Medical Doctors by Country:
Pathways, Types of Degrees, and Scope of Practice

This CME lecture provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of medical education pathways, types of practitioners, and scopes of practice across four countries: South Korea, the USA, Canada, and Thailand. Participants will explore the diverse educational journeys—from medical school entry to post-graduate degrees—and the specific licensing processes required for both conventional and traditional/complementary medical doctors.

By examining the unique integration of systems like Korean Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Naturopathy, and Traditional Chinese/Thai Medicine, learners will gain a systematic understanding of how different regulatory frameworks define professional roles. 
Format

Recorded Video

Starting date

January 27,
2026

Faculty

Mariana Suarez Martinez,  Vanessa Cha

Credits

0.5 CPD
0.5 CME

Duration

30 minutes

Price

Free

Overview

Learning Objectives

CME Credits

In this CME session, we will explore the diverse medical systems of South Korea, the USA, Canada, and Thailand, focusing on their unique educational pathways, practitioner degrees, and specific scopes of practice. The lecture highlights the systematic journey from medical school to specialized residency, the integration of traditional and conventional medicine, and the regulatory frameworks that define how various doctors—from MDs to KMDs, NDs, and TCM practitioners—deliver patient care.

Participants will gain practical insights into the global healthcare landscape, including the comparative requirements for licensing examinations and the evolving legal boundaries of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This understanding will enable healthcare professionals to better appreciate different training backgrounds and professional roles, fostering improved collaboration and patient safety within the international medical community.
At the conclusion of the session, learners should be able to:

1.  Understand and compare the educational pathways and licensing processes for medical doctors across different countries.

2. Differentiate the types of medical practitioners and degrees and explain their respective training backgrounds and professional roles within each healthcare system.

3. Identify and critically assess differences in scope of practice and regulatory frameworks among countries.
The following is activity is accredited to provide the following credits: 

  • 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

Faculty and disclosure

Mariana Suarez Martinez

  • Universtiy of Texas at San Antonia
  • UT Health San Antonio: Research Associate- Emergency Departrment
  • Texas Institute of Dermatology: Medical Assistant/Receptionist
  • Texas Biomedical Research Institute Internship
  • VAW Global Health Alliance– Medical Chapter - Team Leader/President- Fellowship
  • Pre-Medical Society, JAB (Journal, Article, Book) Officer


Vanessa Cha

  • Northeastern University - Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • Honors: Dean’s List, summa cum laude
  • University College of London - Summer School Psychology Electives
  • Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital - Research Assistant at The Mediation Research Program
  • BWH South Huntington Primary Care - Medical Assistant


Mariana Suarez Martinez, Vanessa Cha have disclosed no relevant financial relationships to this activity.

Planners, Reviewers and Editors

Jinho Lee, KMD
In-Hyuk Ha, KMD
Young Suk Yoon, KMD
Nakyoung Lee, KMD
Jinyong Choi, KMD
Dohee Shin
Minjung Park
Younghun Kim
Shania Darville (University of South Florida)
Mariana Suarez-Martinez (Universtiy of Texas at San Antonia)
Chanya Pangneewong (Kasetsart University)
Vanessa Cha (Northeastern University)
Junhee Lee (Pomona College)


The planners, reviewers, and editors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships to this activity.

Disclosures

Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine requires every individual in a position to control educational content to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

All relevant financial relationships for anyone with the ability to control the content of this educational activity are listed below and have been mitigated according to Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine policies. Others involved in the planning of this activity have no relevant financial relationships. 

Disclaimer

The opinions and ideas expressed in this educational activity are solely those of the faculty and are not necessarily endorsed by, nor do they necessarily reflect, those of their affiliated institution(s) or Jaseng Medical Academy. Clinical judgment must guide each physician in weighing the possible risks and benefits of any diagnostics, interventions, or treatments discussed. Physicians should review manufacturers’ product information and consider these along with the recommendations of other authorities when applying the assessment and/or clinical management strategies discussed in this activity to their patients.

CME Information

CME Accreditation Statement

Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit(s) commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Discussion of Off-Label Uses and Investigational Products

During the course of their presentation(s), the faculty may mention the use of the product(s) that have not been approved for the indication(s) being discussed. All faculty are instructed to notify when they are discussing unapproved uses or investigational agents. In addition, relevant slides will include notation of the off-label use or investigational agent being discussed. Views presented related to unapproved uses of products are solely those of the faculty and are not endorsed by, nor do they reflect, those of Jaseng Medical Academy.

Statement of Independence

CME activities of Jaseng Medical Academy are developed and conducted in accordance with the ACCME's Essential Areas and Policies. It is the mission of Jaseng Medical Academy to develop and present CME and other educational activities in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine that are timely, balanced, scientifically rigorous, and that serve to improve competency, performance, and patient outcomes. To that end, we welcome your comments on areas of needs and/or gaps in your medical practice and how to better serve your needs.

Questions? If you have questions about this activity, please email jaseng.education@jaseng.co.kr or call us at +82-2-2222-2792.

Refunds and Cancelations

Refunds

If you paid for an individual course and it is not what you were expecting, you can request a refund within 14 days of your payment. You are not eligible for a refund if you’ve completed 50% or more of the course, earned a course certificate, or 14 days have passed since your payment. However, if a course you purchased is disabled for legal or policy reasons, or in cases of system error, you are entitled to request a refund beyond the 14-day limit.

This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated on the title page; physicians should claim only those credits that reflect the time spent in the activity. To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted on the title page. 

Cancelations

During the course of their presentation(s), the faculty may mention the use of the product(s) that have not been approved for the indication(s) being discussed. All faculty are instructed to notify when they are discussing unapproved uses or investigational agents. In addition, relevant slides will include notation of the off-label use or investigational agent being discussed. Views presented related to unapproved uses of products are solely those of the faculty and are not endorsed by, nor do they reflect, those of Jaseng Medical Academy.

CME Instructions

There is a variable fee for participating in or receiving credit for this online educational activity. 

This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated on the title page; physicians should claim only those credits that reflect the time spent in the activity. To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted on the title page. 

Follow the steps to earn CME/CE Credits:

1. Read the title page, overview and description, learning objectives, and author disclosure

2. Complete and view all education content

3. Complete the pre-test, post-test, and evaluation survey to provide feedback on the program. (Tests are not graded)

4. You may view, print, and download your certificate on your dashboard.


Credits will be tallied in your CME/CE Tracker and archived for 6 years; at any point within this time period, you can print out the tally as well as the certificates from the CME/CE Tracker.