The US Immigration System is Brutal

The U.S. healthcare system relies heavily on physicians trained around the world. Roughly one in four doctors in the United States trained abroad. So why is it still so hard for them to enter practice, and to stay? In this episode of Beyond Borders, host Solenn Thircuir, PhD, brings together four guests who have experienced this system from very different sides: as internationally trained physicians, educators, residency leaders, healthcare executives and immigrants. Together they unpack residency bottlenecks, state-by-state licensing, credentialing, J-1 and H-1B visas, bias in recruitment, and what internationally trained physicians bring to American healthcare. GUESTS Dr. Daria Yang, MD, MPH, CPHQ President, Safion Advisory Partners · Adjunct Professor, UNC · Fellow, Frist College of Medicine An internationally trained physician raised in the U.S. and a first-generation immigrant, Dr. Yang now works on the other side of the equation: healthcare leadership, medical education, recruitment and talent retention. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-yang-md-mph Margarita Khosh, MBA, LSSGB Vice President, Healthcare Strategy & Partnerships, Safion Advisory Partners Margarita emigrated from Ukraine as a child and grew up in New York, where she became her family's healthcare navigator because she learned English the fastest. Today she works on provider networks, payer partnerships and healthcare operations: the very systems she once had to decipher for her family. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaritakhosh Dr. Corey Scher, MD Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, New York University · Fellow, Frist College of Medicine After attending medical school in Mexico, Dr. Scher built a U.S. academic career spanning transplant anesthesiology, clinical research and medical education, including directing residency programs at two universities. Nearly five decades of perspective, from navigating the system as a foreign medical graduate to deciding who gets trained within it. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-scher-14158621/ Dr. Elie Geara, MD Pediatric Anesthesiologist & Associate Director of Medical Student Education, NYU Langone Health & Bellevue Hospital After completing residency in Lebanon, Dr. Geara came to the U.S. for fellowship training and pursued the alternative entry pathway to board certification. He brings us inside the realities of visas, licensing and credentialing for internationally trained physicians. HOST Solenn Thircuir, PhD Medical sociologist, University of California, Santa Cruz Solenn works at the intersection of healthcare strategy, organizational transformation and translational research. Beyond Borders explores what happens when people, careers, ideas and institutions move across borders. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solenn-thircuir-phd/LISTEN & FOLLOW BEYOND BORDERSProduced with Sacha Ledan and Valentine Asseman. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not represent their institutions. #BeyondBorders #USHealthcare #IMG #HealthcareWorkforce #PhysicianShortage #GlobalTalent #MedicalEducation #HealthPolicy #Immigration #Podcast

This episode explores the complexities of U.S. immigration policy through the experiences of experts Doug Rand and Tahmina Watson. We discuss how immigration intersects with innovation, economic growth, and individual lives, highlighting misconceptions, policy shifts, and practical advice for talent navigating the system. In this episode, we explore the complexities of immigration policy, the impact of recent legislative changes, and the personal stories of those navigating the system. Our guests, experts in immigration law and policy, share insights on how policy affects lives and what reforms are needed for a fairer system.key topicsThe intersection of immigration policy and real-life experiencesMisconceptions about immigration law and policyImpact of political shifts on immigration systemsPractical advice for talent seeking visas and green cardsThe importance of legal guidance in navigating immigration Impact of 2017 regulation on immigrationThe 60-day grace period for visa holdersChallenges of policy transparency and communicationThe three and ten-year bars on green cardsThe demographic and economic importance of immigrationThe role of social media in disseminating immigration informationThe paradoxes and emotional complexities of immigrationThe influence of immigration on American culture and economyChapters00:00Understanding Immigration Beyond Policy04:11Personal Journeys into Immigration Law07:12The Interconnectedness of Immigration and Society10:43Challenges in the Immigration System13:55Navigating Complex Immigration Processes19:38The Impact of Political Climate on Immigration24:15Building Lives in an Evolving Immigration Landscape30:01Navigating the Visa Maze: H1B and Alternatives38:48The Origins of the H-1B Visa41:05The Case for Green Cards42:31Challenges in the Green Card Process44:46The Shift in Citizenship Aspirations47:02Understanding Immigration Complexities48:48The Bureaucratic Maze of Immigration51:32Policy Adjustments and Layoff Protections53:58The Impact of Policy on Lives56:55The Role of Communication in Immigration Policy01:00:57Navigating Social Media and Information Dissemination01:09:39Living in Love and Fear01:11:21The Paradox of Immigration Perception01:13:51America's Fabric Woven by Immigrants01:15:15The Importance of People in Communities01:18:00Demographic Challenges and Immigration Solutions01:20:04The American Dream and Immigrant Perspectives01:22:45The Emotional Impact of Citizenship01:25:58The Complexity of Immigration Policy01:30:50Hope for Future Immigration Reforms01:33:49The Need for Law Changes01:39:38Finding Accurate Immigration Information

He got the Stanford MBA, built a startup, helped launch one of Silicon Valley's top accelerators, and became a venture capitalist investing in founders on both sides of the Atlantic. By every measure, Henri Deshays lived the American Dream. So why is he packing up after 17 years and moving back to France? In this episode of Beyond Borders: American Dreams, Real Stories, French entrepreneur and venture capitalist Henri Deshays opens up about his journey from Paris Dauphine and Sciences Po to Stanford Graduate School of Business, co-founding the fashion startup Modewalk, helping build StartX (Stanford's startup accelerator), and spending nearly a decade as a partner at Newfund, a Franco-American VC fund. We dig into the cultural gap between French and American attitudes toward risk and failure, what it's really like to raise a bicultural family in the Bay Area, whether the American Dream is still alive for immigrants and entrepreneurs today, and why — after nearly two decades — he's choosing to close this chapter and go home. This is an immigration story, a Silicon Valley story, and a startup story all in one — but with a twist ending most "American Dream" narratives don't have.

What does it really take to build a life in a new country? In this episode of Beyond Borders, we sit down with immigration attorney and author Asif Arif to explore the realities of immigration in the United States and France—from visa strategies and green cards to cultural adaptation, policy changes, and the emotional challenges that often go unspoken. Drawing on decades of experience advising international professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, physicians, and families, Asif shares practical guidance on navigating complex immigration systems while also reflecting on the broader human experience of starting over in a new country. Whether you are considering a move abroad, currently navigating the immigration process, or simply interested in how countries welcome global talent, this conversation offers valuable insights and real-world perspectives. 🎧 Hosted by Dr. Solenn Thircuir and the Beyond Borders Podcast.

What happens when a combat veteran becomes the person building the robots he once wished had fought beside him? Mike LeBlanc has lived on both sides of that question. A Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mike went on to earn a degree from Harvard before diving deep into Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem. Today he's the co-founder of a startup developing humanoid robots for military use, including the Phantom MK1, already being tested on the battlefields of Ukraine. In this episode of Beyond Borders, Mike sits down with Sacha for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've had. We go from the psychological whiplash of returning from combat to the ethics of autonomous weapons, to why he believes sending robots to war is not a dystopian nightmare but a moral imperative. In this episode we cover: 🪖 What deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan actually felt like and the jarring speed of returning to civilian life 🤖 The Phantom MK1: what it is, how it works, and what it's already doing in Ukraine ⚖️ The ethics of autonomous weapons: who should be in the loop when a machine makes a life-or-death decision? 🌍 The global arms race in AI and robotics and what it means for deterrence, stability, and civilian safety 💡 Why hardware, not software, may be the most transformative force in human history 🏛️ Should tech companies get to dictate how the military uses their technology or should we trust our generals? 📖 Mike's upcoming book What If Anger Is the Answer? and how controlled rage can be a force for meaningful change About Mike LeBlanc Mike LeBlanc is a Marine corps veteran, Harvard graduate, entrepreneur, and robotics founder. After tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he built a career at the intersection of defense, technology, and innovation. His startup is developing humanoid robots designed to reduce soldier casualties in active conflict zones. He is also the author of the upcoming book What If Anger Is the Answer?, which draws on military discipline, philosophy, and personal experience to reframe how we think about emotion and drive. If this conversation made you think, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you're building, leading, or navigating something hard — this podcast was made for you.

“I never imagined my path would take me from humanitarian work in Paris to investing in Silicon Valley.” That’s the unexpected journey of Sophie Durey—a global impact leader, investor, and entrepreneur whose career has spanned France, Switzerland, China, Mexico, and now the heart of Silicon Valley. In this episode of Beyond Borders: American Dreams, Real Stories, Sophie opens up about her international career, her transition from the nonprofit sector into impact investing, the challenges and opportunities of building a purpose-driven life in the U.S., and what she’s learned from supporting founders across the world. Sophie began her career in Paris after earning her Master’s from Sciences Po, then moved to Geneva to join Quadia, where she rose from investment analyst to Head of Impact Evaluation. In 2017, she landed in Silicon Valley, where she founded The Impact Evaluation Factory, co-built a multi-family office for self-made entrepreneurs, and today serves as Partner at Tamar Ventures and Venture Director at Tamar Capital, backing early-stage startups and designing programs to develop better founders. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention, global grit, and forging a mission-driven career across borders. 🚀 KEY TOPICS COVERED: ✓ Building a global impact career across Europe and the U.S. ✓ Transitioning from nonprofit work to impact investing ✓ How impact evaluation actually works for startups & VC funds ✓ Investing in early-stage founders with purpose-driven models ✓ What it takes to build a career in Silicon Valley as a European immigrant ✓ Starting a consulting firm in the U.S. ✓ Lessons from supporting founders through Tamar Ventures & Tamar Capital ✓ Navigating identity, purpose, and belonging across multiple countries ✓ The realities of being a multi-continent operator and investor 💼 WHO IS THIS FOR? → Immigrants building careers in impact, VC, or entrepreneurship → International professionals trying to break into Silicon Valley → Founders interested in impact measurement or purpose-driven business models → Students exploring careers in social impact or venture capital → Anyone seeking honest stories about reinvention across borders → Listeners who want a nuanced look at global careers and immigrant journeys

Pr. Julieta Gabiola grew up in a poor rural village in the Philippines, with no financial security, no network, and almost no pathways toward higher education. Today, she’s a professor at Stanford.The distance between these two worlds is filled with turning points she rarely shares — moments of doubt, courage, discrimination, reinvention, and a quiet, relentless determination that changed everything.In this episode, Julieta opens up about:• the unexpected event that first pushed her into nursing • what made her start over again — this time in medicine • the structural barriers she faced as a first-generation student and immigrant • the discrimination she encountered in academia, and how she chose to respond • the mindset that sustained her through years of uncertainty • why globalizing education is her life’s work *• the deeper meaning of resilience when starting with nothingThis is not just an inspiring journey. It is a blueprint for purpose, courage, and long-term leadership.Explore Julieta Gabiola’s workABC’s for Global Health (website): https://abcsforglobalhealth.org/

"I wondered if I'd made a huge mistake." That's what Florent Breton thought while driving for Uber in San Francisco, watching his student visa expire, and getting rejected by companies who wouldn't hire immigrants on temporary visas. Ten years later, Florent has led teams at Tesla, launched two venture-backed startups, raised millions, and became a US citizen. This is his real story — the visa struggles, the National Interest Waiver green card process, building a family in America, and what it actually takes to succeed as an immigrant entrepreneur. KEY TOPICS COVERED: ✓ Student visa to green card pathway ✓ National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW) process ✓ Job searching on temporary visas ✓ O-1 visa vs NIW green card ✓ Immigrant founder visa strategies ✓ Fundraising in Silicon Valley as an international founder ✓ Tesla career experience ✓ Venture-backed startup journey ✓ US citizenship process for entrepreneurs ✓ Immigration policy and reform

In this episode, Orestis Trasanidis shares his journey from Greece to Silicon Valley, exploring how purpose and cultural understanding drive innovation across continents. Drawing from his experience leading the EIT Hub in the U.S., he reflects on the contrasts between European and American startup mindsets—and how collaboration bridges those worlds. Together, we unpack what it truly means to “lead with the why” in a global innovation ecosystem shaped by communication, adaptability, and shared vision.

Daniel Zimmermann is an accomplished lawyer with extensive experience in complex corporate transactions and venture technology issues. For more than 20 years, he has advised entrepreneurs, emerging companies and technology startups, and draws on his global experiences counseling companies in the United States and Europe. His technology clients span the industry, including telecom, infrastructure, digital media, software, energy, clean tech, ecommerce, FinTech, edtech, digital health and healthcare IT, robotics and big data. Daniel is originally from Germany and has been in the US for over two decades. He has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers and Chambers USA as one of the top venture capital and corporate lawyers in California.