Title
Understanding the Integration of Foreign-Educated Cuban Physicians into the U.S. Medical Field
Publication Date
2016-12-13
Availability
Open access
Embargo Period
2016-12-13
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MSEd)
Department
Educational and Psychological Studies (Education)
Date of Defense
2016-11-09
First Committee Member
Dina Birman
Second Committee Member
Scotney D. Evans
Third Committee Member
Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado
Abstract
In the U.S., immigrants and refugees are often unable to continue their profession after arrival. This paper describes a qualitative study of Cuban foreign-educated physicians (FEPs) who have attempted to integrate into the U.S. medical field. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Cuban FEPs who varied in age, gender, job, marital status, and amount of time in U.S. Participants were recruited via snowball sampling and thematic analysis was utilized to identify various pathways. Findings describe the importance of professional identity and how it influences participants’ transcultural process as well as their journey to find a “match” within the U.S. medical field. This study affirms the value of thinking ecologically about the migration experience by considering the needs of immigrants and refugees within their family units rather than solely as individuals. Furthermore, findings posit that occupational wellbeing for Cuban FEPs goes beyond economic goals, identifying professional identity as a central phenomenon.
Keywords
Cuba and Cubans; U.S. refugee resettlement; social support; immigration and emigration; professional identity; foreign professionals
Recommended Citation
Moore, Wendy Jordana, "Understanding the Integration of Foreign-Educated Cuban Physicians into the U.S. Medical Field" (2016). Open Access Theses. 645.
https://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/645