SCCM Resource Library-Immigrant Critical Care Professionals: SCCM members share their experiences in the face of uncertainty.

Pdf Summary

The article "Critical Connections: Immigrant Critical Care Professionals," published in the summer 2022 edition of the SCCM journal, delves into the experiences and challenges faced by immigrant critical care physicians in the United States. It features the stories of Dr. Silvia Pérez-Protto from Uruguay, Dr. José L. Díaz-Gómez from Colombia, and Dr. Aarti Sarwal from India, highlighting their reasons for immigrating and the professional hurdles they encountered.<br /><br />All three physicians moved to the U.S. in pursuit of advanced medical knowledge and professional growth within the country's robust healthcare system. Despite achieving success, they each grappled with cultural and systemic challenges. One such difficulty is implicit bias, which manifests in various ways, such as patients requesting American doctors or mocking accents—a testament to the intolerance and division, as noted by Dr. Pérez-Protto.<br /><br />Dr. Sarwal emphasizes the systemic difficulties encountered by foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in gaining experiential opportunities and navigating visa restrictions, particularly from countries like India and China. These obstacles can hinder their career advancement and limit research opportunities, even for those who have been professionally established for years.<br /><br />Dr. Díaz-Gómez shares personal insights into the 'identity struggle' faced by immigrant physicians, balancing life in a new country while maintaining cultural ties and values from their homeland. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with their visa-dependent status—despite these uncertainties, FMGs contributed significantly to healthcare during the pandemic.<br /><br />The article underscores the essential role of FMGs in the U.S. healthcare system, bringing diverse perspectives and innovation. Despite the challenges, their contributions, especially during critical times like the pandemic, are invaluable, showcasing resilience and commitment to their field.

Asset Subtitle

Professional Development and Education, 2022, 0:05:29

Asset Caption

"

This article was first published in the Summer 2022 issue of Critical Connections.

SCCM members Silvia Pérez-Protto, MD, MS, FCCM; José L. Díaz-Gómez, MD, FASE, FCCM; and Aarti Sarwal, MD, FAANS, FNCS, FCCM, share their experiences in the face of uncertainty.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry's only magazine, provides information in cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team.

"

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Professional Development and Education

Knowledge Level Foundational

Knowledge Level Intermediate

Knowledge Level Advanced

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Select

Tag Professional Development

Year 2022

Keywords

immigrant physicians

critical care

SCCM journal

implicit bias

foreign medical graduates

visa restrictions

identity struggle

COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. healthcare system

cultural challenges

	Society of Critical Care Medicine 500 Midway Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056 USA Phone: +1 847 827-6888 Fax: +1 847 439-7226 Email: support@sccm.org	Contact Us About SCCM Newsroom Advertising & Sponsorship DONATE	MySCCM LearnICU Patients & Families Surviving Sepsis Campaign Critical Care Societies Collaborative	GET OUR NEWSLETTER
© Society of Critical Care Medicine. All rights reserved. \| Privacy Statement \| Terms & Conditions The Society of Critical Care Medicine, SCCM, and Critical Care Congress are registered trademarks of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.