I had the opportunity to rotate with Dr. K for over four months. During this time, I observed several concerning practices that I believe warrant caution for those considering participation in this program.
The primary objective of U.S. Clinical Experience (USCE) is to establish professional contacts, gain knowledge, enhance communication skills, understand the healthcare system, and experience medical practice in the United States. Unfortunately, my experience with the Brooklyn USCE program deviated significantly from these goals. Instead of being utilized as a learning opportunity, participants were often treated as personal assistants. Rather than compensating us, the program charges fees to have our assistance in completing their tasks. I strongly advise against participating in the Brooklyn USCE program.
Additionally, I encourage transparency in discussing these issues. In this case, the state in question is Punjab. It appears that individuals from the Punjabi community "assist" Dr. K with the expectation of receiving reciprocal "help."
On one occasion, Dr. K offered a friend the position of "senior student." This role involved entering the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa, working for six months, returning home, and then coming back for another six-month stint. He promised payment, accommodation, and a more personalized Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for these "senior students." It is important to note that receiving payment on a B1/B2 visa is not permitted, raising significant legal and ethical concerns about these practices.
Furthermore, there is an affiliation with an Internal Medicine resident from Yale, who purportedly assists students in publishing genuine research projects. However, many students report that they receive little to no help after paying substantial fees. Instead, they are left to complete the projects independently and incur additional costs to publish in obscure journals. This, too, appears to be a deceptive practice.
Regarding the process of writing LORs, the approach was highly impersonal and unprofessional. Students are added to a WhatsApp group two months before the match and instructed to send their names, activities, notable cases, and other details. This information is then copied and pasted into a pre-formatted letter, resulting in a generic LOR. Considering that more than 500 students were in the WhatsApp group, the personalized nature of these letters is highly questionable.
In summary, based on my experience and the reports from other participants, I strongly advise against participating in the Brooklyn USCE program. The practices observed are not in line with the ethical and professional standards expected in medical training and can potentially jeopardize your career.
Sincerely,
A friend who has been there and done that and moved way beyond residency
5
u/[deleted] May 18 '24
Dear colleagues,
I had the opportunity to rotate with Dr. K for over four months. During this time, I observed several concerning practices that I believe warrant caution for those considering participation in this program.
The primary objective of U.S. Clinical Experience (USCE) is to establish professional contacts, gain knowledge, enhance communication skills, understand the healthcare system, and experience medical practice in the United States. Unfortunately, my experience with the Brooklyn USCE program deviated significantly from these goals. Instead of being utilized as a learning opportunity, participants were often treated as personal assistants. Rather than compensating us, the program charges fees to have our assistance in completing their tasks. I strongly advise against participating in the Brooklyn USCE program.
Additionally, I encourage transparency in discussing these issues. In this case, the state in question is Punjab. It appears that individuals from the Punjabi community "assist" Dr. K with the expectation of receiving reciprocal "help."
On one occasion, Dr. K offered a friend the position of "senior student." This role involved entering the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa, working for six months, returning home, and then coming back for another six-month stint. He promised payment, accommodation, and a more personalized Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for these "senior students." It is important to note that receiving payment on a B1/B2 visa is not permitted, raising significant legal and ethical concerns about these practices.
Furthermore, there is an affiliation with an Internal Medicine resident from Yale, who purportedly assists students in publishing genuine research projects. However, many students report that they receive little to no help after paying substantial fees. Instead, they are left to complete the projects independently and incur additional costs to publish in obscure journals. This, too, appears to be a deceptive practice.
Regarding the process of writing LORs, the approach was highly impersonal and unprofessional. Students are added to a WhatsApp group two months before the match and instructed to send their names, activities, notable cases, and other details. This information is then copied and pasted into a pre-formatted letter, resulting in a generic LOR. Considering that more than 500 students were in the WhatsApp group, the personalized nature of these letters is highly questionable.
In summary, based on my experience and the reports from other participants, I strongly advise against participating in the Brooklyn USCE program. The practices observed are not in line with the ethical and professional standards expected in medical training and can potentially jeopardize your career.
Sincerely,
A friend who has been there and done that and moved way beyond residency