Applying to our Program

Application Process

The application process begins with the Electronic Residency Application Service.

The following documents must be submitted to ERAS:

• Common Application form
• Dean's Letter (MSPE)
• Official medical school transcript
• Three letters of recommendation (four maximum)
• USMLE/COMLEX transcript
• Personal Statement
• Photo 

The deadline for applications is October 31st.

Interviews are granted by invitation only.
Residents are selected through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) on the uniform resident selection date.

For the 2024 ERAS® cycle, our program will be collecting and reviewing data from applicants’ supplemental ERAS applications. Completion of the standard MyERAS application is a requirement; completion of the supplemental ERAS application is optional.

In its second year of use, the supplemental ERAS application is designed to help applicants share more information about themselves and assist our program in finding applicants that fit our program’s setting and mission. There is no cost to applicants and participation is optional.

The supplemental ERAS application provides:

• geographic preferences (by division and by urban or rural setting);
• information about an applicant’s most meaningful experiences and other impactful life events, if applicable; and
• program signals.

The supplemental ERAS application will be delivered on a survey platform that is separate from the MyERAS application and must be completed between August 1, 2024 and September 13, 2024.

Diversity

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine prioritizes a diverse, supportive environment for our faculty, our trainees, and our patients. We believe that diversity in all forms, including race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, and religious backgrounds, is important to the career growth of providers and the health of our patients.  We are committed to recruiting and fostering a department composed of compassionate, impactful leaders in emergency care. We also seek to engage local community organizations as partners to achieve these goals.

Learn more about our commitment

Interview Information

All interviews for the 2024-2025 recruitment season will be held virtually. The University of Pittsburgh will be conducting interviews on the Thalamus platform. Applicants granted an interview will receive an email with interview dates and can choose the time and date which best fits their schedule. Interviews are held on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from October to January.

Applicants will speak with several faculty members, as well as current residents.  Throughout the interview day, we will share some information about what our beautiful city has to offer, both as a resident physician and regarding living in the city of Pittsburgh!  You can expect to spend about 3 hours getting to know our program and interviewing.

We typically begin to extend invitations to interview about 1-2 weeks after the MSPE is released via Thalamus. We will begin to compile a waitlist that will be updated on a rolling basis. If you have not heard from us by mid-November, please feel free to contact us for an update on your status.

Please keep in mind that we receive many more applications from qualified students than we could possibly interview. We are, unfortunately, limited in the number of interviews we can offer. We develop a waitlist so that if an applicant declines an interview offer, we can then offer a spot to another qualified applicant. If for some reason you must cancel your interview with us, please do so two weeks in advance to ensure adequate time for others to schedule.  If at any point after the MSPE is available you receive a new SLOE or Step 2 score, please email Crystal Maki (makicl@upmc.edu) so that we can review your updated application.

We will review each student’s qualifications once their entire application is complete.  We are a diverse and inclusive community and everyone is welcome at our program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a USMLE cutoff score to apply to our program?

There is not a cutoff score. 

Is the Step 2 of USMLE required before applying?

Step 2 is not required for the application process, but is required for appointment to our program. We prefer to have your Step 2 score before our rank list is submitted.

How many SLOEs are mandatory for application to your program?

We require 3 letters of recommendation, at least one of which and preferably two are SLOEs. A minimum of three and a maximum of four letters of recommendation are accepted.

Will you consider an applicant with only one EM rotation?

Yes. There are many circumstances that come into play, and we understand that not all applicants are able to secure or afford additional EM rotations. This year, applications will still be accepted from those students with home institutions that do not offer an EM rotation and were unable to complete an away EM rotation due to the pandemic. 

What is your policy of post-interview communication?

You are always welcome to contact our office with updates and/or questions. We do not initiate any post-interview communications unless there is a question about your application. Please understand that even if you do not receive any communication from us after your interview, we remain deeply interested in our candidates after their interview with our program.