The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

March 18, 2011 • By John P. Lavery, MD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Dear Dr. Panush:

You Might Also Like
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Letters to the Editor
Explore This Issue
March 2011

I appreciated what you wrote about FMGs in the latest edition of The Rheumatologist [January 2011, p. 21]. As an American FMG myself, I always found it interesting how the medical establishment was always dismissive of medical care and physicians outside of the United States. Any studies or achievements developed outside of the United States were often disposed as inferior by my attendings. My qualities as a physician were also belittled as a result of my foreign medical degree. This later dried up as I became chief resident, finished two subspecialty fellowships, and achieved board certification in three specialties.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

You rightly point out the reality of FMGs in the United States, especially in New Jersey, but I have come to realize our patients are also from other countries.

But you are right, things have changed. The rest of the world has caught up with us and has passed us. Fareed Zarekia wrote a book about it, The Rise of the Rest. Globalization and the Internet are a reality. Rheumatology is no exception. EULAR is now seen as a premier meeting. The adoption and the sophisticated utilization of technologies such as video nailfold capillaroscopy and diagnostic ultrasound in Europe are light years ahead of the progress of the United States. We are now competing in a global environment.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

You rightly point out the reality of FMGs in the United States, especially in New Jersey, but I have come to realize our patients are also from other countries. They do not always share the prejudices against FMGs that the American establishment harbored. They will seek out physicians from their own countries. Although I am American, I have Mexican patients seeking me out specifically because of my foreign degree in Mexico. They want someone who speaks their language and knows their culture. I have seen Mexican doctors posting their Mexican degree and their American postgraduate studies as a marketing tool in Spanish language advertising.

I remember your commentaries in the Yearbooks of Rheumatology and always admired your intellectual honesty. “Rheum with a View” is not different. Please keep up the good work.

John P. Lavery, MD
Allergy/Rheumatology
Allen, Texas

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Filed Under: Practice Management Tagged With: International, patient care, rheumatologistIssue: March 2011

You Might Also Like:
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Letters to the Editor: In Memoriam

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)