sponsor visas for candidates through this pathway. These opportunities arise when the right physicians connect with organizations that are open to new solutions for addressing workforce shortages.
If you know of a clinic or healthcare organization that believes in your abilities and would be willing to support you, we are happy to guide both you and the employer through the process. We help organizations understand the pathway, build the supervision model, and implement the program successfully. This can include but not limited to service lines such as Family Practice, Internal medicine, Post-acute, Sleep clinics, Hospitalist, or Behavior Health
Most importantly, please remember this:
You are not a medical scribe.
You are not a medical assistant.
You are not a technician.
You are a doctor.
And there are still pathways that can help you reach your goal of practicing medicine in the United States.
If you are interested in learning more about how this pathway works and whether you may qualify, please complete the form below. Once submitted, we will schedule a time to speak with you directly. Remember to also follow us on Linkedlin and facebook.
No matter what happens during Match Week, your journey as a physician does not have to end here.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sam Hsieh, MD FACS FACHE
Chief Medical Officer | Co-Founder
Physician Pathway Solutions | WeAreDocs
WeAreDocs.com