International medical graduates represented 24.1% of U.S. Medicare-billing diagnostic radiologists in a 5-year Academic Radiology study.
The analysis included 26,040 unique diagnostic radiologists who billed Medicare between 2017 and 2021. Of those, 6,270 were international medical graduates.
IMG representation increased during the study period. The share rose from 22.4% in 2017 to 24% in 2021.
The authors found that IMGs were more likely than U.S. medical graduates to work in academic radiology. About 30% of IMG radiologists practiced in teaching settings, compared with about 20% of U.S. medical graduates.
Multivariable analysis showed higher odds of academic practice among IMG radiologists. The study also found higher odds of IMG status among women and among radiologists practicing in the Northeast.
Female representation was higher among IMGs than U.S. medical graduates, at 29% versus 24%. IMGs were also more likely to practice in large groups with 100 or more physicians.
The study found lower IMG representation in breast imaging and rural practice. The authors said this distribution has implications for staffing because IMGs contribute substantially to academic and large-group radiology practices.
“IMGs facilitate patient access to radiology services,” the authors wrote.
The authors said recent visa and entry-policy developments have exposed vulnerabilities in relying on IMGs as part of the radiology workforce. They added that expanding traditional U.S. residency pathways would require funding support and would likely take years to affect workforce supply.
The American Board of Radiology offers an IMG Alternate Pathway for diagnostic radiology certification. Current ABR requirements include prior non-U.S. or non-Canadian training, at least 3 years of diagnostic radiology residency training, and 4 years of eligible radiology training within 8 years at an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited institution.
Company:Academic Radiology
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