Important Information for application through the NRMP Match for July 1 start date:
The Pathology Residency at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) selects its residents from eligible applicants on the basis of their demonstrated preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. We evaluate candidates based on their entire application. Our residency does not discriminate in the selection of its residents on the basis of gender, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected status. Residents are annually selected via the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), and applications must be received through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) by the deadline indicated below in order to ensure consideration.
Applicants must have one of the following qualifications for appointment as a pathology resident at ETSU:
Graduate of a medical school in the U.S. or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).- Graduate of a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.
- Graduate of a medical school outside the United States or Canada must have a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment.
In order to be selected for an interview, it is expected that applicants will have either already secured one of the above qualifications or that there is a reasonable expectation that they will have secured such qualification by the start of their pathology residency training.
In general, it is expected that International Medical Graduates (IMGs) will already have obtained an ECFMG certificate at the time of their submitting an application.
IMG applicants who are senior students expected to graduate before the matriculation date are exempted from having an ECFMG certificate at the time of application, but are expected to have successfully completed all the required examinations, and that there is a reasonable expectation that they will be ECFMG certified upon graduation.
Successful candidates must meet all eligibility requirements for appointment to ETSU’s GME programs, and all our affiliated hospitals, including vaccination and other health requirements. Verification of compliance with the Selective Services System registration requirements is a condition for appointment to our affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The following factors are weighed heavily in making decisions with regard to interviews and ranking:
- Examinations:
- We are most interested in candidates who have demonstrated ability to pass examinations on first attempt and scored at or above the mean on on examinations that report scores. Candidates with lower scores may still be considered depending on the strength of the overall application. We only accept official transcripts for USMLE and COMLEX examinations, and do not accept copies of candidates’ score reports.
- Evidence of passing USMLE step 1 or COMLEX level 1 must be available before the applicant can be considered for an interview.
- For senior students, we strongly prefer that USMLE or COMLEX Step 2 scores be available at the time of application. Passing Step 2 examinations is required before the candidate can be placed on the rank order list (ROL).
- Medical graduates must have passed have passed USMLE Step 2 or COMLEX 2. Passing step 3 is viewed very favorably.
- Official examination transcripts are a required part of the application, even if the candidate has a full medical license. Applications lacking an official examination transcript will not be considered.
- Time Since Graduation: We strongly prefer that no more than five years should have passed since graduation from medical school. If it has been longer than five years, but less than ten years, since medical school graduation, some allowance may be given for participation in activities during the interim that have been directly related to experience with the clinical practice of pathology.
- Any interruption in education and/or training should be explained in the application.
- Evidence of Exposure to Pathology: It is our expectation that the candidate has had a documented exposure to the practice of pathology during or after graduation from medical school. Evidence of a formal pathology rotation is the typical way of meeting this requirement. Familiarity with U.S. pathology practice, as well as demonstrated interest in and motivation for the practice of pathology are important.
- Letters of Recommendation: At least three letters of recommendation must be provided, with at least one of
these provided by a U.S. pathologist. It is preferred that all of the letters be from
U.S. physicians and that at least two of these be from U.S. pathologists who have
an academic appointment. The letters should not be from acquaintances or colleagues
and should primarily address the applicant's suitability for training in the discipline of
pathology.
Candidates who have previously completed all or part of an ACGME- accredited residency in any specialty, and those who are currently in such an ACGME-accredited program are expected to have a letter of evaluation/recommendation from the program director or an appropriate surrogate. - Citizenship and Visa: Applicants should be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, hold an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or be eligible for a J-1 visa. Other physicians who have been awarded the right to reside and work in the United States through alternate means such as the granting of asylum will also be considered.
- Additional Requirements:
- Please submit a personal statement. The personal statement should tell us how you discovered pathology, and what is your pre-residency experience with pathology, and why you think pathology is a good career for you. It is also a good place to address weaknesses and highlight strength in your application.
- Evidence of good oral and written communication in English, including an excellent command of English medical terminology, is required.
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the U.S. healthcare system.
- The applications of graduates of international medical schools that do not meet the standards of the Tennessee Board of Medical examiners will not be considered.
- Special circumstances or qualifications not listed above may also be considered while evaluating applicants. Some requirements may be waived if the candidate has other exceptional qualifications that would merit such consideration.
- Deadlines: Complete applications must be received by December 15 for appointments beginning July 1, however, we strongly encourage earlier submission of applications since we have limited interview slots that are often completely filled well in advance of the deadline.
- Interview Invitations:
NOTE: All interviews will be conducted remotely by video teleconference. We will be using Zoom, and we will be providing links for each interview session. If you are not familiar with that platform we suggest that you review their FAQ section.
We begin review of applications as soon as they are released, and we start issuing interview invitations on the uniform specialty release date. We issue invitations weekly throughout the season until all interview spots have been filled. Most invitations are issued by mid-December, but we continue to issue invitations throughout the recruitment season to replace any late cancellations. Invitations are typically sent on Mondays and may be sent by direct email or through ERAS. You will have four days to respond to the offer before it expires. We receive many more applications from candidates who meet our minimal selection criteria than we can possibly interview.
Ranking of the applicants to our residency program is performed by our selection committee.
For additional information about the residency program, contact us at path@etsu.edu
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