Application Policies, Process and Requirements

The Internal Medicine Residency Program is highly competitive. Students who think they are a good match for this program are encouraged to apply early and to make sure their Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) application is complete.

Consistent with the University of Louisville's non-discrimination policy, the Internal Medicine Residency Program does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, age, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national origin.

 

Selection Process

The program leadership team reviews every ERAS® application and selects candidates to invite for an interview.

  • We communicate with applicants exclusively by e-mail. Please check your e-mailboxes (in-box and junk-box) frequently. E-mail sent from ERAS® and messages sent via blind copy are frequently sent to junk e-mailboxes by email servers, so check both during interview season.

  • Invitations to interview are sent via e-mail. A timely response in the affirmative reserves an interview slot for you. No response or a late response can mean losing an interview spot. A response in the negative is common courtesy and appreciated.

  • If you accept the invitation, you will receive instructions via e-mail on how to schedule your interview online.

  • In some cases, applicants who are not considered for the first round of interviews will be asked if they would like to be on the waiting list. The committee reviews the waiting list periodically during the season and often selects applicants from that pool at a later time.

  • Categorical interviews in 2024 will be conducted in October through January using a virtual platform. Details are provided if an invitation is extended.

  • Preliminary candidates will be interviewed using a virtual platform in November and December. Details are provided if an invitation is extended.

  • We interview approximately 400 applicants for 24 categorical and 12 preliminary positions. If you see a strong match between your career goals and our program, please apply.

 

Application Requirements, Policies & Procedures

Resident working on applicationThe following application requirements apply to all applicants. See additional requirements for International Medical Graduates below.

  • Applications are only accepted via Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®).

  • For the 2024 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating in the supplemental ERAS application offered through the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) ERAS® program. Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application, and participation in the supplemental ERAS® application is optional.

    The additional information will help our program staff learn more about applicants' medical education journey, including more meaningful information about work, volunteer, and research experiences, and help us better identify applicants who fit our program environment and mission.

    This supplemental ERAS® application will be delivered on a survey platform outside the MyERAS application and must be completed between September 1 and September 30.

    Please bookmark the supplemental ERAS® application section of the AAMC website to find the latest information, FAQs, and resources.
  • We do NOT participate in pre-match selection.

  • Positions are NOT offered outside of the match.

  • Applicants must have graduated from medical school within the last three (3) years, no exceptions. For international applicants, the end date of the compulsory internship will be used as the graduation date

  • United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 1 scores must be available for an application to be considered, no exceptions. COMLEX scores for osteopathic students are considered.

  • Applicants may be considered for an interview before USMLE® Step 2 results are available, but Step 2 must be passed before an applicant will be ranked.

  • Applicants must have passed the USMLE® exam with no more than two (2) attempts.

  • A minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation is required; one of these should be the Internal Medicine Departmental Letter ("Chair's Letter"). IMG Grads: Three (3) letters of recommendation are required; see additional requirements below.

 

International Medical Graduates

The following additional application requirements apply to all International Medical Graduates.

  • If a VISA is required, IMGs must have an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates® (ECFMG®)-sponsored J-1 VISA in order to begin residency in our program. We do not sponsor nor accept H1-B VISAS, no exceptions.

  • A minimum of three (3) months U.S. clinical experience at medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is required. Hands-on U.S. clinical experience is preferred, but all U.S. clinical experiences (including observerships) will be considered.

  • One of the three (3) required letters of reference must be from a faculty member of the U.S. medical school where the applicant's clinical experience was obtained. The faculty member writing this letter of recommendation must have been directly involved with the applicant's clinical experience at the U.S. clinical site(s). The faculty member’s credentials must be included in the letter.

  • International Medical Graduates are selected for our program and the ratio of U.S. to IMG graduates varies year-to-year.

If you have questions that are not answered in the above information, it is best to e-mail us: intmed@louisville.edu. We respond to applicant e-mail daily.