Does this sound familiar?
Taking care of 20 patients at a time
Drawing blood, placing cannulas or inserting caheters
Protected didactic/teaching time for 1 hour a week
If you are lucky you have a great rotation, but then it all ends after 4-6 months
In the US
you apply to the program you want to work in and they interview you
You are not a ward monkey but granted there will always be some discharge paperwork
Training is dedicated and focused towards completing your boards
Embracing Challenges
The US medical pathway is undeniably tough. Many are discouraged by the rigorous exams and intense competition for residency, but I thrive on challenges. The sheer volume of material in USMLE Step 1 and 2 only fuels my determination to succeed.
When I applied to medical school, I was often met with scepticism—“Medicine? That’s really hard. Are you sure you’ll get in?” Yet, I made it. Difficult tasks don’t intimidate me. If thousands of international graduates manage to establish themselves in the US, why shouldn’t I?
Financial Considerations Matter
Medicine is not just about money, but financial stability is a crucial factor in my decision-making. After graduating, I’ll need to support myself, and eventually, my future family.
While training in the UK might be the simpler route, it would leave me in a difficult financial position. In contrast, the average salary for an attending physician in the US is around $313,000 per year. With that income, I can provide my family with a comfortable life, free from financial strain. After two degrees and eight years of study, I believe that level of commitment and effort deserves fair financial compensation.
Maximising My Most Valuable Asset—Time
Having already sat my fair share of exams as a postgraduate student, I want to complete my medical training as efficiently as possible. I’ll be 27 when I graduate, and I have no interest in still sitting exams at 40 because I chose a slower pathway.
This also means I’d have that $300K+ salary much earlier. Since I have ambitions outside of medicine, including content creation and business ventures, completing my training quickly allows me to explore other pursuits while maintaining a fulfilling medical career.
By comparison, training in the UK could take an additional 6–10 years, after which I’d earn around £80K—reasonable, but significantly less after tax.
Higher Standards of Training
Medical training in the US is generally of a higher standard than in the UK. Due to chronic underfunding, the NHS struggles to prioritise doctor training, often reducing it to mere service provision. This not only affects the quality of education but also prolongs training durations.
The US, with its private healthcare system, has far better funding, allowing for structured and high-quality training. For example, in certain hospitals, doctors are limited to managing 10 patients at a time to ensure safety. In the UK, it’s common to be responsible for over 40 patients at once—an overwhelming and often unsafe workload.
Long hours are inevitable in medicine, regardless of location, but the US offers significantly better incentives for that effort.
A More Promising Future
The NHS’s current state is alarming.
Not a single doctor I’ve spoken to has recommended staying in the UK. Many have directly advised me that pursuing medicine in the US is a smart long-term decision.
After graduating, I want stability. I want to work in an environment where I feel secure, without constant concerns about job security or deteriorating conditions.
Beyond that, there are specific opportunities and individuals I aspire to work with—connections I can only establish if I’m based in the US.
Stability in One Location
In the UK, doctors must frequently reapply for jobs—after foundation training (two years post-graduation) and often again during speciality training. This could mean relocating multiple times, uprooting my entire life and, in the future, my family—new house, new city, new schools, new jobs.
In the US, residency placements are fixed, offering consistency throughout training. Once residency is complete, job opportunities are abundant, with hospitals often reaching out to hire doctors rather than the other way around.
Seeking New Experiences
I’ve spent my entire life in the UK.
Moving to the US offers a fresh start—new cities, new landscapes, new experiences. That idea excites me.
Since I began creating content, I’ve built strong connections with international creators, most of whom are based in the US. Relocating would open doors to collaborations, business ventures, and opportunities that simply aren’t available to me in the UK.
Confident Decision-Making
Good decision-making is a skill, and I believe I have a solid approach. I consult my parents, seek guidance through prayer, and carefully weigh the pros and cons. My decision to pursue medicine in the US wasn’t made on impulse—it’s the result of years of research and consideration.
For anyone contemplating the same path, my advice is simple: take your time. Think carefully. And most importantly, don’t let others dictate your decision.
This is your life. Your future. Your career. Your effort.
Ultimately, you’re the one who will be most affected by the choice you make.
It doesn’t have to make sense to everyone. It just needs to make sense to you.
How would training pathways differ
- Medical school 6 years
- Foundation Years 2 years
- Core Medical Training 3 years
- Cardiology Registrar 5 years
- Fellowship 1 year (or 3 year PhD)
- Total: 17 years or 19 years
In the US
- University and pre-med 4 years
- Medical School 4 years
- Residency 1 year intern and 3 years Neuro
- Fellowship 2 years
- Total: 14 years