Application

Application Procedure

UCSD selects its residents through ERAS and the National Resident Matching Program. We expect to have 40 intern level positions available in June, 2009 as follows:

Categories Number of Positions NRMP CODE
Categorical Internal Medicine 22 1049140C0
Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) 5 1049140C1
Categorical Combined Medicine/Pediatrics 4 1049700C0
Preliminary Medicine 10 1049140P0

 

Interview Calendar

The tentative schedule of interview dates for the 2008-2009 interview season:

  • Monday, November 24, 2008
  • Tuesday, November 25, 2008
  • Monday, December 1, 2008
  • Tuesday, December 2, 2008
  • Thursday, December 11, 2008
  • Monday, December 15, 2008
  • Tuesday, December 16, 2008
  • Thursday, December 18, 2008
  • Monday, January 5, 2009
  • Tuesday, January 6, 2009
  • Thursday, January 8, 2009
  • Monday, January 12, 2009
  • Tuesday, January 13, 2009
  • Thursday, January 15, 2009
  • Tuesday, January 20, 2009
  • Monday, January 26, 2009
  • Tuesday, January 27, 2009
  • Thursday, January 29, 2009

Physician-Scientist Training Program

Candidates interested in the research residency pathway should indicate their interest on the ERAS application form. Please provide a short essay outlining prior research experience, publications and areas of research interest. Also, indicate subspecialty, research and faculty laboratories which suit your interests. Candidates applying for the PSTP are encouraged to plan a two day interview at UCSD. The first day will consist of visiting the residency training program and the second day visiting the research program, faculty and laboratories. PSTP Interviews will be scheduled in conjunction with the traditional interviewing sessions for all tracks. Individuals enter the PSTP upon application to the residency training program with concurrent acceptance into the research fellowship program.

Interview dates for PSTP candidates are yet to be determined.

Dinners with PSTP resident/fellow/mentors will be held on the evening of the first day of your visit to our program. For specific questions regarding a PSTP application, please contact Sara Hershman at (619) 543-3973. For specific questions regarding research opportunities, please contact Allison Reinhardt at (858)-246-0227.

Advanced Level Positions

Physicians interested in advanced-level positions, should contact Sara Hershman or fax your curriculum vitae to (619) 543-6529 by the first week in December. Availability of these positions varies from year to year.

Application Requirements

Our application deadline is December 1st of each recruitment year. We will not accept ERAS applications past this deadline.

We generally receive approximately 2,000 completed applications per year. Our residency recruitment committee reviews all applications, evaluating multiple factors including:

  • General academic performance.
  • Clinical performance (particularly in internal medicine and related rotations).
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Personal qualities and achievements.

We invite approximately 500 applicants for interview, and generally host about 450 applicants during our open house sessions.

In order to complete your file, we require:

  1. Your Dean's letter.
  2. Your medical school transcript.
  3. Your USMLE/ National Board scores, Step I and II (Step II if available, however not mandatory for application review).
  4. Three separate letters of recommendation from the following indviduals:
    1. The Department Chairman in Medicine (or his/her designee).
    2. An internal medicine faculty member.
    3. A faculty member of your choice.

We will accept additional letters via ERAS if you have them available. If applying for the Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics program, please provide four letters of recommendation, two from medicine and two from pediatrics, one each being from the Chair, Program Director or Clerkship Director representing each specialty.

Recommendation letters should be addressed according to ERAS instructions.

Visiting Clerkships

Medical students interested in serving a clerkship/elective at UCSD may contact Adrianne Edwards in the Office of Student Affairs for application material.

International Medical Graduates

Requirements for international medical graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate training in medicine are:

  1. Possess a current ECFMG certificate. Your questions regarding certification and examination should be addressed with ECFMG:
    ECFMG
    3624 Market Street
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
    (215) 386-5900
  2. Pass either of the following: FLEX Component 1 or NBME I and II, or USMLE Steps 1 and 2. Applicants with failures on USMLE will not be considered for training in our program.
  3. File an application for licensure with the California State Board of Medical Quality Assurance, Division of Licensing, and obtain a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) which authorizes eligibility to begin postgraduate training in California. This letter must be received by the December 1 deadline in order for your file to be processed. For application material contact the Medical Board of California:
    Medical Board of California
    Division of Licensing
    1426 Howe Avenue
    Sacramento, California 95825-3236
    (916) 263-2499
  4. Secure a J-1 Visa through ECFMG with issuance of IAP-66. The Department of Medicine does not support the H1B Visa for residency training.
  5. As discussed earlier in Application Procedures, our program participates in ERAS and does not send information via U.S. Mail, nor will we accept a paper application. The ECFMG office will serve as the designated Dean's office and can provide detailed information.

We do not offer observerships in the Department of Medicine.

More Information

Information about UCSD policies and procedures, housestaff benefits, licensure and registration is available on the Office of Graduate Medical Education website.