Thank you for your interest in the MAHEC Transitional Year Program. This TY program will be part of the Family
Medicine Program at MAHEC. We are a well-rounded program, with lots of opportunities for learning and growing as a
physician. We have robust inpatient and outpatient opportunities, including time to explore your subspecialty choice
and elective experiences. Our program is built around 40+ years of training family medicine providers at Mission
Hospital,MAHEC clinics, and community physicians. We offer great experiences rotating through our family medicine
and gynecology practices to the inpatient medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology and surgery
lines at the hospital. Our Transitional Year program will prepare you for any "next step" specialty you may
seek.
Ample training opportunities are available with well-developed didactics, a state of the art Simulation Center,
community electives and learning opportunities. Research experiences are encouraged. We have many opportunities for
you to collaborate with other programs on a research project while you'rehere, supported by a strong MAHEC
research team. MAHEC offers fellowships in sports medicine, addiction medicine, consultation-liasion psychiatry,
hospice and palliative medicine, andcritical care surgery with others awaiting ACGME accreditation.
The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are an exciting backdrop for your year of training and adventure. This will be a
robust year full of learning and experiences in medicine. MAHEC believes that well rounded physicians need to focus
on their wellness and prevent burnout by nurturing the whole person. If outdoor adventures nurture you, you have
come to the right place! The City of Asheville and the region of Western North Carolina offer outdoor opportunities
for all. If culinary and cultural adventures are part of what renews your spirit, those experiences abound!
Asheville and our surrounding area draw a broad range of persons to our offices and our hospital. Persons of many
backgrounds live and work in this area. There are many opportunities to be a part of the community, either in the
city or in the rural outlying areas.
If MAHEC and Asheville are calling to you for a year of learning, camaraderie and adventure, then please come check
us out!
Our Team
Melissa Hicks, MD
Faculty Physician
Transitional Year Residency Program Director
35 years experience in Primary Care and OB
Ginger Poulton, MD, MSEd, DipABLM Faculty Physician
Transitional Year Residency Program Assistant Director
Tealok Ray Transitional Year Residency Program Administrator tealok.ray@mahec.net
Values Statement
Excellence: We deliver quality activities and services that our customers and partners value.
Diversity: We promote equity and inclusivity.
Integrity: We act with fairness, transparency, and the highest level of ethics.
Collaboration: We value partnerships and support interprofessional approaches.
Improvement: We continuously innovate and improve our work.
Foundational Principles
Civility: We treat all people with respect and kindness, all the time.
Inclusivity: We value the contribution of people different than ourselves and the merits of an
organization that reflects differences in our teams and our community.
Empowerment: We value engagement, commitment, and ownership of MAHEC’s mission, work, and
budget.
Our Commitment
MAHEC is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive place to work, learn, and receive care. We actively recruit physicians, staff, and students from underrepresented minorities, and we strive to implement policies and procedures that value and support diverse backgrounds and experiences. MAHEC does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, spiritual practice, geography, disability, or age.
Educational Goals and Objectives
Exposure to common ambulatory problems
Treatment of both acute and chronic problems
Emphasis on preventive medicine
Documentation and accurate coding
Improvement in oral presentations and clinical skills
Value of Information/Experience to the Transitional Year Intern:
A number of the patients who are seen in the Family Health Center are adults and elderly patients. Opportunities to
see these patients and to experience the operation of a private practice should provide preparation for future
practice.
Principal Teaching Methods:
The physician will learn by seeing and evaluating patients. Then the physician will present these patients to the
faculty who serve as precepting physicians. There is discussion regarding the findings and the differential
diagnosis in order to arrive at an appropriate treatment plan.
Educational Content of the Rotation:
The patients seen will consist of all ages from newborn to the elderly. This will also include obstetrical patients.
Some opportunities for outpatient procedures may be available.
Components of the Physical Exam Stressed:
The Transitional Year Interns will be required to do a complete physical exam.
Procedures:
Opportunities include giving immunizations; vision, hearing and pulmonary screening; EKG interpretation; minor office
surgery; stress testing and ultrasound for obstetrical patients; and endoscopy.
Goals and Objectives of the Family Medicine Rotation
At the end of the Family Medicine rotation the Transitional Year Interns will develop knowledge of:
Medical Knowledge: Competency
Normal anatomy and physiology of the adult
Principles of complete history taking and physical examination of the adult patient
Principles of preventive health including risk reduction and screening
Gastrointestinal disorders including hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, colitis, diverticulitis,
cholecystitis, peptic ulcer disease, and bowel obstruction
Endocrine conditions including diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal diseases, and lipid disorders
Renal conditions including urinary tract infections, nephrolithiasis, acute and chronic renal failure
/obstruction
Musculoskeletal conditions including back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, collagen vascular diseases and
osteoarthritis
Infectious diseases (bacterial, viral and fungal) that are commonly encountered in the adult population
Neurological conditions including stroke/TIA’s, seizures, meningitis, coma, movement disorders,
dementia, nerve entrapment syndromes and tumors
Pulmonary disorders including asthma, COPD, bronchitis, pneumonia, thromboembolism, fibrosis, neoplasms,
respiratory failure and evaluation of pulmonary function testing
Patient Care, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice:
Perform a comprehensive history and physical examination of the adolescent and adult patient
Develop a rational plan of care for his patient, including identification and reduction of risk factors with
consideration of the social and economic impact of treatment on the patient
Understand current concepts in medical record documentation
Interpret an EKG
Interpret pulmonary function tests
Prepare and interpret a gram stain
Aspirate and inject a joint
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Perform a flexible sigmoidoscopy
Perform a thorocentesis
Perform a paracentesis
Perform a lumbar puncture
Patient Care and systems
Assess post hospitalization needs and initiate appropriate services
Participate in patient education and family conferences regarding hospitalization of a family member
Procedures:
Most opportunities for performing the above procedures come during the course of caring for assigned inpatients;
some (EKG interpretation, flexible sigmoidoscopy) are specifically taught in the MAHEC Family Health Center.
Transitional Year PGY1
Block (4 week)
Site
Site Number
Rotation Name
% Outpatient
1
MAHEC
1
Family Medicine (Dr. Hicks)
100%
2
Mission Hospital
2
General Surgery (Dr. Shurr)
0%
3
Mission Hospital & MAHEC Ob/Gyn
1, 3
Gynecology (Dr. England)
50%
4
Mission Hospital
2
Medical ICU (Dr. Gutman)
0%
5
Mission Hospital
2
Family Practice Service (Dr. Alexander)
0%
6
MAHEC
1
Family Medicine (Dr. Hicks)
100%
7
Mission Hospital
2
Inpatient Medicine Teaching Service (Dr. Call)
0%
8
Mission Hospital
2
Emergency Department (Dr. Derks)
0%
9
Mission Hospital
2
Inpatient Medicine Teaching Service (Dr. Call)
0-100%
10
MAHEC
1
Elective
0-100%
11
MAHEC
1
Elective
0-100%
12
MAHEC
1
Elective
0-100%
Notes
At least 8 weeks of elective time (medical, surgical, and hospital based) common elective rotations: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Neurology, PM&R Pain Medicine, Psychiatry, Sports Medicine, and Infectious Disease. Each Block is 4.33 weeks to account for the residents to have 10 days off for vacation, 10 holidays, and 9 sick days. *Block 3 MAHEC GYN will be outpatient half days in the Ob/Gyn clinic and half day in the hospital at Mission.
Didactic Time
Family Medicine Wednesday PM; Surgery Monday PM; GYN Friday AM; Inpatient Medicine Tuesday PM. All other rotations do not have specific didactics. Residents are assigned per their availability during rotation. Residents are also expected to participate in Grand Rounds for the other specialties.
Research Time
Protected time based on resident interest and current projects, case reports, and work with faculty involved in ongoing research projects. Residents are expected to participate in QI.
Faculty Physician
Transitional Year Residency Program Director
35 years experience in Primary Care and OB
I am a true product of the MAHEC program, having completed my FM residency here in 1987, then joining the faculty in late summer of that same year. I have stayed here due to the fine caliber of the faculty, residents, and staff I have the privilege to work alongside every day.
I did take a one year LOA in the early 1990’s, to spend some time pursuing interests in outpatient care of HIV/AIDs. There I worked with the Family Medicine Department and the ID Department at East Carolina University School of Medicine. I learned a lot, but boy was I ready to return to the cool beauty of these WNC Mountains!
I was born in the Mid South- in Arkansas; and spent my “growing up” years in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri. As the daughter of a preacher and a teacher, I learned the value of education and service, lessons that led both my brother and me into vocations of medicine. After attending college at Arkansas (now Lyon’s) College, I graduated from Medical School at University of Missouri, Columbia, MO., as did my older brother. My brother is now a physician in Chattanooga, TN.
It is a privilege to live and work in this progressive southern community, with a fine medical community that embraces education. We enjoy working for MAHEC and living close by on our “urban farm” where we have a few chickens, a bunny, dogs, and get to experience the joys of being able to walk to good food and fun activities. Outside of work we enjoy traveling, cooking, working in our local church’s community garden and trying to stay fit and healthy. We rejoice in watching our 2 adult children blossom and find their way in the world!
Within MAHEC and Medicine, I find great joy in caring for patients I have now known for MANY years, seeing families grow up into their own families, providing family maternity care, doing and teaching gynecologic procedures, and helping residents and students learn and find their passion in Family Medicine. I am excited by our increased ability to provide international experiences, and our local commitment to providing care to the underserved, through our office and through our community volunteer efforts.
Faculty Physician
Transitional Year Residency Program Assistant Director
Ginger Poulton, MD, MSEd, DipABLM, is board certified in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a former educator for Teach for America and a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School. Ginger completed her family medicine residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville and joined MAHEC’s faculty in 2013, and has enjoyed working in a variety of roles at MAHEC since then.
Currently she is the Assistant Program Director for the Transitional Year Residency Program, the lead physician for the Community Health Worker Project at MAHEC and the Family Medicine Clerkship Director for the UNC School of Medicine for the Asheville campus. Additionally, she is the Program Director for the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum which is offered to all MAHEC residents.
Outside of work Ginger is an active runner, cyclist and sports enthusiast. She loves adventuring outdoors with her husband and sons in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.
Internal Medicine Physician
Transitional Year & Internal Medicine Core Faculty
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Medical School: New York Medical College
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center, Primary Care and Social Medicine
I have worked in WNC as an internal medicine hospitalist for the past 12 years. I have taught MAHEC family medicine residents on the inpatient teaching service. I served as medical director of the inpatient diabetes program creating a unique team of providers caring for patients with inpatient hyperglycemia and diabetes. I also served at chairperson of the Mission Health Diversity Committee, educating healthcare workers on implicit bias and identifying local healthcare disparities.
Over the past 12 years, I have had the chance to work with MAHEC by teaching residents, speaking at conferences, and advising the interns of the Minority Medical Mentorship Program. MAHEC’s philosophy on education and community involvement is outstanding. Their commitment to racial health disparities is an important part of healthcare. I look forward to being an active part of closing the gap in health outcomes for our most vulnerable populations as well as helping future generations understand that racial equity is a key part of our community’s health.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to teach internal medicine residents in MAHEC’s new residency. Acting as teaching faculty not only contributes to the future of medicine but will make me a better clinician. I welcome the challenge to build a successful internal medicine residency that will serve WNC for years to come.
I am a big fan of hobbies when I have the time. I play a couple of string instruments including the bass guitar and banjo. I love to bake, make kombucha, sew and garden. I live with my son, dog and two small tiger kitties. We enjoy biking, sailing, camping, and just sitting around a firepit with friends and family.
Anesthesiology Physician
Transitional Year Core Faculty
Primary Location: Mission Community Anesthesiology Specialists Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Residency: Brigham and Women's Hospital Fellowship: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Emergency Medicine Physician
Transitional Year Core Faculty
While you or a loved one are receiving care within our hospitals, you may have the opportunity to encounter specialists like me. I was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and wanted to be a doctor since the age of 6. I excelled in academics and sports and attended Wake Forest University for undergrad. I then spent a year in Spain through a grant with the Spanish government. I returned to Wake Forest for medical school and fell in love with emergency medicine. I attended the University of Cincinnati (first EM residency in the country) and graduated with aspirations in medical operations and education. I love the outdoors and teaching.
Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Physician
Transitional Year Core Faculty
Primary Location: Mission Emergency Medicine, Spruce Pine Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Fellowship: Augusta University at Medical College of Georgia
Hi, I’m Alisha Acuff and I am from Paris, KY. I graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY where I obtained my B.A. in Biology and Psychology. I attended medical school at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Professionally, I am passionate about the advancement of Women in Medicine and medical curricular development. When not working or studying, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Tyler, along with our cat and two dogs. My hobbies include boating, fishing, hiking, and learning how to golf. Following my Transitional Year at MAHEC, I am heading to Charleston, SC to start residency training in Diagnostic Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Hello! My name is Samuel Allen and I was born and raised in Winston Salem, NC. I attended Davidson College in Davidson, NC for my undergraduate education where I majored in Biology. After college, I spent a gap year working as a research assistant in bioethics at the Emory University School of Medicine and then I dedicated another year to working as a medical scribe in ophthalmology at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. I attended The Wake Forest University School of Medicine for my medical education where I received well-rounded training and ultimately developed an interest in medical imaging. Following my transitional year at MAHEC, I will move to Ohio for my diagnostic radiology residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Initially drawn to the program by MAHEC’s reputation for outstanding clinical care, I chose MAHEC for my transitional year based upon the incredible interview experience. Everyone was devoted to patient care which I knew would translate to an exceptional clinical experience and a unique opportunity to serve the Asheville community. I look forward to dedicating my transitional year to becoming the best physician I can be and serving the patients of Western North Carolina.
My name is Lauren Arsenault and I grew up in Stillwater Minnesota, went to Emory University in Atlanta for college where I double majored in Biology and Spanish. I went to George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences for medical school where I was passionate about 3D Printing Research and mentoring. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
I am so excited to be joining the MAHEC community and cannot wait to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains! I am so honored to be doing my Transition Year here, I immediately knew I wanted to be here after “meeting” the wonderful people at MAHEC during my virtual interview. After my transition year I will be moving to Chicago to pursue a radiology residency at Rush University Medical Center.
I’m Eliane Biester, originally from Switzerland and South Carolina!
I did my undergrad in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Bob Jones University, followed by medical school at VCOM in Spartanburg, SC.
After my transitional year at MAHEC, I will then spend four years at VCU completing my Radiation Oncology training. I am excited and thankful to be training here at MAHEC! Be sure to talk to me about trail running, bikes, tacos/pastries/cooking, and the peculiarities of Swiss culture.
As a Carolina girl born in Columbia, South Carolina, I left as a toddler and grew up in Round Rock, Texas. Eventually my family came back to the Carolinas, and I have been here for the past ten years. I received degrees in Applied Computer Science and Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina and then attended Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine in North Carolina.
Asheville is one of my favorite cities in North Carolina. I have been able to enjoy Biltmore over the years, and I also love the mountains and hiking opportunities. I am very excited to continue my education at MAHEC and to work and live in such an amazing city. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing guitar, and building Legos.
Hello! My name is David Gibbs and I am excited to be joining the MAHEC Transitional Year (TY) program in Asheville, North Carolina. I am originally from Thomasville, NC (the furniture place!) and much of my family is scattered throughout the state. I went to Duke University for college where I met my wife and we lived in Washington DC for a couple of years after we graduated. I then joined the MD/PhD program at Emory where I received my PhD in Epidemiology. I am interested in the molecular and genetic epidemiology of cancer, particularly melanoma, and will be continuing my residency training in Dermatology at Emory University next year.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy gardening, architecture, cooking, biking, hiking, and playing cards. My wife and I also have a giant puppy dog who keeps us busy, and he loves Asheville!
My name is Julia Kariher (pronounced “carrier”) and I am thrilled to be a Transitional Year resident at MAHEC. I grew up in central Florida and went north to Davidson College in North Carolina where I met my husband and earned a biology degree. I attended medical school at the University of Virginia, where I will be returning next year to start my Diagnostic Radiology residency.
In my free time, I like to take walks with my two cats, play board games with friends, and enjoy my husband’s top-notch homebrew.
Hi all! My name is Alex Martin and I am an incoming Transitional Year resident from Richmond, VA. Originally from New Jersey, my family moved south before I started college at the University of Richmond where I completed a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Studio Art. I had the incredible opportunity to live in Scotland for a year, finishing an MSc degree at the University of Glasgow. I returned to the States knowing that I wanted to work directly with patients and pursue clinical medicine. Completing my MD degree at the University of Virginia, my wife and I have enjoyed both the strong sense of community here in Charlottesville, and the proximity to Shenandoah National Park for outdoor adventures. We are excited for the opportunity to follow the Blue Ridge Mountains south and get to know the people and places of Asheville/Western NC over the next year!
I will be following my Transitional Year training at MAHEC with a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a field that strives to work with patients affected by disability or physical impairments to improve their quality of life and function. I will care for patients with a wide variety of medical needs from many walks of life as a Physiatrist, so I look forward to the breadth of experience the Transitional Year will provide.
If I’m not in the hospital or clinic, you might catch me out on hiking trails, at a disc golf course, or at home cooking something for dinner with my wife and son.
Hi everyone! My name is John Valentino, and I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana. I received my B.S. in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University before moving to New Orleans for medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center. During school, I fell in love with dermatology and was lucky enough to land a spot at MAHEC before starting dermatology residency at MUSC in Charleston, SC. There were many virtues of MAHEC that drew me in immediately. Like dermatology, the program is comprehensive from head to toe. From wards, to ICU, to surgery and gynecology, I felt the wide-ranging curriculum would be the most beneficial to become a well-rounded physician. Being in a beautiful city such as Asheville doesn’t hurt either!
I am so excited to be a member of MAHEC Transitional Year Program. Developing and honing medical skills during your intern year shapes the foundation of your medical care. It is an honor and privilege to be able to do this at MAHEC with such an enthusiastic faculty and great patients.
Lastly, outside of the hospital, my wife and I love to be outside. We enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, soccer, and yoga to name a few. I am looking forward to trying all the fly-fishing streams I can.
Hello everyone! My name is Stephany Vittitow and I am excited to be a part of the MAHEC team! I was born and raised in the small town of Bardstown, KY (the Bourbon Capital of the World) and completed my undergraduate education at the University of Louisville. I moved away from Kentucky for the first time in my life to attend the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Next year, I will be headed to the University of Cincinnati to complete my dermatology residency!
MAHEC was my #1 choice for my TY for many reasons. The program was unique to me in its basis in the Family Medicine Program with a resulting strong foundation in both inpatient and outpatient FM. While in medical school, I valued the longitudinal patient relationships and broad spectrum of care of Family Medicine and wanted to continue to “treat the whole person” as a resident. I also value MAHEC’s commitment to serving the rural underserved populations of Western North Carolina as someone who grew up in a geographic area with similar difficulties accessing healthcare. Additionally, I fell in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains during my time at the University of Virginia and jumped at the opportunity to continue my training surrounded by their beauty! I am thankful for the opportunity to train in a city as vibrant and unique as Asheville!
My name is Alex Warren, and I am so excited to be a part of the Transitional Year program at MAHEC. I’m a native of Winston-Salem, NC, and spent many a childhood weekend hiking and driving through the Western North Carolina mountains. I attended Clemson University for my undergraduate studies, where I majored in Biology and minored in Spanish. I then spent two gap years as an anesthesia technician before starting medical school in Greenville, SC. During medical school I found a passion for medical imaging, and I am excited to move slightly farther west into the mountains next year for my Radiology training in Knoxville, TN!
My wife and I are thrilled to spend this year in Asheville. The Transitional Year is supportive and well rounded, and you get to spend time with some really great folks both inside and outside the hospital. This year you’ll find me with wife Katherine and our dog Willow (our lab/great dane mix) on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at one of the awesome breweries here (there are just a few), or checking out the music scene at the Orange Peel.
MAHEC Biltmore Campus
Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) was established in 1974 and serves a 16-county region in Western North Carolina. MAHEC is the largest Area Health Education Center in North Carolina and evolved to address national and state concerns with the supply, retention, and quality of healthcare professionals. MAHEC’s approach to caring for patients is based on an advanced care team model.
Mission Hospital
Mission Hospital is licensed for 815 beds. The emergency department has 100,000 patient visits per year, the level II trauma center admits 3,400 patients per year, and the helicopter transports more than 1,000 patients per year. Mission Children’s Hospital includes 130 beds with 60 board certified pediatric subspecialists providing care in 23 different specialties.
Mission Hospital surgery services includes eight critical care certified acute care surgeons, 11 subspecialty surgeons, two pediatric surgeons, and five vascular surgeons that provide the entire spectrum of patient care and surgical procedures. At more than 35,000 surgical procedures each year, Mission Hospital is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina.
Application Requirements
We invite you to apply to our program via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will review your application and contact you if we wish to invite you for an interview. Typically, our interview season runs from mid-October through mid-December.
A complete ERAS application is required, including:
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation from faculty who have directly supervised clinical performance
Medical school transcript(s)
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
USMLE, COMLEX, or Canadian licensing exam scores (Step 1 required, Step 2 preferred)
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the residency program coordinators at gme@mahec.net.
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.
International Medical Graduates
Special laws and regulations apply to international medical graduates who wish to enter the United States to undertake graduate medical education. MAHEC's policies and procedures regarding graduates of international medical schools comply with federal and state laws and regulations and MAHEC's commitment to graduate medical education.
Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada must have a currently valid certificate from ECFMG. Applicants must successfully pass both Step 1 (basic medical) and Step 2 (clinical knowledge and skills) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
While MAHEC does not sponsor a visa, the international medical graduate applicant must also possess a current/valid visa option or other status governed by the U.S. Immigration Regulations to participate in a GME program.
Finally, the North Carolina Medical Board requires that physicians who are graduates of schools that are not accredited by the LCME or the AOA (foreign medical schools) must be individually certified by ECFMG, have successfully completed at least three years of accredited graduate medical training, and have passed the USMLE or its equivalent to be eligible for application for full licensure. An international medical graduate must complete all other application requirements required by MAHEC and the GME program.