When is the deadline for applying through ERAS?
The deadline is October 31, but we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible because we do run out of interview slots every year.
**If you are selected for an interview- we strongly recommend that you DO NOT double book yourself with another program on that day. Time can run over, and we would not want you to be late to your interview for either program.
What are the minimum USMLE score requirements for your program?
We review applicants' entire applications, including transcripts, USMLE scores/pass status, letters of recommendation, CVs, and personal statements and do not use a minimum score filter. **Please note that you must take and pass Step 1 and Step 2, or equivalent COMLEX, for us to rank you for your program** We may offer interviews without Step 2 scores in certain scenarios, but we cannot rank you without it.
How do you use program signals?
There are many talented applicants but a limited number of interview slots. We preferentially review applications from persons who express interest in our program through a program signal. Therefore, an highly qualified applicant who signaled our program has a better chance at being offered an interview than a similarly highly qualified applicant who did not signal our program. Program signals are not used for ranking.
When is your start date for intern year?
If your Deans and faculty advisors haven't told you yet, there is an old wives' tale that residency always starts at the beginning of July -- most of us in fact start in June! Our start date for AY2024-25 is on or around June 13, 2025 -- this includes required institutional orientation, credentialing activities, and officially starting patient care before July! On the flip side, our residency program finishes about a week before July, so if you choose to do a fellowship you will have time to move to your new location and get situated in time for fellowship orientation!
What about International Medical Graduates (IMGs)?
We accept talented, qualified applicants to our program, regardless of the medical school they attend. For IMGs, we require at least 1 month of hands-on US clinical experience. We also recommend IMGs to have graduated from medical school or have had clinical experience within 3 years of applying to our residency program. An understanding of the medical language and the basics of the American medical system is necessary so that the transition to internship can be as rapid and smooth as possible. We are only able to accommodate J1 visas per our GME policies.
Do you offer externships or observerships?
We do not offer these options through the residency program. If you're an international medical graduate, please visit the GW International Medicine Programs Office. They currently offer various opportunities for international medical graduates.
How are our residents evaluated?
In addition to regular on-the-fly verbal feedback from attendings, at the conclusion of each rotation, housestaff receive formal written evaluations from their attendings. They also receive anonymous written peer evaluations, student evaluations, and nursing evaluations for rotations where this is appropriate. We use MedHub (residency database), where residents have immediate access to all their evaluation information. Our Clinical Competency Committees (CCCs) review each resident's evaluations and progress in our program at least twice per year (and per ACGME requirements, assess their progress on achieving the Internal Medicine Milestones). Faculty on the CCCs are each assigned 5-6 housestaff for whom they closely follow evaluations and with whom they sit down twice per year for a semi-annual meeting in which they discuss feedback and input from the CCC, as well as the resident's goals for training and beyond. For continuity, by the conclusion of categorical residency training, each resident should have had 6 semi-annual meetings with the same CCC faculty advisor.
Do your interns or residents work extended overnight shifts on any rotations?
As of 2024-25 academic year, our program has eliminated all 24-hour call shifts based on resident feedback. All services at our 3 sites now utilize a night float system for all teams and the daytime admitting schedule varies by service.
Do you use electronic medical records (EMR)?
YES! We are paperless and use EMR for patient notes, orders, and results. This is true of our clinic, GWU Hospital, and all affiliated sites. The EMRs (EPIC, Cerner, and CPRS) differ by the affiliated sites but our residents become pros quickly and love sharing EMR tips and tricks with each other and attendings!
What is the on-call schedule?
At GW, ward teams are on long call every sixth day (q6) within a drip system (teams getting a small number of admissions each day) and night float team for overnight cross-cover and admissions. The VA has a geographic drip system (with teams getting admissions each day) and a night team for overnight admissions. The GW ICU and VA MICU team are on overnight extended call every fourth night (q4) with intern-resident pairs working together. The NIH rotation has extended call every 4th night.
Remember, since we are a 4+1 system and we respect the ambulatory/clinic weekend, every 5th weekend is a bonus golden weekend.
What about days off?
In addition to scheduled vacation weeks, interns and residents average at least four days off during each ward, ICU, and cardiology month. We strictly abide by the one day off in seven!! Many electives have 2 days off. In addition, the 4+1 schedule provides more weekend days off during each ambulatory week (or +1 week for prelims).
Is there a research requirement?
Yes, we require all categorical and primary care residents to complete scholarly activity, and to submit their work for publication or for presentation at a regional or national conference. Scholarly activity can be in various forms (health services, clinical, and/or bench research; quality improvement, case reports, medical education, and other forms of scholarship). Our research & writing curriculum and quality improvement and high value care curriculum equip residents with the skills to complete this requirement. Residents work closely with faculty mentors on projects. Residents may present their work internally, at GW research day, and at local, regional, and national conferences (and we cover the costs!)
Please see our Resident Research page for more information.
Is there support for travel to a national meeting?
Yes! Housestaff who present scholarly work performed at GW are eligible for conference and travel expense reimbursement for up to $1500 per year. We love when our residents get to show off their achievements and represent us around the country!
Can residents at GW qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
As an employee of The George Washington University (which is a 501c3 organization), time spent as a resident here can count towards the Public Loan Forgiveness Program through Direct Loans!
How do you help residents prepare for the ABIM certification exam?
We offer cover MKSAP and UWorld for board preparation.
We purchase the ACP Board Review Course for residents.
We keep MKSAP books in our offices for residents to borrow. All housestaff have free access through the GWU library to MDConsult, DynaMed, Clinical Key, Epocrates, and Lexicomp, as well as over three dozen textbooks and almost 1,000 journals in full text. Residents get access to Up to Date through the VA Medical Center. Library resources and Up to Date can be accessed online from any location, including from home.
NBME In-Training Exam: Our residents take the in-training exam to help define areas of improvement for individuals and the program. Results of this examination directly guide the content of our academic conferences and help inform individual learning plans for residents.
Didactics/Teaching: At least once per week, didactics have an exam preparation focus. Topics selected are informed by in-training exam results. We also highlight learning pearls on our weekly teaching summary.