Will work tra vel for - Global Medical Staffing and publication covers... · Will work for 42 | PracticeLink.com ... “Lord of the rings” trilogy ... have a roster of clients looking
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travel Will work for 42 | PracticeLink.com FALL 2010 HERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS physicians pack their bags and head overseas to practice medicine. Some have charity at heart, rushing to aid the earthquake victims of Haiti, for exam- ple, or to Third World countries where doctors and modern medicine are des- perately needed. Others are seeking thrills or ex- perience on a locum tenens basis, an opportunity to travel and work in other locations or with peo- ple from other cultures. Many physicians looking for a chance to practice in an international environment generally head for one of two locations: Australia or New Zealand. Both countries wel- come American-trained physicians, and both offer a rich, culturally diverse environment with a common language and a familiar healthcare system. That’s not to say other practice opportunities don’t exist, however. Amy Griffin, director of the international divi- sion of recruiting firm VISTA Staffing Solutions, currently places physicians in Bermuda, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, with plans for expansion. Recently, the United Arab Emirates—especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi—also has opened its doors to American physicians. There, new hospitals are being built at a rapid pace, says Steve Frank, a senior search consultant for the Missouri-based recruiting firm Enterprise Medical Services. “Some adventurous American physicians decide to go there, looking for a challenge,” he says. For the most part, though, physicians immigrating to the Middle East are originally from that part of the world and are heading back to be close to family. In New Zealand, however, International Medical Graduates (IMGs for short) are increasingly becoming the norm. Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, recently told a reporter on New Zealand’s TV One that more than 40 percent of New Zealand’s specialist physicians are IMGs. A 2008 article in the Medical Journal of Australia re- ports that the IMG population there is steadily increas- Looking for a unique experience? International intrigue? Consider locum tenens opportunities both home and abroad. By Karen Edwards T
