Residency Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your residency program have vacancies?
Our program does not currently have any vacancies. We will interview Fall 2007 for positions in academic years 2008 and 2009. We interview for four positions each year. Two of these positions include an internship at UVA, while the other two positions begin as a PGY2, pending completion of an accredited internship in surgery, medicine, or a transitional year. Those who interview in Fall 2007 for the two PGY1/intern categorical positions would start July 2008. Those who interview Fall 2007 for the two PGY2 advanced positions would start July 2009.
Program Requirements
Physicians seeking specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia must complete four years of graduate medical education, three years of which must be Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training. Of these three years no more than six months can be elective. No more than one month of this elective time may be taken in a non-ACGME accredited program, unless prior approval is given by the Review Committee.
One year of the four years' training will develop fundamental clinical skills. This year of training in fundamental clinical skills must consist of an accredited transitional year program or include at least six months in accredited training in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, or surgery, or any combination of these patient care experiences. The remaining months of this year may include any combination of accredited specialties or subspecialties, which may not include more than four weeks of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Residents appointed at the PGY-2 level are required to have received satisfactory training in fundamental clinical skills.
Accredited training in any of the specialties or subspecialties selected must be for a period of at least four weeks. No more than eight weeks may be in non-direct patient care experiences, such as pathology, radiology and research. Training in fundamental clinical skills must be completed within the first two years of the four year training program.
How do I apply to your program?
We accept applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service/ERAS.
What is included in a full application?
An NRMP application form; a full medical school transcript; USMLE or COMLEX scores (no minimum scores, just first-time passes); three letters of recommendation; your medical school Dean's letter; and a personal statement.
When is your application deadline?
The deadline for completed applications this year is November 1st, 2007.
What is your program looking for in an applicant?
Our program seeks recent medical school graduates with a commitment to physical medicine and rehabilitation, a good academic record, good clinical skills, and a solid pass on the first attempt at the USMLE or COMLEX.
Do you have a score cut-off for applicants for exams?
No, but we are looking for those who pass exams the first time they take them. As far as desired scores, you are competing with the rest of the applicant pool.
Do you have a cut-off for years since graduation from medical school?
No, but we prefer you either to have graduated within five years, or to have been involved in clinical work since then.
When are your interviews?
An invitation to interview will be sent to selected applicants via e-mail through ERAS.
We will begin notifying applicants for interviews in late October 2007.
Does your program accept international medical graduates?
Our program accepts international medical graduates who meet the following criteria:
They have graduated from medical school preferably within the last 5 years; they are ECFMG certified; and it is a plus if they have completed some clinical experience in the United States with evaluations from each experience included in the application. If an applicant graduated from medical school more than five years ago, but has been actively practicing medicine since then, his or her application may still be considered on a case-by-case basis.
All graduates of foreign medical schools, other than those in the Fifth Pathway program, must hold a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to be appointed as a resident or fellow. For more information on certification please contact:ECFMG, 3624 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA. Based on your current certification status, you may be required to take the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) and/or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For information, contact the ECFMG or consult with the visa section of the United States embassy in your country of origin or an INS office in the United States.
Applicants who are not United States citizens are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa and maintaining legal permission to work in the United States. Employment is contingent upon evidence of the appropriate visa and permission to work in the United States to a University official. Generally, foreign medical graduates are sponsored by the ECFMG for J-1 visas.
J1 - Exchange Visitor Visa: Our program sponsors this type of visa. This visa is processed by the UVA Housestaff Office. It is intended for residents and fellows in training and requires that they return to their country following training for two years before they can reenter the country in another status. We do not sponsor the F1 Practical Training visa or the H1B work visa.
ERAS is available to students and graduates of foreign medical schools through the ECFMG which serves as their designated Dean’s office.
Application Advice: (1) take Step 1 USMLE; (2) work on ECFMG certificate; (3) register with NRMP; (4) letters of recommendation; (5) try to do an extern rotation in the US.
Please feel free to contact the PM&R Residency Coordinator for more information about our Residency Program.