Imagine facing a new world where everything is foreign, from the language to the medical practices. Join host Shawna-Kaye Lester and Dr. Nadia Fernand on the IMG Residency Match Podcast as they unravel Nadia’s journey from the Bahamas to Cuba, and then to residency in the U.S. Nadia reveals the grit it took to match while working grueling hours, the differences in healthcare systems she has encountered, and her lessons on resilience for all IMGs.
Are you ready to be inspired and learn how to match even if your path is non-traditional? Tune in now and discover Nadia’s awe-inspiring journey! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with one colleague applying to the Match.
00:00 Introduction and Early Challenges
00:46 Meet the Host and Guest
01:25 Nadia's Early Life and Aspirations
04:08 Nadia's Medical School Journey
05:46 Integrating into Cuban Culture
11:56 Returning to The Bahamas
13:28 Pursuing the USMLE and Residency Match
17:26 COVID-19 and Final Reflections
21:20 Mastering the NBME Exam
22:20 Step Two: Clinical Scenarios and Diagnosis
23:03 Step Three: Management and Beyond
24:57 Balancing Life and Medicine
29:18 Choosing Internal Medicine
30:58 Cultural Insights and Patient Care
33:47 Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence
37:28 Future Aspirations and Legacy
38:48 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement
The IMG Residency Match Podcast is brought to you by the IMG Residency Match Application Accelerator, a premium program that helps ambitious IMGs create a memorable application to match into residency. Find out more about the Residency Match Application Accelerator here: https://bit.ly/imgmatch
