Background: International medical graduates (IMGs) form a significant portion of the physician workforce in the United States and are vital in filling training slots due to a shortage of American medical graduates. Most often, IMGs require visa sponsorship, which must be solidified before applying for a residency or fellowship.
Objective: We examined the association of H-1B visa sponsorship on retention of physician trainees within the state of Ohio.
Methods: This was a single institutional study that examined all visa-sponsored residency and fellowship graduates who entered fully licensed clinical practice between 2006 and 2015. Practice location was ascertained immediately upon completion of training and at follow-up to determine which visa group (H-1B or J-1) were more likely to initially practice in Ohio after graduation and remain within the state.
Results: Of 103 visa-sponsored residency and fellowship graduates, 42 were H-1B sponsored and 61 were J-1-sponsored. Fifty-two percent (22) of H-1B visa-sponsored trainees and 31% (19) of J-1 visa-sponsored trainees were retained in Ohio after graduation. At follow-up, 40% (17) of H-1B and 26% (16) of J-1 visa holders remained in the state.
Conclusions: H-1B visa-sponsored trainees were more likely than those with J-1 visas to practice in the state of Ohio after graduation. Regardless of visa status, graduates tended not to change their geographical location over time.
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education 2020.