How Trump Has Made the Doctor Shortage Worse
The administration is backing off one part of its sweeping immigration crackdown on overseas physicians, but applicants worry it may be too late to meet the critical residency and fellowship start date on July 1.
Illustration: André Derainne for Bloomberg Businessweek
Paskay, a physician born in Nigeria, had one year left in his internal medicine residency at a Philadelphia hospital last June when his H-1B status expired. After an eight-month grace period and no word from the US government on his renewal application, the hospital placed him on leave in February. His patients have been transferred to other doctors, adding to their already busy schedules, while he’s stuck at home waiting.
Now short on the required training hours, he might not be allowed to sit for the board exams that would let him move on to a fellowship in July. Paskay, who asked to have his nickname used to protect his safety, says he’s just about ready to give up on the US medical system: He’s now exploring positions in Australia.