International medical graduates in the US physician workforce.

International medical graduates (IMGs) play a vital role in the US health care system. These graduates represent 26% of physicians in practice and 24% of residents in specialty programs. All IMGs go through US medical licensing examination and credentialing verification to receive certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates to become eligible to enter the US graduate medical education process. Compared with US graduates, IMGs tend to practice in primary care specialties and in underserved and rural areas. The author summarizes available data regarding IMGs in training and in practice to convey the role IMGs play in the US health care system.