During International Medical Graduate (IMG) Physicians Recognition Week, Oct. 20-24, 2025, AMA honors and celebrates IMG physicians who are a vital component of the physician workforce and the AMA.
IMG physicians play a critical role in the delivery of health care services. Having a disruption to the flow of IMGs who practice medicine in the U. S. would cause a tremendous change in medicine and affect the lives of patients.
Join us and participate in IMG Recognition Week by showing the value of your IMG physicians.
The AMA is the IMGs' powerful ally
The AMA helps physicians build a better future for medicine, advocating in the courts and on the Hill to remove obstacles to patient care and confront today’s greatest health crises.
- Learn more about AMA's advocacy
- AMA sent several letters to the administration and other federal entities to expedite visa processing and reduce the barriers and hindrances for IMGs practicing medicine in the U.S.
- In September 2025, AMA lead a coordinated effort urging the Trump administration to waive the H-1B fee that would exacerbate access to care in underserved and rural areas. The AMA will continue to provide updates as efforts progress to safeguard the International Medical Graduate workforce and protect patient access to care.
- In September 2025, AMA sent a letter to the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to lift the J-1 Visa waiver pause.
- On Sept. 24, 2025, AMA sent a comment letter on behalf of the physician and medical student members of the AMA: "I appreciate the opportunity to offer our comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning DHS Docket No. ICEB-2025-0001: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media."
- On April 11, 2025, AMA sent a comment letter to the U. S. House of Representatives on behalf of the physician and medical student members of the AMA: "I want to express our support for H.R. 1201, the “Doctors in our Borders Act,” which would expand the number of Conrad 30 waivers a state or regional commission can receive from 30 to 100."
- On March 26, 2025, AMA sent a comment letter to the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate on behalf of the 45 undersigned organizations: "We are writing to strongly support the introduction of the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (S. 709)."
- On Nov. 20, 2024, AMA sent a letter on behalf of the 38 undersigned organizations: "We are writing to strongly support inclusion of the bipartisan Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4942/S. 665) and Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (H.R. 6025/S. 3211) in the end-of-year package. There are positive developments with the introduction of Conrad 30 reform legislation and our efforts to secure cosponsorships and to continue to build support in Congress. AMA will continue to seize any opportunity to advance it and will continue to advocate on immigration and other issues that affect IMGs."
- On Aug. 4, 2023, the AMA sent a letter expressing our support for H.R. 4942, the “Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act,” which would reauthorize and make targeted improvements to the J-1 visa waiver program in a manner that helps alleviate the shortage of physicians, especially in rural and underserved areas, and promotes a more diversified workforce.
- On Aug. 1, 2023, the AMA signed onto a letter supporting the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4942). Continuation of this program is especially critical for specialties that train a high number of IMGs who come to the United States on J-1 visas to complete their residency. Without a Conrad 30 waiver, these visas require this category of IMGs to return to their country of origin for at least two years before applying for another visa or green card. The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize this crucial program for three years, make several targeted policy improvements and permit the gradual expansion of the number of waivers granted to each state.
- AMA provided resources regarding subsidies, visa processing/delays, visas affecting families, unlicensed physicians in the U.S., current physicians practicing medicine and licensing examinations.
IMG Recognition Week webinar
Navigating IMG Journeys: From Training to Leadership
This webinar will be held Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Central and will feature several prominent IMGs who will discuss their journeys to becoming physicians and excelling to medical society/organizational leadership positions.
Speakers
- Jayesh Shah, MD, president, Texas Medical Association
- Luis Isea Mercado, MD, assistant program director, internal medicine residency, AdventHealth Orlando
- Shivani Mehta, Washington University of Health and Science; chief of staff and executive team supervisor, Project IMG
Moderator
- Roopa Naik, MD, chair, IMG Governing Council
Registration
Registration is now open. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Questions, email [email protected].
IMG mentor recognition
IMG section members who have been helped on their journey to navigate practicing medicine in the U.S. were invited to submit nominations to recognize their mentors. Congratulations to this year’s top mentors:
- Tolulope Odebunmi, MBBS, MPH, assistant professor and associate residency program director in psychiatry, University of Minnesota
- Victor Sebastian Arrurana, MD, founder/CEO, Project IMG; delegate, World Federation for Medical Education
Additional resources
Learn more about the U.S. clinical experience opportunities for IMGs and how the AMA advocates for IMG physicians.
- "Did you know?" Learn more facts about IMG physicians (PDF)
- Educational primer: International Medical Graduates (PDF): This primer is part of the 2024-2025 AMA Organizational Strategic Plan to Advance Health Equity and was created to center international medical graduates (IMGs) and their expertise, experiences and priorities.
- IMGs overcome barriers to offer critically needed care
- How IMGs can overcome challenges in U.S. residency training
- Q&A: How IMGs overcome big barriers to practice medicine in U.S.
Become a member
Are you currently in a U.S. residency program or are you ECFMG-certified and waiting to match into a U.S. residency program (GME position)? Join now.
