The pathway to residency in Germany: a survey study to identify factors that impact an international medical graduate from Syria

Abstract

Background The German health care system has recently become an attractive destination for international medical graduates, particularly from developing countries such as Syria. However, there are no studies about the factors that influence the successful entry into the German healthcare system at trainee level. Method An anonymous cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to Syrian medical graduates who successfully entered residency training in Germany. Collected data included demographics and factors that influence entering the residency, such as proven German proficiency and clinical experience in the home country. Hypothesis testing was used to assess the difference between the variables. Results A total of 109 participants responded to the survey. Twenty-three (21.1%) subjects completed a medical residency in Syria before moving to Germany, and 46 (42.2%) had no previous clinical experience before moving to Germany. The proven German proficiency of the participants upon arrival in Germany was less than B1 in 39 (35.8%), B1 in 37 (33.9%), and B2 in 33 (30.3%) cases. None of the participants had a language level beyond B2, and 18 (16.5%) had no German knowledge. The median of months spent in Germany till residency for those with B1 or B2 certificates before moving to Germany (10.5 (6.25–16) months and 8 (5–11) months, respectively) differed significantly from those with German-language skills belowB1 ((21 (14–29) months, p < .001). Residency in the home country was not associated with a difference in the median of the months in Germany till entering residency, p = 0.84. Conclusion A crucial factor influencing the successful entry to the German medical system at the trainee level is the ability to speak German, measured in levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference for languages. A high language skill level is a crucial factor associated with a decrease in time in Germany till entering residency for an international medical applicant. In contrast, previous work experience is not influencing the entry into the German labor market.

Gender distribution and women leadership in German Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

“…Medical students in Germany are predominantly females, with more than 60% in 2019. However, in surgical specialities, as low as 13% of the leadership positions are female physicians 2,5–7 . This reflects a massive gap between the two genders at the top of the hierarchical pyramid.…”

“…However, in surgical specialities, as low as 13% of the leadership positions are female physicians. 2,[5][6][7] This reflects a massive gap between the two genders at the top of the hierarchical pyramid. This is even more concerning in light of a recent study suggesting female patients have worse outcomes when operated on by a male surgeon.…”

Medical education in Syria at a time of crisis: Analysis of the results of the knowledge‐based National Medical Examination

“…11 The impact of this crisis on medical education in Syria has not been studied satisfactorily as most existing reports were merely descriptive studies of certain aspects of the calamity. 3,12,13 Therefore, there is a need for a quantitative and comparative analyses of the academic performance of medical students across different universities and time periods in Syria. Such analyses may provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for improving medical education in Syria and other countries facing similar crises.…”

“…The health workforce capacity has been unevenly distributed across different specialties and areas of need, because of factors such as the destruction of the health care infrastructure, the overload of the system, the scarcity of job opportunities, the financial hardships, and the loss of many educators, doctors, and health care workers 11 . The impact of this crisis on medical education in Syria has not been studied satisfactorily as most existing reports were merely descriptive studies of certain aspects of the calamity 3,12,13 . Therefore, there is a need for a quantitative and comparative analyses of the academic performance of medical students across different universities and time periods in Syria.…”

Beyond the Operating Room: Exploring Gender Bias in Leadership Positions in German Plastic Surgery

“…[1][2][3] Despite policies designed to promote gender equality, women in medicine are still significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, particularly in surgical specialties, where only 13%-16% of top roles are held by women. [3][4][5] This is commonly known as the glass ceiling, a phenomenon that is supposed to result from the lack of qualified women that can fill the pipeline. 6,7 However, the pipeline has been incrementally filled over the years.…”