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Adult Neurology Residency Training Program
neurology residents Requirements
International Medical Graduates
FAQ's




How to Apply to the Adult Neurology Program



For more information regarding this program, please contact:
Blair Ford, MD
NeuroResidency
@neuro.columbia.edu
Residency Training
Program Director
Neurological Institute
710 W 168th St
New York, NY 10032 To apply to our program, applications should be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). A link to the ERAS system can be found on the NRMP website: www.nrmp.org.

ERAS accepts applications beginning September 1. After a preliminary review of your completed application, you will be notified regarding the need for an interview via e-mail. Interviews are by invitation only and will be scheduled from November through late January.

Requirements



Residents must have at least one postgraduate year of full-time training in internal medicine. Transitional PGY-1 training (rotating medicine, surgery, and pediatrics) is not acceptable. Preliminary year positions in internal medicine are available at the Columbia University Medical Center, but separate applications must be made to the Medicine program. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity.

International Medical Graduates



The Department of Neurology welcomes applications from qualified international medical graduates who seek post-graduate education in Neurology. Applicants to the Neurology Training Program are generally considered only after successful completion of an internship in Internal Medicine at a university hospital in the United States or Canada.

Additional requirements for the Neurology Residency Program include:



  1. Successful completion of at least four credit years and graduation from a medical school listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED)

  2. Successful completion of USMLE Parts I and II (in recent years, applicants have generally scored above 95% on USMLE Part II)

  3. ECFMG certification [for information, go to website www.ECFMG.org]

  4. Acceptable U. S. visa for medical training (The Department cannot sponsor applicants)

  5. Fluency in spoken and written English


FAQ's



  1. Do you accept Foreign Medical Graduates? How many foreign medical graduates do you currently have in the program?



    The Department of Neurology has a long tradition of welcoming international medical graduates. Approximately 15% of the neurology residency program is made up of trainees who went to medical school in other countries. It is noted, however, that nearly every international resident in Columbia neurology accomplished several years of post-graduate clinical training in the US, including complete clinical fellowships, before applying to the Neurology Residency Program.

  2. Is US clinical experience required? Does your program consider observerships as US clinical experience?



    US clinical experience that includes direct responsibility for patient care is essential for applicants to the Neurology Residency Program at Columbia. Observerships, preceptorships, and laboratory-based rotations are valuable career experiences but do not count as sufficient clinical experience.

    For individuals who have no direct patient care experience in the US, it is best to enter a preliminary PGY-1 medicine program, and then apply to our neurology residency in the following match.

  3. What types of visas do you offer/sponsor?



    Columbia's Department of Neurology and the Graduate Medical Education Committee at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital do not sponsor visas, and specifically no longer [as of 2007] accept applicants currently on a H-1 visa. International medical trainees, therefore, must obtain a J-1 visa to participate in residency at Columbia.

  4. Is there a medical school graduation cut off date?

    No

  5. Are there USMLE minimum score requirements for step 1 and 2? How many attempts?



    There is no set minimum USMLE score but most applicants invited to interview for the residency program have achieved a score of 95% or higher on USMLE Parts I and II.

  6. Is research experience required?



    Research experience is expected in applicants to the Neurology Residency Program, and many applicants have published in the neurological literature. Our program encourages academic productivity, and actively recruits individuals who are interested in a clinical or laboratory research trajectory.

  7. Do I need to apply for the PGY-1 separately or do you coordinate interviews with Internal Medicine?



    At present, Columbia offers a limited number of combined Medicine/Neurology 4-year positions [Med-Prelim/Neurol P 1495140P1] . Outside of the combined 4-year slots, there are additional preliminary medicine slots available [Med-Prelim 1495140P0]. The Departments of Neurology and Medicine have a close collaboration, and make every effort to accommodate and coordinate applications from candidates applying to both programs.

  8. How many recommendations letters are required?



    Three letters of recommendation are required.

  9. Are positions available outside of the match?



    At this time, the Columbia Residency Program is not accepting applicants outside of the NRMP Match.


©1997-2008 The Neurological Institute of New York • At Columbia University Medical Center
Updated March 20, 2008 • Comments
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