IMG Program (BRIIDGE)

Key Contacts

Education Manager: Emily Langerak
Email: lange274@umn.edu
Phone: 612-626-6103

CIH Site Director: Mike Westerhaus, MD
Email: west0591@umn.edu
Phone (cell): 617-869-2908

UMM-FV and Ridges Site Director: Hope Pogemiller, MD
Email: poge0008@umn.edu 

HP Brooklyn Center Site Director: Salah Maalim, MD
Email: maal0006@umn.edu
Phone (cell): 612-607-2458  

CUHCC Site Director:  Aarti Bhatt
Email: bhatt081@umn.edu
Phone: (cell) 920-905-0570

BRIIDGE graphic element

The BRIIDGE program - Bridge to Residency for Immigrant International Doctor Graduates through clinical Experience - is a 9-month program that aims to help international medical graduates develop the skills necessary to become successful residents in the United States medical system.

To be eligible to participate in the BRIIDGE program, potential applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • MD degree or international equivalent
  • ECFMG Certification
  • Passing score on USMLE Steps 1 & 2 within 3 attempts
  • Born outside the United States
  • Now resides permanently in the United States as a citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
  • Has resided in Minnesota for at least 2 years by time of application
  • Did not enter the United States on a J1 or similar nonimmigrant visa following acceptance into a United States medical residency or fellowship program.

To learn more and begin the application process, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Current participants can find the program manual here. 

Current participants, faculty, and staff (2019)

Nine smiling people of varied appearances standing together

L to R: Yusuf Mohamed (participant), Julie Pierce (staff), Sana Khan (participant), Hope Pogemiller (faculty), Saron Yohannes (participant), Mike Westerhaus (faculty), Sehar Minhas (participant), Anteneh Zewde (faculty), Svetlana Adusheva (participant)

Past participants (2018)

Participants, faculty, and staff of BRIIDGE program, 2018 - smiling group of 10 people

L to R: top: Emily Langerak, Jaya Durvasula, MD, Hope Pogemiller, MD, Mike Westerhaus, MD, Bukhari Burale, MD, Chris Miller
bottom: Ahmad Al-Anii, MD, Mahmoud Alatbee, MD, Salahudin Maalim, MD, Pat Walker, MD

Trio of doctors standing together, smiling

L to R: Steve Richmond, MD (resident), Bukhari Burale, MD (BRIIDGE trainee), Mandip KC, MD (Internal Medicine Attending)

Ahmad Al-Anii, MD, works at a computer.

Ahmad Al-Anii, MD (BRIIDGE trainee)

BRIIDGE graduate, Bukhari Burale

BRIIDGE graduate, Bukhari Burale

BRIIDGE graduates, from left to right-Mahmood Alatbee, MD, Ahmad Al-Anii, MD, Bukhari Burale, MD, Jaya Durvasula, MD

2018 BRIIDGE graduates, L to R: Mahmood Alatbee, MD, Ahmad Al-Anii, MD, Bukhari Burale, MD, Jaya Durvasula, MD

BRIIDGE graduates and support team

2018 BRIIDGE graduates and support team

BRIIDGE graduates and support team

2018 BRIIDGE graduates and support team