Chile Forum

I am a US trained physician with about 5 years of experience working in Geriatric Medicine interested in moving to Chile to work as a physician. I just need enough money to live and continue to pay back my loans. Not looking to get rich

drkirksey wrote:I am a US trained physician with about 5 years of experience working in Geriatric Medicine interested in moving to Chile to work as a physician. I just need enough money to live and continue to pay back my loans. Not looking to get rich

Chile makes it just about impossible for US or other foreign physicians, dentists, DO's, etc., to work in their profession in this country (you would have to take the local board exams all over again here, in Spanish, and some of the "answers" may not be what are taught in US training and elsewhere, but instead are part of an internal system to favour graduates of Chilean institutes). The organisation here in Chile to prevent such competition is similar to that of the AMA in the US, and perhaps more effective in keeping out foreign health professionals. Teaching may be a possibility, however, but still an uphill battle. You would need an "in" - or inside agent or network, locally called a pituto, to get into the business. That is not to say that your skills are not needed and valuable, and may be far superior to what is available locally, but unfortunately it is a bit of a closed system right now.

I was involved in a discussion with a DO recently on a similar attempt. One of the things that the applicant sent to me was the following (and he never got beyond the initial stages). Although you are not in the DO category, the constraints would be probably similar. I attach the following as a FWIW. Note that the requirement shown below to translate the medical school catalog "officially" (Chilean certified translator; I am uncertified as a government-agency translator) - would alone probably cost over US$1000.


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Year of Last Request: 2008

The first DO has gained practice rights in Chile; the process took 4 years. The requirements are:

- All transcripts, course descriptions and entire medical school catalog translated officially into Spanish.
- All documents must be notarized by secretary of state's office
- Hand delivered to the consulate and then hand delivered to the University of Chile
- Examination process: basic science written exam, followed by a clinical science written exam and subsequent clinical competencies of one week each in obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, internal medicine and pediatrics

Contact: Directora Escuela de Pregrado
Universidad de Chile
Santiago

Hey, I'm a chilean doctor, I just want to you to say the the knowledge is not really different we based a lot on the american's studies and we don't have to much experience in the geriatric field so if you can do the test you will be welcome, but you really need to know spanish. My english is not the best one and I tried to move to US last year cause my boyfriend it's american but it will take like 3 years to do the test so I start on april my orthopedics residence and then I will move there maybe. Anything you need and I can help just asked. My boyfriend now it's looking for a job here and it's not easy so If I can help just let me know.