A Primer on General Surgery Applicants Who Have Graduated From Indian Medical Schools

Background: Graduates of Indian medical schools account for the greatest proportion of non-US born international medical graduates applying to general surgery residency programs. Purpose: Provide information to facilitate fair and holistic review of applicants from Indian medical schools. Research Design: Comprehensive review of the Indian medical education system, including history, regulatory agencies, medical school admission, curriculum, cultural differences, immigration issues, and outcomes after residency. Results: The Indian medical education system is one of the world’s oldest. The number of medical schools and graduates continues to increase. Medical school admission criteria are variable. Recent regulatory changes have improved the quality of applicants entering the US. Emphasis on academic performance over volunteerism as well as communication styles differ from US graduates. The success of graduates during and after residency is well documented. Conclusions: Understanding the differences in the US and Indian medical education systems will provide a basis for the fair evaluation of applicants.