GME Internal Medicine

Application

Please submit your applications through ERAS.  We participate in both ERAS and NRMP using the following program code:

• Categorical: 1362140C0

Interview

We currently conduct all interviews virtually using Thalamus.  Our interview season runs from late October through mid-December. The virtual interview day will include interviews with the Program Director, faculty members and residents.

We will provide an opportunity for campus visits for those who wish to tour the facility. We are participating in the NRMP 'Voluntary Program Rank Order List (ROL) Lock' program. This requires that we lock our rank order list prior to the certificate deadline, which will alow us to provide a window when applicants can visit our program in-person without concern that the visit will alter our ranking preferences.  

What We Look For

We seek to recruit qualified candidates from a variety of backgrounds with the goal of creating a diverse and balanced training program. We welcome applications from US and international graduates of both osteopathic and allopathic medical programs. We review all aspects of an application, but traditionally have looked for applicants with the following attributes. 

• Minimum USMLE step 1 score: 215; COMLEX step 1 score: 500*
• Minimum USMLE step 2 score: 220; COMLEX step 2 score: 525
• Minimum of 2 letters of recommendation
• Graduation from medical school within the last 3-5 years
• We sponsor H1 and J1 visas**

*if Step 1 was taken after Feb 2022 then a PASS on the first attempt is required.
** Given currently changing immigration guidance and regulations, we cannot guarantee sponsorship of H-1B visas.  We are currently waiting full guidance regarding the impacts of the recent executive order before we can comment further on H-1 visa sponsorship.

We may consider candidates who fall outside of the above test score ranges in the presence of other favorable attributes that may make them a good fit for our program.

The additional attributes we take into consideration for all candidates include: 

• Leadership skills
• Scholarly and/or research experience
• Community service
• Prior clinical experience
• Language skills
• Advocacy activities

The typical inpatient ward day is from 6:30 a.m. with sign-out to long call at 4:30 p.m. The long call system is outlined in the training experience section. You will receive new patients from the night float team as well as from your attending physician. Bedside rounding usually begins at 9 a.m., starting with multidisciplinary rounds where the team meets to discuss each patient with care coordinators, nursing and therapy services. Residents typically round until noon where they break for noon conference. In the afternoons, residents complete an additional admission, carry out care plans, attend a case conference and/or participate in Gel rounds to hone their POCUS skills. 

The typical clinic day in the JFK clinic are divided into morning (8am-12pm) and afternoon (1pm-5pm) sessions with a break for Noon Conference. Resident schedules have a mix of patient encounters including new and established patient visits, annual visits for preventive care, ER and hospital follow-ups and telehealth visits. The clinic incorporates opportunities to work closely with clinical nursing staff, social work, dieticians, and a clinical pharmacist all while having the opportunity to get 1:1 teaching from attending physicians. Thursday mornings are dedicated to our Academic Half Day curriculum while Wednesday afternoons are used for administrative tasks and self-guided well-being activities. Thursday mornings also incorporate a rotating specialty clinic that includes allergy, addiction and musculoskeletal disease specialty care. 

Elective months start and end at the discretion of each primary care or specialty attending. Emergency room months do have some evening shifts.

Request a Rotation

Our mission is to train the next generation of compassionate, community-minded, excellent internists extends beyond our residents to the students we work with as well. During a student’s time at Mercy we hope we will challenge them grow and learn what it means to possess those characteristics as a physician. Our sub-internships are intended to be 4-week rotations for visiting students interested in pursuing residency at Mercy Hospital – St. Louis following graduation from medical school.

Currently we have sub-internship opportunities for both our inpatient General Medicine services and our ambulatory JFK Clinic. We currently accept 2 sub-interns per month on the inpatient services from late July to the end of February, and 1 sub-intern per month in the clinic from late July to the end of January. Further information regarding both the inpatient and clinic experience can be found here.

Each year, we will accept applications up until March 15. We will begin our review process on March 15 and will notify all applicants of the outcome by April 1. In order to be considered for a JFK-Ambulatory or Inpatient Internal Medicine rotation, we ask that you send the following information to Michelle Kempf:

• Application
• CV
• Board scores (USMLE/COMLEX)
• Current transcripts
• Letter of Intent (please include details about what motivated you to pursue Internal Medicine, why are you interested in an audition rotation at Mercy St. Louis, and list any attributes you wish to share)

Incomplete applications may not be reviewed due to high volumes of applications, so please be sure to submit all required documentation prior to the March 15^th deadline.

Our program requirements for International Graduates are as follows:

• You must apply through ERAS.
• Minimum of 220 on both steps 1 and 2*
• Graduation year within the last 5 years
• 3 months of US clinical experience is preferred (observerships do not count)
• Minimum of 2 LOR’s – 1 must be from a US physician
• We sponsor the H-1 Visa (we will consider sponsoring J1 on an individual basis and will be discussed if invited for an interview)**

Regarding rotation opportunities for international medical graduates/students, our institution currently does not sponsor externships or observerships.

*if Step 1 was taken after Feb 2022 then a PASS on the first attempt is required
** Given currently changing immigration guidance and regulations, we cannot guarantee sponsorship of H-1B visas.  We are currently waiting full guidance regarding the impacts of the recent executive order before we can comment further on H-1 visa sponsorship.

St Louis is a great place to raise a family. The combined city and county population is around 1.3 million.  

• STL Myseum, The Magic House, The National Museum of Transportation and City Museum are a few of the fun places you can take your small children to on days too hot or cold to be outside.
• St. Louis has a Six Flags location for adrenaline junkies.
• We have the Katy Trail for bike enthusiasts.
• Forest Park is a great place to walk or relax and boasts its annual balloon race.
• Nearby state parks include Pierre Marquette and Castlewood for hiking or mountain biking. 
• Music and food trucks at the St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum and many other neighborhood parks in the summer.
• Many St. Louis suburbs have fantastic farmer’s markets in the summer.  
• The Muny, The Fabulous Fox, The Sheldon, Stifel Theatre and many other venues offer musicals, plays and symphonies. 
• We have our beloved Cardinals at Busch Stadium as well as the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis City SC for sports enthusiasts.  

A “coach” system in the Residency Program partners an intern with a senior resident. This is to help those interns who are new to the city with work and play-related questions.

We offer residents opportunities to rotate at Mercy’s state-of-the-art Virtual Care Center with experiences in virtual hospitalist care, substance use disorder management, population health and more!

Our program was established in 1954. Many of our graduates enter primary care practice within our Mercy Medical Group, join our hospitalist group or are chosen to stay on as teaching faculty. We have had many residents placed in fellowships including Cardiology, Heme-Onc, Critical Care, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, GI, Pulmonary and Allergy and Immunology. A list of career destinations for our recent graduates can be found here.