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Applicant Specific Questions
What is your application deadline?
We accept applications via ERAS. The application deadline to be considered for an interview is October 11.
Does your program require a drug test?
Yes. If hired, this will be part of the onboarding process.
Does the program accept osteopathic applicants?
Yes, we accept both allopathic and osteopathic candidates.
By what criteria are residents selected?
Our program is built on a shared commitment to outstanding patient care, and the desire to nurture the careers of an exceptional group of young physicians. Our primary goal is to identify a group of residents who will be valued team members and additions to the Northwest community family. We look for applicants who value professionalism and teamwork, and who are eager to embrace progressive patient care responsibilities. Our residents have a strong academic record and a wide range of interests with excellent academic potential.
How are your interviews scheduled? How will we be notified of an invitation for a Northwest Arkansas interview?
Interviews will be conducted virtually and you will be notified via email.
Due to the volume of applications, we cannot communicate with you on your file status nor respond to your individual inquiries about our program. Please do not send us your application information via e-mail. We do not have the time to review those e-mail applications and we only accept applications via ERAS. We will begin our interviewing in October and continue through late January.
Do you expect or encourage post-interview communication or a second look as part of a high quality application?
No. We do not use post-interview communications in our ranking process. We do not have the ability to honor such requests and would be limited out of fairness to all. We also do not encourage nor offer opportunities for a “second look” to any applicant.
Do you hire outside of the NRMP Match?
No. Applications for the PGY-1 positions are only accepted via ERAS. Our program participates exclusively with the NRMP and ERAS. All applications must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We do not review any documents e-mailed to our resident coordinator (CV’s, research, etc.) nor communicate with the applicants due to the volume of requests.
How long can I be out of medical school and still apply for your program?
While most of our residents do not take time off between medical school and residency, we will evaluate applications on a case by case basis for qualified individuals who have graduated medical school two years prior to applying. International graduates must also meet at least one of the three ACGME additional qualifications.
Do you offer observerships, externships or volunteer research work?
Our UAMS policy excludes graduate-status individuals from observerships, externships, and shadowing opportunities at our campuses on any rotations students or residents are on. With that said, there are clinicians within Northwest Arkansas that are able to taken observers both in private practice and at our main participating hospital site, Mercy Northwest.
Our research team is also unable to support requests for volunteer research experience due to scholarly activity requirements for our residents and medical students.
If you are in an LCME-accredited medical school, you can apply to rotate with our residents and attendings at Mercy Northwest through the VSLO system.
Are applicants required to pass both the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK or COMLEX Level 1 and 2 prior to applying?
Yes, it is required to pass both exams prior to applying as we do look for passage of Step 1 and Step 2 or Comlex 1 and Comlex 2 during the screening process.
Do you have a minimum USMLE or COMLEX score?
There is no minimum USMLE or COMLEX scores for admission as this is only one of many criteria utilized in our selection process. We do not believe that a test score reflects the quality of a physician.
International Medical Graduate Questions
Do you accept international medical graduates?
Yes, we accept international graduates.
When do you require ECFMG certification? At the time of application or by the time the PGY1 resident starts residency in July?
We require ECFMG certification by the time the PGY1 resident starts residency in July.
Do you sponsor any Visas?
No. This residency program does not sponsor H-1B or J-1 visa status. For information on other non-immigrant visa types, or if you have questions, visit the UAMS Immigration Services page, or contact UAMS Immigration Services at AskImmigration@uams.edu.
Is U.S. clinical experience required for international graduates?
U.S. experience is not required, but it is highly encouraged. International graduates who do not have experience should provide a letter of recommendation attesting to excellent clinical communication skills. Please note that we do not count externships, observerships, or research work as clinical experience.
Program Specific Questions
Why have a residency program in Northwest Arkansas?
Northwest Arkansas’ population is now over 560,000 and growing by 1.3 percent annually. The four counties in the region—Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison—are considered to be medically underserved based on the Arkansas Department of Health Classifications. The strong and rapid growth of the 65+ age population requires greater utilization of health care resources in the future. The heightened demands for medical care increase the existing primary care physician shortage. This advanced medical education and training opportunity in Northwest Arkansas will help relieve the physician shortage. There is a high emphasis at the community and government level to increase graduate medical education positions in Northwest Arkansas.
How many PGY-1 positions are available?
There are 10 categorical positions each year in our three-year training program.
Do you have a bias for UAMS graduates?
We hope to recruit from our medical schoo,l but also to recruit the best and brightest residents from local, regional and international programs. It is our belief that a diverse residency program provides the best training environment for our communities.
How many clinical training sites are there?
Multiple, throughout the Northwest Arkansas Region. Our top sites include Mercy Northwest Hospital in Rogers, AR; Veterans Health Care Systems of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR; and the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, AR. Each participating hospital site has a faculty site director and core faculty. The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus is the site for educational activities (i.e. simulation, Continuity Clinics, and research electives).
How long does it take to drive between hospitals?
All of our sites are close in proximity. The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks is next door to the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus. Mercy Northwest in Rogers is approximately 20 minutes away.
Where do most residents end up living and do they buy or rent?
The majority of our residents this year chose to live in Rogers, Arkansas with rentals preferred, but several have also purchased homes.
What resources does the Internal Medicine Residency at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus offer?
Our residency program has the following educational resources for our residents: (subject to change annually based on budget)
- MKSAP online subscription for each resident
- ACP Resident Membership
- Arkansas ACP Chapter Membership
- Our UAMS Library has numerous e-Resources available which include eBooks and e-Journals at the UAMS campuses and are available to all UAMS faculty, students, and staff. These include Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, Access Medicine, Up-To-Date, Lexi-Comp, EBM Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews
- UWORLD for Step 3 or Comquest for Comlex 3
- Registration cost for Step 3 or Comlex 3
- Travel costs above UAMS educational stipend if presenting scholarly activity at a national conference of merit
Do you have an example of the resident contract?
- Yes, please click this link to view our resident contract: Contract
Benefit Questions
What are your benefits and terms and conditions for appointment (employment) in residency training programs at UAMS?
- Benefit Summary for Medical
Please refer to the GME policy website here
Salary
What is the salary?
For further questions regarding salary, benefits, sample contracts, please refer to the House staff handbook
Duty Hour Questions
How does the program comply with the duty hours regulations?
Our program answers to our UAMS GME Office, as well as, the national (ACGME/RRC) work hour regulations. All residents are required to log the hours weekly electronically within our New Innovations Residency Management Software. We monitor their hours regularly to ensure all weeks logged are under 80 hours a week.
Do you participate in the couple’s match?
Absolutely. We welcome applicants participating in the couples match and will be flexible in arranging your interview day
How does the cost of living in Fayetteville, Arkansas compare to other larger cities?
You can check this out here
When are my days off?
All residents (PGY-1, PGY-2, PGY-3) get one day off in seven when averaged over a one month rotation. Some rotations such as outpatient clinic based rotations offer more than 1 day off a week, but the minimum is always 1 day off a week.
How does the program teach quality improvement?
Quality Improvement (QI) is taught in a variety of activities and forums. All QI activities are supervised and evaluated by faculty with training and interest in quality and safety.
Residents are given the opportunity to participate in RQUEST which is a structured QI program through the UAMS Little Rock campus
Are white coats available?
The Department provides long white coats to all our residents. We provide 2 white coats for new interns and one new coat each year, if needed. We also purchase UAMS jackets for new residents.
Does the program support professional society membership?
Yes. The program pays for a resident membership to the American College of Physicians which includes the local Arkansas Chapter of the ACP.
Research
Are there opportunities for research?
The understanding of research methodology is an essential component of Internal Medicine training. We require all categorical residents to complete and present a scholarly project during the course of their residency. Projects can range from basic science research to clinical/translational research to curricular development/assessment to quality improvement projects.
Continuity Clinic Questions
Where is your Continuity Clinic experience located at in this training program?
Continuity Clinics are held at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville and at VHSO in Fayetteville. Residents are assigned to one site for the entirety of the time in residency. The residents provide ongoing continuity care for their own panel of patients under the supervision of experienced academic general internists. This home base helps the resident develop longitudinal relationships with the ambulatory faculty who train the residents and oversee the patients that are assigned. During the resident’s continuity session, a 4 to 1 resident to faculty ratio is maintained and the faculty devotes their time exclusively to precepting.