u/Grultos9449

Hello to all,

So, I am will be applying for Hem-Onc in 2027. I am about to finish PGY1 at a large East Coast Community program (has a good affiliation with a strong uni program, but nonetheless a community place). I am an IMG from England, Oxbridge (on H1b, but hopefully soon no visa needs). Step 1 P, Step 2 265, step 3 230.

My goal is to apply Hem-Onc. The issue is that before my main interest of H/O I was doing a post-doc and MS in cardiology/advanced cardio-onc.

DUring PGY1, I realized my goal is H/O. Therefore, I got 20 pub med index.
Now I switched completely to H/O. I am from the UK and part of a large Head and Neck research group. We already submitted 3 abstracts to ESMO, 2 to European Head and Neck Meetings, 1 to ASCO and are preparing 3 more to the next ASCO.

I am aiming for mid-tier programs (I am aware that I cannot match at the big cancer centers).
Some seniors say that my previous post doc and publication history can be a dealbreaker for some programs, but for me it was an advantage (taught me how to do complex stats independently and translational animal research as well).

Do you think this will be a big disadvantage for the application season and what else can I do to stand out? How do I argue for my switch? What other recommendations do you have?

Edit: I am in Philadelphia by the way. If anyone wants to switch with the south, please dm me. I have family in the south and would love to leave Philly.

Hello to all,

I am working on increasing my competitiveness hem/onc fellowship. I am currently finishing PGY 1 as an IMG in a large community program unfortunately (our match was good though).

I am trying to be as competitive as possible. I have a step 1 pass, step 2 260s and step 3 230s, still on H1b, but hopefully soon without visa requirement.

I have two hem onc mentors. I am from London originally and my research is focused on head and neck cancer. I have 15-20 cardio-onc publications, but switched my research fully to oncology. I have 5 esmo abstracts and 3 ASCO abstracts, all about head and neck with my UK research groups.

I have a couple of manuscripts on the way as well.
Besides getting good letters, which I think I can secure, what else can be done to overcome the handicaps?

I would prefer to match in mid-tier academic program, preferably in the Midwest or deep south (family reasons).

I would appreciate any advice.

Hello to all,

I have a general question. So me and my wife dated for 1.5 years, and then had our engagement and then married and filed our petition. We never had the option to live together, because I unfortunately had to do my medical residency in another state and she as a structural engineer was unable to find job in the East Coast. When we filed our I-130, we had strong affidavits, ample picture evidence, joint finances such as life insurance etc. to prove our marriage. We also now have joint tax returns and joint financial assets if they ask for an RFE. We visit each other almost monthly etc.

Our PD is June 2025 and we have not had any interviews yet. My wife also naturalizes soon. She is an engineer and I am an academic physician from the UK.

Will this be a bug problem for us. Obviously, we are bona fide, but our job situation is complicating everything for us at the moment.

Hello to all,

I have a general question. So me and my wife dated for 1.5 years, and then had our engagement and then married and filed our petition. We never had the option to live together, because I unfortunately had to do my medical residency in another state and she as a structural engineer was unable to find job in the East Coast. When we filed our I-130, we had strong affidavits, ample picture evidence, joint finances such as life insurance etc. to prove our marriage. We also now have joint tax returns and joint financial assets if they ask for an RFE. We visit each other almost monthly etc.

Our PD is June 2025 and we have not had any interviews yet. My wife also naturalizes soon. She is an engineer and I am an academic physician from the UK.

Will this be a bug problem for us. Obviously, we are bona fide, but our job situation is complicating everything for us at the moment.

Hello to all,

I am a closing up my PGY1 year. I am an IMG from the UK at a community program in Philly (community but not as bad as some of the other ones).

I am aiming at Hem/Onc. I have ample research (over 20 pub med indexed cardiology papers). My interest switched to Hem-Onc, after doing cardio-onc research. I now have 4 more hem-onc publications and submissions to ASCO and ESMO. I have a step 1 pass and step 2 260ish.
I am continuing research with a robust UK onc group from my med school in London.

Is matching in NYC or in general any hem onc program feasible?
I would appreciate feedback and advise from some people here? The community background is really holding me back, but I am trying my best.

Thank you :)