Revised 6/6/2024
We only accept applications via ERAS, and adhere to all NRMP guidelines and rules. Each year we fill four categorical intern positions and three preliminary intern positions. To be considered all applicants must have three letters of recommendation from surgery faculty (a non-surgical letter is encouraged but does not substitute for the required three letters from surgeons) and must have successfully passed USMLE Step 1. Our program will consider USMLE Step 2 scores when finalizing rankings, so applicants are encouraged to take Step 2 as soon as possible and to do well on the exam. Applicants will not be placed on the program’s rank list without a reported Step 2 score.
International medical graduates must also have a valid ECFMG certificate and meet the requirements to obtain a postgraduate training license from the California Medical Board.
Discrimination in hiring is both wrong and illegal. We do not deliberately engage in any discriminatory practices during our interview or ranking process, and we continually reevaluate our interviewing and ranking process to root out inadvertent discriminatory practices or outcomes. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our process and actively incorporate such feedback with each new year.
Interviews will be held from October to January. All interviews for categorical positions will be conducted in person at San Joaquin General Hospital with an optional resident-applicant dinner the night before. We appreciate that in person interviews are costly and time-consuming, but we do feel that they are the best way to evaluate applicants and they are the best way for applicants to evaluate our program. All applicants who would like to speak to the program director about the program beforehand should contact us via email to schedule a brief phone call. This phone call will not be considered in any way when our program ranks candidates and no record of it will be kept by our program.
All interviews for preliminary positions will be held virtually via Zoom. Applicants who interview for categorical positions but with weaker applications may wish to simultaneously apply for a preliminary position, in which case they will not be asked to interview again. Our program considers such a decision a sign of maturity and dedication to the profession and it does not impact invitation or ranking decisions in any way.