Application and Interview Process/Directions to Northwestern
NRMP/ERAS/Program Tracks
Northwestern offers two program tracks for the NRMP Match. The Categorical track (NRMP #2247040C0) is a four-year program which includes a preliminary medicine year (11 blocks of medicine and two blocks of anesthesiology) at Northwestern. There are 11 Categorical positions available. On the other hand, the Advanced track (NRMP #2247040A0) is the three-year specialty program where the applicant would need to secure a first-year position at another residency program. There are 10 Advanced positions available. We recommend that applicants check both tracks in ERAS.
Applicants seeking a PGY1 Categorical position for the 2010-2011 year or a CA-1 Advanced position for the 2011-2012 year will need to apply through ERAS. All 21 positions are filled through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). We will accept applications until December 31, 2009.
Selection Process
During the 2008-2009 recruitment season, the Department of Anesthesiology received 1080 ERAS applications from American and International Medical Graduates. From these applications, the Resident Recruitment Committee interviewed 147 medical students for 21 positions. We expect to interview the same number of applicants this year.
Interviews occur on Mondays and Fridays and occasionally on Wednesdays from November through January each year. Below are the following interview days for the 2009-2010 recruitment season:
November 16, 18, 23, and 30
December 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 14
January 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 20, and 22
When selecting an applicant for an interview, the Resident Recruitment Committee considers many factors, including strong letters of recommendation (at least three) from various specialties, 3rd-year Core Clerkship grades, previous clinical experience, the Dean's Letter (Medical Student Performance Evaluation), personal statement, and USMLE scores. Of the latter, we prefer applicants to score 215 or greater on Step 1 and 2. Applicants can be selected to interview based on their Step 1 score only, and they are not required to take Step 2 before their interview. However, applicants are required to pass Steps 1 and 2 before starting their residency training.
If the Residency Recruitment Committee selects you for an interview, the Department will contact you via e-mail and phone. You will receive further instructions about the dinner and interview day. The Department will pay the parking expenses for those applicants who drive to the dinner and/or interview.
Outside-the-Match/PGY-2 Positions
On occasion, the Department has an outside-the-match CA-1 position available. Please call Christopher Zell to check if a CA 1 position is available. If a position exists, he will ask you for the following documentation:
1. Current CV
2. ERAS application from medical school
3. Letters of Recommendation from PGY-1 year of training
4. Personal Statement
6. Performance Evaluations from PGY-1 year of training
Interview Day
Since the Resident Recruitment Committee would like to get to know each applicant, only 6-10 applicants are interviewed each day. All interviews and presentations occur in the Department of Anesthesiology Administrative Office. The night before the interview, one of the chief residents hosts a dinner for the applicants at a downtown Chicago restaurant. Several of our residents attend this dinner with the applicants.
The following day, applicants arrive at the Department of Anesthesiology at 7:45 am for a continental breakfast where they meet the Residency Program Manager (Christopher Zell, MS) and the Program Assistant (Carolyn Betts). The Department Chair, Program Director, "Educator of the Year", and a fourth faculty member interview the applicants. In addition, a faculty representative from three subspecialy areas, including Obstetric, Regional, Pain Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, or Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology will discuss the clinical, research, and didactics components from their respective section.
The anesthesiology residents host a lunch for the applicants and the chief resident provides a guided tour of the medical facilities. Overall, applicants experience a thorough, well-organized, yet "laid back" interview day. Most interview days end by 2:00pm. The Department will pay for your parking expenses provided you park your car in the hospital garage (Lot C) located on Huron between St. Clair and Fairbanks streets (See Map)
Diversity Program of Northwestern University
Sunny Gibson, MSW
Director, Office of Minority and Cultural Affairs
Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine
303 E. Chicago Avenue, Morton 1-658
Chicago, IL 60611
312-503-0461 (office)
312-503-4476 (direct line)
312-363-7337 (mobile)
312-503-4474 (fax)
http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/diversity/omca
Maps of Northwestern (Chicago Campus)/Driving Directions
Northwestern University/Northwestern Memorial Hospital
http://www.northwestern.edu/visiting/maps/
McGaw/Olson Pavilion (Department of Anesthesiology)
http://aquavite.northwestern.edu/maps/buildinglookup.cgi?lookupid=35
Directions
Google Maps
http://www.northwestern.edu/visiting/directions/