Internal Medicine Residency

Interview Process

We will proceed in the 2024-25 match season in alignment with the AAIM Recommendations for the Internal Medicine Residency Interview Season. All applications will be reviewed based on holistic review principles and practices as outlined by the AAMC. We follow the framework outlined by the AAMC for resident assessment at multiple steps in our recruiting process. All faculty members and staff are trained in implicit bias, specifically as it pertains to the assessment of applicants; our process is designed to incorporate principles of mitigating bias.

We will start our review process on September 25, 2024, and will release invites in four different waves on the following dates:

1. October 14, 2024
2. October 25, 2024
3. November 15, 2024
4. December 16, 2024

All applicants whose application is submitted by October 1, 2024, will be notified by October 18th of their status: invited, under review, or declined. All applicants under review will have a final status identified by December 16, 2024. All applicants that accept an interview invitation within 48 hours will be guaranteed an interview slot though they may be placed on a waiting list and are not guaranteed specific dates.

Applicants applying to the rural and tribal health track should indicate this track preference in their ERAS application. Applicants are expected to interview with both the categorical program and on a follow-up rural and tribal health track interview day:

• November 20, 2024 (8:00 AM–12:00 pm EST)
• December 18, 2024 (8:00 AM–12:00 pm EST)
• January 15, 2025 (8:00 AM–12:00 pm EST)

All interviews for the 2024-25 season will be conducted virtually. Our half-day interview will include the following activities:

• Program overview
• Morning report session
• Interviews with Program Director and faculty
• Overview of outpatient clinic and Mission Hospital
• Resident panel sessions
• Benefits and Asheville information session
• Three optional open house sessions highlighting scholarship and research, community-focused opportunities, and fostering community and belonging in our program

Interview dates for the 2024-25 season are listed below.

• Tuesday Mornings (7:00 am–11:30 am EST)
• November 5, 12, 19, 26
• December 3, 10, 17
• January 7, 14, 21
• Friday Afternoons (11:00 am–3:30 pm EST)
• November 1, 8, 15, 22
• December 6, 13, 20
• January 10, 17, 24

Application Requirements

We review all applications through ERAS. We require the following components in the application in order to assist us with a full, holistic review:

• ERAS application
• Personal statement
• MSPE
• Four letters of recommendation, one of which must be a Department Chair’s Letter or Department Summary Letter
• USMLE or COMLEX documents

We are participating in program signaling as it allows us to identify applicants who are genuinely interested in our program and whose interests and experiences align with our program’s setting, mission, and goals.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs will select from among eligible applicants on the basis of residency program-related criteria such as their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.

Minimum Requirements

An applicant must meet or exceed the following minimum qualification(s) to be eligible for selection and appointment to MAHEC’s GME residency programs:

• Be a graduate of a medical school in the United States or Canada, accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); or
• Be a graduate of a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
• Be a graduate of a non-LCME- or AOA-approved medical school who also meets one of the following additional qualifications:
• holds a currently-valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment; or
• holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a United States licensing jurisdiction in his or her current ACGME specialty/subspecialty program; or
• has graduated from a medical school outside the United States and has completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by a LCME-accredited medical school.
• Passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2 or COMLEX 1 and 2 within three attempts, as required by the North Carolina Medical Board.
• Be eligible for a NC resident training license.
• Be eligible to work in the U.S. (citizen, permanent resident, eligible visa including J1). MAHEC does not sponsor H1B or other visas.

VISA Sponsorship

MAHEC does not directly sponsor residents or fellows that need a J-1 Sponsorship VISA. Non-U.S. citizen applicants needing visa sponsorship must secure this directory from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The ECFMG is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor foreign national physicians for the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa for the purpose of participating in U.S. programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training, or advanced research programs (involving primarily observation, consultation, teaching, or research). Although many universities and research institutions in the United States are authorized to sponsor exchange visitors as research scholars, ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs.

Questions regarding VISA Sponsorship should be directed to the GME office at 828-232-2946 or gme@mahec.net.