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State medical board finds international postgraduate training equivalent, approves Dr. Gomes' licensing
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Summary
The board voted 15-1 to find that Dr. Gomes' postgraduate training is equivalent to the required U.S. standard and to advance her licensure; Dr. London opposed, raising concerns about relying on employer letters and potential impacts on U.S. graduate medical education safeguards.
The board found that the postgraduate training of Dr. Gomes met the statutory standard of equivalency and approved moving her licensure forward after debate over whether the board should make equivalency determinations for internationally trained physicians.
Celeste Dowdell of the practitioner licensing and investigation section presented Dr. Gomes' file and said the applicant met all requirements except the accredited two-year ACGME postgraduate training in the United States. The department requested the board determine whether the applicant's foreign postgraduate program was equivalent under state statute and regulation.
Board debate focused on statutory authority and the limits of the board's review. Dr. London argued the board should not substitute its judgment for the U.S. graduate medical education system and questioned the weight of letters from employers who had already decided to hire the candidate: "I do not believe that the letters from their employer hold much weight because they are already decided to hire the person," London said, adding concerns that the process could undercut domestic graduate medical education safeguards. In contrast, Dr. Wolf and other members urged the board to evaluate qualifications case by case; Wolf said many internationally trained candidates have "stellar" recommendations and that he would "vote yes without reservation." Drs. Sauer, Zeman and Green also voiced support.
The board called a roll-call vote and approved the equivalency finding with 15 votes in favor and one opposed (Dr. London). Chair Emmett told Dr. Gomes the board had approved her training as equivalent and that the department would proceed with licensing steps.
The board's action applies the statutory exception found in the regulations (described in discussion as 20-10-5) that allows the department and board to grant licensure when postgraduate training is found to be equivalent. The motion and vote record were taken during the meeting and will be reflected in the applicant's licensing file.
