American Academy of Research and Academics

Why Medical Research Matters for USMLE & Residency Match Success

IMG Research, Mentorship & Publication!

Listen here:
shttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/WZY3gO6pC3b

Name the surgical landmark circled in black.

Specialties Where Most IMGs Matched in Match 2026!

Top Specialties for Non-U.S. IMGs(Match 2026)
1. Internal Medicine with 3,448 Matches
2. Family Medicine with 962 Matches
3. Pediatrics with 684 Matches
4. Psychiatry with 222 Matches
5. Surgery (Preliminary) with 218 Matches
6. Neurology with 175 Matches
7. Pathology with 170 Matches
8. Medicine (Preliminary) with 129 Matches
9. General Surgery (Categorical) with 128 Matches
10. Transitional Year with 110 Matches

🚨 What Step 2 CK Score Is Competitive for IMGs?

📍 230 - 239
• Competitive for FM, Pathology, Psychiatry, Community IM
• Strong USCE and broad applications are crucial
• Limited options for academic and surgical specialties

📍 240 - 249
• The most common matched IMG range
• Strong for IM, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Neurology, and Pathology
• Application quality becomes the deciding factor

📍 250 - 255
• Competitive for Academic IM
• Opens Anesthesiology and Radiology opportunities
• Supports strong Emergency Medicine applications
• Still only a starting point for highly competitive surgical fields

📍 260+
• Exceptional score range
• Interview gains begin to plateau
• Research, USCE, and LoRs matter more than extra points

A high score helps, but strategy, US clinical experience, strong letters, and a smart program list ultimately determine Match success.

Highlights From Our Weekly Free Live Virtual Event!
أبرز ما جاء في فعاليتنا الافتراضية المجانية الأسبوعية!

Our Chief Guest discusses the importance of physical examination & various examination clues that can lead us to the diagnosis.
يناقش ضيفنا الرئيسي أهمية الفحص السريري والعلامات والفحوصات السريرية المختلفة التي قد تقودنا إلى التشخيص الصحيح.

During this insightful session, attendees gain practical knowledge from an experienced physician while exploring key clinical concepts and real-world applications.
خلال هذه الجلسة الثرية، يكتسب المشاركون معرفة عملية من طبيب ذي خبرة، مع استكشاف المفاهيم السريرية الأساسية وتطبيقاتها في الممارسة الواقعية.

Join our weekly virtual events to learn from distinguished guests, expand your medical knowledge, and stay connected with the latest educational discussions.
انضموا إلى فعالياتنا الافتراضية الأسبوعية للتعلم من ضيوف متميزين، وتوسيع معارفكم الطبية، والبقاء على اطلاع بأحدث المناقشات التعليمية.

Stay tuned for upcoming sessions.
ترقبوا جلساتنا القادمة.

Top 10 Highest-Paid Residency Specialties in the USA (Average Annual Resident Salary)

1️⃣ Neurosurgery
• Average: $75,000 - $85,000/year
• 7-year residency program
• Highest-paid residency specialty overall
2️⃣ Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Average: $73,000 - $82,000/year
• 6 - 7 years of training
• Highly demanding surgical field
3️⃣ Interventional Cardiology (Fellowship Level)
• Average: $70,000 - $79,000/year
• Advanced procedural training
4️⃣ Plastic Surgery
• Average: $70,000 - $78,000/year
• Competitive and lengthy training pathway
5️⃣ Vascular Surgery
• Average: $70,000 - $78,000/year
• Complex surgical procedures and extended residency
6️⃣ Orthopedic Surgery
• Average: $70,000 - $78,000/year
• One of the most competitive specialties
7️⃣ Interventional Radiology
• Average: $67,000 - $77,000/year
• Procedure-heavy specialty with strong compensation
8️⃣ Otolaryngology (ENT)
• Average: $67,000 - $76,000/year
• Surgical specialty with high demand
9️⃣ Radiation Oncology
• Average: $67,000 - $75,000/year
• Technology-driven specialty
🔟 Neurology
• Average: $67,000 - $74,000/year
• Growing demand and expanding subspecialties

Dilated, tortuous veins radiating from the umbilicus are shown.

What is this clinical sign?

A. Spider Angioma
B. Caput Medusae
C. Cullen Sign
D. Grey Turner Sign

Hint: Portal hypertension.

📢 New J-1 Residents & Fellows!
🚫 Don’t Apply for Your SSN Too Early!

Starting residency or fellowship in the United States on a J-1 visa? Before applying for a Social Security Number (SSN), ensure that your arrival has been officially validated in SEVIS.

- Reach out to your Training Program Liaison (TPL) immediately after arriving in the U.S.
- Submit the required documentation confirming your J-1 status.
- Log in to your MyIntealth account and monitor your J-1 Visa Sponsorship application for SEVIS validation updates.
- Watch for a confirmation email notifying you that your validation has been completed.

Intealth advises J-1 physicians to wait 11 business days after SEVIS validation before submitting an SSN application.

Applying before validation is finalized can lead to avoidable delays and administrative complications. Completing these steps promptly will help make your transition into residency or fellowship much smoother.

Comment your answers below!

Highlights From Our Weekly Free Live Virtual Event!

Our Chief Guest discusses the different grades of esophageal injury, explaining how these injuries are classified and why accurate assessment is important for patient care and treatment planning.

During this insightful session, attendees gain practical knowledge from an experienced physician while exploring key clinical concepts and real-world applications.

Join our weekly virtual events to learn from distinguished guests, expand your medical knowledge, and stay connected with the latest educational discussions. Stay tuned for upcoming sessions.

¡Aspectos Destacados de Nuestro Evento Virtual Semanal Gratuito en Vivo!

Nuestro Invitado Principal analiza los diferentes grados de lesión esofágica, explicando cómo se clasifican estas lesiones y por qué una evaluación precisa es importante para la atención del paciente y la planificación del tratamiento.

Durante esta sesión informativa, los asistentes adquieren conocimientos prácticos de un médico experimentado mientras exploran conceptos clínicos clave y sus aplicaciones en situaciones reales.

Únase a nuestros eventos virtuales semanales para aprender de invitados distinguidos, ampliar sus conocimientos médicos y mantenerse al día con las últimas discusiones educativas. Manténgase atento a las próximas sesiones.