Frequently Asked Questions
How does the program utilize the geographic preference and program signaling information provided in ERAS?
In a hypothetical case of two equally qualified candidates, it is more likely that the candidate to receive an invitation to interview would be the one who indicated the geographic preference or signaled our program. The equally qualified candidate who neither indicated a preference for our geographic region nor signaled our program would likely not receive an invitation. However, these are by no means the only factors in assessing candidates. And to be clear, they are far less significant in comparison to other attributes related to a candidate's academic performance during medical school.
The geographic preference is particularly vexing for us. We are considered to be in the Southeastern region, which extends from Maryland all the way south to Florida. It is a large region; we wish the section could have been divided into smaller areas, such as the Mid-Atlantic.
Does the program incorporate a candidate's year of graduation from medical school in assessing applications?
Yes, however, the program does not have a firm limit on the number of years since medical school graduation.
The further a candidate is since graduation, the less current their medical knowledge and experience will be. Therefore, if applicants have been clinically active and have maintained their clinical skills, the year they graduated from medical school will generally not be a factor. For instance, if applicants completed residency training in their home country, thus building upon their medical skills, they would receive less scrutiny over their graduation year. However, suppose an applicant has not been clinically active, perhaps engaging in research. In that case, we estimate that their clinical knowledge and experience acquired from medical school have decayed in about seven years. And consequently, there is a disparity in the readiness for residency training between applicants who graduated from medical school a relatively long time ago compared to recent graduates.
Does the program require U.S. clinical experience?
No, the program does not require U.S. clinical experience. We recognize that clinical experience in the States can be challenging to obtain, and experience varies widely from one site to another. We receive many inquiries regarding whether we offer clinical experience here at our institution, and unfortunately, we cannot do so. This policy enables us to provide an optimal educational experience for medical students enrolled here.
Does the program require research experience in its applicants?
No, the program does not require research experience. The value of research experience depends on an applicant's future career aspirations. If an applicant is interested in pursuing an academic career, it would be beneficial to have applicable research experiences. However, if an applicant aspires to a clinical career, research experience is not required to be successful.
Does the program require international applicants to be certified by the ECFMG?
Yes, all international medical graduates must be Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certified by the time the program submits its rank list. However, you do not need to be ECFMG certified at the time of your interview.
The program usually submits its rank list in the second week of February. We can only enter an applicant's name on our rank list if they are certified by the ECFMG.
Will the program offer "second look" visits after the initial interview?
No, the program does not offer "second look" visits. The Department of Medicine staff faces challenges on many sides, including scheduling interviews, coordinating interview days and maintaining applicant files. We are unable to arrange individual visits to the hospital. Indeed, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) discourages "second look" visits. These visits would run counter to the current AAIM policy, which supports equity for applicants and programs.