Recent regulations pertaining to visa holders and applicants have posed challenges for healthcare systems when it comes to physician and medical student recruitment.
Two spine surgeons share how these moves have affected the spine industry.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker’s invites all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
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Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Editor’s note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity.
Question: How are visa-related challenges affecting the ability to recruit for spine surgery residencies and fellowships, and what adjustments are programs making to maintain access to top global talent?
Vijay Yanamadala, MD. Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare: Immigration policy changes have historically created volatility in international medical graduate recruitment. For spine surgery, which already faces a limited pool of fellowship positions relative to demand, visa restrictions can further constrain access to global talent. Programs may need to adjust recruitment timelines to accommodate visa processing delays, potentially missing opportunities with strong international candidates. Some programs report creating contingency plans with additional backup candidates, while others are exploring longer lead times for visa applications. The broader concern is whether these constraints limit the diversity and quality of incoming trainees in a field that benefits from international perspectives and techniques.
Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Currently there are mechanisms in this state for IMG’s pursuing fellowships and post graduate training to obtain a provisional or temporary license under the auspices of a hospital system and sponsoring physician group. These provisional licenses would require IMGs to work in the state for a set period of time before applying for full licensure. The applicants must complete a certain number of supervised clinical hours in an approved facility, which is one year in surgery. Each state has its own requirements, including medical credentials, educational programs, and residency experience, with ongoing case review and presentation.
