Application Process

PGY1 Applications

The University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals Internal Medicine Program accepts PGY1 applications only through ERAS – the Electronic Residency Application Service, administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Required Documents

New PGY1 applications must be received by the ERAS Post Office no later than November 1.

The following items are required as part of your ERAS application:

  • Personal Statement

    Please submit a brief personal statement telling us something about yourself, your plans for residency training, and your career goals in medicine (academic medicine, practice, general internal medicine, medicine subspecialty, type and location of practice, etc.)

  • Medical School Transcript

    Ask your medical school to provide an official copy of your transcript.

  • Dean's Letter

    Ask your medical school to provide a copy of your Dean's letter. Your Dean's letter is required to complete your application, but we may be able to invite you for an interview before receiving your Dean's letter (November 1). Therefore, you should arrange for the other supporting materials to be sent as soon as possible.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    In addition to an "official departmental letter", request at least two letters of recommendation from members of the Internal Medicine faculty of your medical school or of schools where you have taken electives. If no "official departmental letter" is available at your school, request at least three letters of recommendation. If you are applying for a preliminary position it is not required that all your letters are from Internal Medicine faculty, though these are preferred.

  • USMLE Transcripts

    If you wish to have your USMLE scores made a part of your ERAS application, request that the transcript be submitted to the ERAS Post Office.

Criteria for International Medical Graduates

The University of Washington Internal Medicine Residency Program will accept applications from International Medical Graduates only if they meet all three (3) of the following criteria:

  1. The applicant must be either:

    1. A permanent resident of one of these WWAMI states:

      • Washington
      • Wyoming
      • Alaska
      • Montana
      • Idaho

      2. OR

    2. Sponsored by a faculty member of the University of Washington School of Medicine who has a personal or professional relationship with the applicant.

      • The sponsoring faculty member must write a letter to the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director containing:
        1. A description of the relationship with the applicant (for example, common ties with the applicant’s school, serving as clinical or research supervisor during electives at the University of Washington, etc.)
        2. Information about the applicant’s academic background and qualifications.
      • This letter must be submitted electronically via the ERAS Post Office.

  2. The applicant must have documentation of successful completion of either:

    1. At least 8 weeks’ (2 months) of Internal Medicine clinical clerkships and/or sub-internships at an LCME-accredited U.S., Puerto Rican, or Canadian medical school.

      • This training must have involved direct patient care responsibilities.
      • Observer status ("observerships") or consultation rotations do not meet this requirement. A letter of recommendation from the supervising physician for this training must accompany your application. It must include the date, location, and type of clerkship or subinternship experience. This letter must be submitted electronically via the ERAS post office.
      • These clinical experiences must be completed by November 30.

      2. OR

    2. Documentation of successful completion of at least four months of residency training in Internal Medicine at an ACGME accredited U.S., Puerto Rican, or Canadian program.

      • This training must have involved direct patient care responsibilities. Consultation rotations do not meet this requirement.
      • A letter of recommendation from the program director for this training must accompany your ERAS application and must include the date and location of the residency training experience. This letter must be submitted electronically via the ERAS post office.
      • These clinical experiences must be completed by November 30.

  3. The applicant must apply through the ECFMG ERAS program. Applications must be received by the ERAS Post Office no later than November 30.

Thank you again for your interest in our program. We look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

Visas

The UW Internal Medicine Residency Program accepts foreign national physicians who meet UW Elibigility and Selection requirements into its accredited residency program. Foreign nationals requiring visa sponsorship must obtain a J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The UW does not generally provide H-1B sponsorship for residents or fellows in its clinical training programs unless the resident/fellow is otherwise ineligible for a J-1 visa. Requests for H- 1B visa sponsorship are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to approval by the UW GME Office and the UW Provost's Office.

Foreign nationals who attended a US medical school on an F-1 visa may apply for a year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) through their medical school. Processing typically takes 3 months. The OPT year provides students sponsored on an F-1 visa with an opportunity for hands-on work experiences complementary to their academic field of study for up to 12-months. During this period the trainee will still be considered an F-1 student and will be issued an Employee Authorization Document (EAD) card. Prior to the end of 12-month OPT period, the trainee will need to apply for another type of visa in order to continue in the training program. The GME Office should be contacted in advance to discuss visa options.

Please refer to UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures for more detail.

Interview Procedures

Invitations to visit our program and to have interviews with our faculty will be given only to applicants who, in our opinion, have a reasonable chance of matching into one or more of the tracks in our program.

An invitation can be extended only after we have reviewed material supporting your application. Your Dean's letter is required to complete your application, but we may be able to invite you for an interview before receiving your Dean's letter; therefore, you should arrange for the other supporting materials to be sent as soon as possible. After reviewing these materials, we will let you know via e-mail if you are being invited to visit our program and interview.

Since there is a limit to the number of applicants we can accommodate on any given day, as soon as possible after receiving your invitation, you should schedule your visit with our office.

Interviews are assigned on the basis of track and special interests. Interviews are intended to help us determine your suitability for the track(s) to which you have applied; to learn more about your special interests, accomplishments, and future goals; and to answer any additional questions you might have concerning our program. We will not attempt to assess your medical knowledge during the interview.

If, for reasons of personal hardship, you are unable to visit Seattle, special arrangements (such as a telephone interview with the program director or an associate program director) may be made. Rest assured that these accomodations will not compromise your chances of selection.

PGY2 and Above Applications

To apply at the PGY2 level or above submit this application form to the following address.


Internal Medicine Residency Program
University of Washington
Box 356421
Seattle, WA 98195-6421

phone: (206) 543-3605
fax: (206) 685-8652