IMG Spotlight: Dr. Amna Bint I Munir
My IMG Journey
By Amna Bint I Munir, MBBS
I am an International Medical Graduate from Pakistan, and my journey into medicine has been shaped by both uncertainty and determination. Early in medical school, when many of my peers were choosing more predictable career paths, I decided to pursue the USMLE and explore training in the United States. At that time, the process felt unfamiliar and daunting, but I was driven by a desire to learn and practice medicine in a system known for its structured training and emphasis on evidence-based care.
The path was not always clear. Resources, mentorship, and guidance about the process were limited. There was little guidance on how to structure the timeline, which resources to use, or what to prioritize at different stages of the journey. Much of the process was self-directed. Since most of my peers and seniors were following more traditional training pathways, there was limited guidance available for those choosing the USMLE route. I navigated it step by step while balancing exams, clinical exposure, and long-term planning.
Around the time I arrived in the United States to begin my clinical rotations and gain U.S. clinical experience, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Hospitals across the country closed their doors to visiting students, and already limited opportunities became even harder to find. For nearly two years, the usual pathways to gaining clinical exposure were disrupted. Many of the few places offering rotations required significant fees for short-term observerships, making the process even more challenging to navigate.
As opportunities gradually reopened, I pursued clinical rotations and externships across several states in the United States. These experiences allowed me to observe diverse healthcare settings and learn from physicians with varied approaches to patient care. During this time, I also completed a Certificate in Clinical Research at Boston University, further strengthening my interest in academic medicine and the role of research in advancing patient care.
Being an IMG also means stepping into a new healthcare environment, far from the support of family and familiarity. At first, everything feels unfamiliar - new systems, new expectations, and a new way of practicing medicine. Over time, however, with the support of mentors, colleagues, and friends, that unfamiliar place slowly begins to feel like home.
Today, I am grateful to be training in Internal Medicine in Alabama, continuing a journey that began years ago with the decision to take a chance on an uncertain path.
The IMG journey is rarely linear. It requires resilience, patience, adaptability, and the courage to continue forward even when the path is unclear. Each experience along the way becomes part of the foundation that shapes both the physician you become and the person you are.
Dr. Munir serves as the leader of SMA's IMG Mentorship & Networking Subcommittee.
