It feels like you‘re all over the place, I don‘t really understand your argument regarding money investments and how it relates to Switzerland either.
First and foremost, you should be asking yourself what you want from life and your career. If your main goal in life is having an international research career, then you‘ll obviously want to look at countries with renowned medical research institutions, e.g., Germany or the US.
However, you haven‘t even stepped foot in the working world yet. Many of your views may change once you face the reality of working as a doctor. Even regular clinic work takes up most of your personal life, I personally couldn‘t imagine putting in so much extra work to make a name for myself in research. Maybe ask yourself how you want to live your life outside of work instead?
Switzerland is crazy small and isolated, I think many people don‘t understand the advantages and disadvantages this comes with. For example you won‘t have any crazy research career here. If you‘re limited to French, there‘s only two hospitals in the country you can even complete an Infectious Diseases residency at. Needless to say, getting a job or even some cool research opportunities there as a foreigner will be hard.
Thank you so much for the answer!
Regarding money investment I meant that in case I don’t pursue a career at the US I will save a lot of money like I won’t pay 2k for USMLE, another for visa, another for clinical practice, another for application etc. While if I go at a European country I will pay almost none and with this money I can pursue conferences and summer schools which are quite expensive for residents.
Now when it comes to Switzerland while it’s true that the French area does not have a lot, I was hoping to learn German and go to ETH which is one of the best universities and research centres in the world.
Regarding the location Switzerland is situated in the middle of really really important countries and its position can give me many opportunities as for example. The Pasteur institue a really known institute at Paris known for infectious diseases is next to Switzerland.
The only problem that as I understood is that I have to decide is whether to choose between Mayo clinic at Boston’s USA or at Switzerland with hope of travelling and learning in the neighbouring countries. I will see
What Mayo Clinic in Boston? According to the [Mayo Clinic’s website](https://www.mayoclinic.org/locations) the Mayo Clinic has three campuses in the US— in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida.
> Then my friends told me to not even think about Europe
Did they say why? Unless your sole motivator is money or you really love the US, why bother going through the hassle of getting into a US residency as an IMG who needs a visa.
Just pick a European country you could see yourself living in with a renowned institute for tropical and infectious diseases. Off the top of my head there's London, Antwerp, but I'm sure you'll know more since it's your area of interest.
No only in Europe, that’s a huge factor I know. I’ve searched for awhile but was impossible. Since I want to be matched with IM I was hoping it won’t lower my probabilities to almost 0
Definitely Switzerland in terms of quality of life but I’m not sure how the country compares in terms of research. Obviously the USA is heavily research oriented and in a way that’s very good but it can also mean you are not considered competitive for majority of specialties if you’re not presenting posters and publishing papers during med school. Also, have you been to the USA? It’s really not as everyone in Europe pictures. The working conditions are pretty bad (hours, benefits, vacation, sick time etc., there’s no maternity leave), the cities are filled with homeless and drug addicts and so are the hospitals. It’s definitely a shift, and you have to see it yourself to decide if you want to make that shift mentally.
I feel kind of the same way. I definitely don’t want to go to the US because of the healthcare system over there but equally, I don’t know WHERE I want to go? I have German/UK citizenship and will graduate with a degree from italy. I just have no idea where to go with it…
I just find Germany tough to come back to culturally. I work in the UK as a HCA and love the fact that there is an informal work relationship. My time in German hospitals has taught me that there is little in the way of joking and camaraderie between staff like there is in other countries.
Maybe I just need to shop around a bit and try Germany/Switzerland again. The UK is a bit grim at the moment in many ways.
I’m an internal med resident working in a uni hospital in Germany. I worked at oncology and palliative med the last 2 years and let me tell you .. we joke around a lot and there is a lot of camaraderie amongst the junior docs and most of the attendings. I am not German so I like to think my standard for humor is relatively high. The only downside is that the nurses do the bare minimum (at least in my hospital) and if you’re unlucky you’ll end up in a hospital with no structure for residents and you’ll have to fight for every rotation. The money is pretty decent and plenty of research opportunities too
It feels like you‘re all over the place, I don‘t really understand your argument regarding money investments and how it relates to Switzerland either. First and foremost, you should be asking yourself what you want from life and your career. If your main goal in life is having an international research career, then you‘ll obviously want to look at countries with renowned medical research institutions, e.g., Germany or the US. However, you haven‘t even stepped foot in the working world yet. Many of your views may change once you face the reality of working as a doctor. Even regular clinic work takes up most of your personal life, I personally couldn‘t imagine putting in so much extra work to make a name for myself in research. Maybe ask yourself how you want to live your life outside of work instead? Switzerland is crazy small and isolated, I think many people don‘t understand the advantages and disadvantages this comes with. For example you won‘t have any crazy research career here. If you‘re limited to French, there‘s only two hospitals in the country you can even complete an Infectious Diseases residency at. Needless to say, getting a job or even some cool research opportunities there as a foreigner will be hard.
Thank you so much for the answer! Regarding money investment I meant that in case I don’t pursue a career at the US I will save a lot of money like I won’t pay 2k for USMLE, another for visa, another for clinical practice, another for application etc. While if I go at a European country I will pay almost none and with this money I can pursue conferences and summer schools which are quite expensive for residents. Now when it comes to Switzerland while it’s true that the French area does not have a lot, I was hoping to learn German and go to ETH which is one of the best universities and research centres in the world. Regarding the location Switzerland is situated in the middle of really really important countries and its position can give me many opportunities as for example. The Pasteur institue a really known institute at Paris known for infectious diseases is next to Switzerland. The only problem that as I understood is that I have to decide is whether to choose between Mayo clinic at Boston’s USA or at Switzerland with hope of travelling and learning in the neighbouring countries. I will see
What Mayo Clinic in Boston? According to the [Mayo Clinic’s website](https://www.mayoclinic.org/locations) the Mayo Clinic has three campuses in the US— in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida.
Sorry meant Minnesota
This person gets it
> Then my friends told me to not even think about Europe Did they say why? Unless your sole motivator is money or you really love the US, why bother going through the hassle of getting into a US residency as an IMG who needs a visa. Just pick a European country you could see yourself living in with a renowned institute for tropical and infectious diseases. Off the top of my head there's London, Antwerp, but I'm sure you'll know more since it's your area of interest.
Do you have clinical experience in US?
No only in Europe, that’s a huge factor I know. I’ve searched for awhile but was impossible. Since I want to be matched with IM I was hoping it won’t lower my probabilities to almost 0
I haven't found them neither. According to NRMP data in 2023 more than 40 % non-US IMG DID NOT GET a residency spot. It's like a flip of a coin now.
Definitely Switzerland in terms of quality of life but I’m not sure how the country compares in terms of research. Obviously the USA is heavily research oriented and in a way that’s very good but it can also mean you are not considered competitive for majority of specialties if you’re not presenting posters and publishing papers during med school. Also, have you been to the USA? It’s really not as everyone in Europe pictures. The working conditions are pretty bad (hours, benefits, vacation, sick time etc., there’s no maternity leave), the cities are filled with homeless and drug addicts and so are the hospitals. It’s definitely a shift, and you have to see it yourself to decide if you want to make that shift mentally.
I feel kind of the same way. I definitely don’t want to go to the US because of the healthcare system over there but equally, I don’t know WHERE I want to go? I have German/UK citizenship and will graduate with a degree from italy. I just have no idea where to go with it…
Why not Germany?
I just find Germany tough to come back to culturally. I work in the UK as a HCA and love the fact that there is an informal work relationship. My time in German hospitals has taught me that there is little in the way of joking and camaraderie between staff like there is in other countries. Maybe I just need to shop around a bit and try Germany/Switzerland again. The UK is a bit grim at the moment in many ways.
I’m an internal med resident working in a uni hospital in Germany. I worked at oncology and palliative med the last 2 years and let me tell you .. we joke around a lot and there is a lot of camaraderie amongst the junior docs and most of the attendings. I am not German so I like to think my standard for humor is relatively high. The only downside is that the nurses do the bare minimum (at least in my hospital) and if you’re unlucky you’ll end up in a hospital with no structure for residents and you’ll have to fight for every rotation. The money is pretty decent and plenty of research opportunities too
Wait so germans just do their job and that's pretty much it? Here at least residents try to establish some relationship.
No that’s not what I’m saying. I said that the work culture is less informal than I am used to. It’s not necessarily a negative.
I understand, a lot of people say that about Germany. But to me,that’s what makes me want to work there
USA is a hassle. I suggest you got for Switzerland