Frequently asked questions

How do I apply?

We accept all applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

What is the application timeline?

View the application timeline.

What documents do I need to apply?

• ERAS application (Electronic Residency Application Service)
• Letters of recommendation
• Department of Medicine Structured Evaluation Letter (IM SEL)
• Letter can be written by Department of Medicine chair, internal medicine clerkship director or dean.
• Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM)-recommended standardized template is preferred. Click here to view the template.
• **If your school doesn’t offer this, provide an additional clinical letter of recommendation instead.**
• At least one clinical letter of recommendation (LOR) from an internal medicine faculty member
• Letters should be written by physicians who are qualified to evaluate your ability and performance.
• Letters should refer to your term of service and your ability and performance.
• An optional LOR could be provided by clinical faculty or a scholarly project mentor.
• All letters should be submitted to the ERAS system.
• Current curriculum vitae (ERAS-generated)
• Personal statement
• Official medical school transcript (translated to English if applicable)
• Official USMLE/COMLEX transcript
• Step 1/Level 1 is required to apply (consideration given to applicants with pass on first attempt)
• Step 2/Level 2 is required prior to the match
• We highly encourage you to have Step 2/Level 2 scores available before the application deadline. Special consideration will be given to those that have both Step/Level scores available by the application deadline.
• Current professional photo

Are you requiring applicants to complete the supplemental ERAS application?

• For the 2024 ERAS cycle, our program is strongly encouraging all applicants to complete a supplemental ERAS application, offered through the AAMC’s ERAS program. Applicants also will be required to complete the MyERAS application.
• The additional information will help our program staff learn more about applicants’ medical education journey, including more meaningful information about work, volunteer, and research experiences, and help us better identify applicants who fit our program environment and mission.  
• Bookmark the supplemental ERAS application section of the AAMC website to find the latest information, FAQs and resources.

Are there additional requirements for international medical graduates?

• Graduation from medical school within the past 3 years
• U.S. experience (i.e., “observership”) is preferred but not required.
• Geisinger Medical Center doesn’t offer observerships.
• Current ECFMG certification
• Geisinger Medical Center offers both J-1 and H-1B visas to qualified candidates.
• If you want an H-1B visa, you must pass USMLE Step 3 and the score report must be available by Match Day.  Please note that the number of H-1B visas may be limited.

What is the interview process like?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews this year will take place virtually.  We hope to be able to offer an on-site “second look” to interviewes prior to the rank deadline as well.

We hope you’ll join us on interview day to learn more about the Geisinger difference, our unique training environment and the opportunities we have to offer.

• Interview invitations are extended to prospective applicants via the interview scheduler system.
• Interviews occur from mid-October until mid-January.
• Most interview days occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
• If selected for an interview, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about our program more in-depth. You’ll also interact with current residents, which is an integral part of the interview process.

What is life like in Danville?

Located on the banks of the Susquehanna River near the scenic Appalachian Mountain range, Danville is a vibrant small town, offering year-round cultural events.  Our community is safe, family friendly, great for outdoor enthusiasts, and has an excellent low cost of living.  We are also within a short drive to other major east coast cities. 

What’s the rotation schedule like?

See the curriculum page for details, including a sample block schedule.

What didactic sessions are offered?

See the didactics page for details.

What can I expect from the ambulatory experience?

• You’ll maintain patient panels in your general internal medicine (ambulatory medicine) continuity clinic. The continuity clinic is located on the ground floor of the Danville campus.
• As a resident, you’ll have a 6+2 schedule. This means you’ll have ambulatory clinic every 6 weeks for a 2-week period throughout the academic year.
• The Internal Medicine Ambulatory Curriculum (IMAC) is a didactic series focusing on various internal medicine topics.
• You’ll have the opportunity to rotate through many experiences, including:
• Addiction medicine
• Behavioral health
• Cardiology
• Culinary medicine
• Community practice at a free clinic
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Gynecology
• High-acuity and hospital discharge clinics
• Nephrology
• OMT clinic for osteopathic recognition residents
• Pulmonology
• Rheumatology

What fellowships does Geisinger offer?

• Addiction medicine
• Bariatric medicine and nutrition
• Cardiology
  • Interventional cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
• Clinical informatics
• Critical care medicine
• Gastroenterology
  • Advanced endoscopy
• Hematology/oncology
• Hospice and palliative medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Nephrology
• Pulmonary and critical care medicine
• Rheumatology
• Sleep medicine
• Sports medicine 

Where do residents go after graduation?

Thirty to forty percent of our graduates practice in primary care or hospitalist medicine. And more than 65% practice in Pennsylvania.

Most (60–70%) of our graduates pursue fellowship training at institutes across the U.S.