FAQs

A: Thank you for your interest in our program! We would be glad to address any questions that you may have about our residency – but we ask that you first please review this website thoroughly before calling or writing us. We are inundated with calls and emails from applicants every day, and most answers to the questions we receive by phone or email are on this website or specifically in this FAQ section. If you still have questions, after careful review of this website, please use the contact information at the bottom/footer of this page to get in touch with us. Interviews are offered/scheduled via email, and this is our preferred method of communication with applicants.

Q: Does your institution/program ever sponsor resident applicants with Visas?

A: No. New Hanover Regional Medical Center does not accept or sponsor any visas. There are no exceptions to this rule. There is no plan for this rule to change in the near future. You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the U.S., or have EAD status for us to even consider your application. If you apply to us and have any other status, your application will not be considered for an interview.

Q: Does your institution/program consider applications from both American Medical Graduates (AMGs) and International Medical Graduates (IMGs)?

A: Yes. Although a large number of our residents have trained at American medical schools, we are looking to recruit the most talented and enthusiastic new residents – those who will thrive in our educational setting. Hence, we are open to considering capable applicants from all backgrounds.

Q: Does your institution/program offer observerships or externships?

A: No. As of July 2009, we are unfortunately no longer offering observership or externship opportunities at our program due to institutional policies related to HIPAA and liability insurance. We do however offer a number of elective rotations for medical students visiting from medical schools outside of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Q: Does your program accept applicants through both ERAS and the osteopathic (AOA) Match?

A: Yes. We participate in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP) and offer two major tracks at our program:

We also are an AOA-accredited program and definitely encourage/welcome applicants from osteopathic schools. We fulfill all requirements for a Transitional Year curriculum. We have supported transitional year interns who have moved onto subspecialty programs (such as radiology) as well as matched many categorical internal medicine residents for our three year program. We encourage osteopathic students to consider applying to our program through the AOA match.

Q: Do you have minimum USMLE scores when considering applicants for an interview?

A: Yes. The acceptable minimum USMLE (two-digit) score is 80. Almost all interviewed applicants have passed each USMLE Step on the first attempt and have already completed/passed Step I, Step II, and Step II CS. We do not consider applicants with more than two attempts on any individual USMLE Step, or with failures on more than one Step.

Q: Are COMLEX scores OK for osteopathic applicants, instead of USMLE’s?

A: Yes. Similar to the USMLE requirements, the acceptable minimum COMLEX (two-digit) score is 80. Almost all interviewed applicants have passed each COMLEX Step on the first attempt and have already completed/passed Step I, Step II, and Step II CS. We do not consider applicants with more than two attempts on any individual COMLEX Step, or with failures on more than one Step.

Q: I graduated from medical school four years ago and am applying to residency now – is that OK?

A: Yes. Graduation from medical school should not exceed 5 years unless a candidate is truly exceptional and has ample U.S. clinical experience in internal medicine.

Q: Is U.S. clinical experience a requirement for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who apply to your program?

A: Yes. Prior U.S. clinical experience is strongly preferred before applying to our program. Almost all interviewed applicants who are IMGs have had some U.S. clinical work/experience specifically in internal medicine. We strongly encourage IMG applicants to obtain letters of recommendation from mentors within the U.S. who have observed their clinical work in this country and in the field of internal medicine. Please also note that ECFMG certificates, when appropriate, must be current prior to the Match.

Q: What qualifies as “U.S. clinical experience”?

A: Many different types of opportunities can be considered to be “U.S. clinical experience”. In our program’s opinion, the best kind is an experience such as an externship or medical school clinical rotation where the applicant has performed hands-on clinical work (direct patient care) in an observed and evaluated setting within internal medicine. Letters of recommendation from preceptors in this type of setting carry the strongest weight when our program chooses applicants to interview. Other opportunities, such as observerships and volunteer work in clinical positions, are also considered to be “U.S. clinical experience”.

Q: Is research experience a requirement for applicants?

A: No. Research experience is great, but we are looking for applicants who have strong clinical skills. You will have opportunities to learn more about clinical research if you match to our program.

Q: When is your interview season?

A: Our interview season begins on November 1 and ends January 31.

Q: How late can I still apply to your program?

A: We will review all applications that are received prior to December 31. However, interview spots are limited and very competitive – we encourage everyone to apply as early as possible to have the highest likelihood for receiving an interview.

Q: How important are duty hours in your program?

A: We strictly abide by all ACGME regulations for internal medicine residency programs. This includes all regulations regarding duty hours. In our program, we strongly emphasize maintaining a balance between service and education.

Q: Is there a lot of teaching in your program?

A: We pride ourselves in the quantity and quality of the educational opportunities at our residency program. At NHRMC, you can have exceptional mentoring and learning opportunities within a technologically advanced health care system. Our program is an affiliate teaching site of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, based at the South East Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC). All of our attendings are full-time faculty at UNC who share a passion for academic internal medicine and medical education. With our university affiliations and active, enthusiastic faculty, we provide a strong academic foundation for resident training in a supportive learning environment.

Q: Where do your graduates go after completing residency?

A: In the past five years, our residents have chosen to pursue varying careers after completing residency, including positions in academic general internal medicine, primary care/private practice, and hospitalist work. About one-third of these residents take positions locally (in southeastern North Carolina), and over half (53%) stay in-state. A number of our residents have also obtained subspecialty fellowship positions at prestigious university medical centers across the country. Please see the section of our website entitled ‘Career Choices of Our Recent Graduates’ for further information.


 

For more information on our program, please contact:

Ruth H. Smith, Program Administrator
John E. Snyder, MS, MD, FACP, Program Director
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
SEAHEC
imresidency@seahec.net
910-667-9308
910-762-6800 fax

Check out the Facebook page for the NHRMC Internal Medicine Residency Program… become a fan and interact with our current and former residents in the discussion boards.