RESIDENCY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

2010-2011 Academic Year

The deadline to submit an application for the 2010-2011 academic year is December 31, 2009. 

We are accepting applications through ERAS only.

Three letters of recommendations are required.

The minimum score acceptable on each part of the USMLE is 80.

There is no requirement on graduation year.

Previous clinical or pathology experience is not required, but preferred.

 International Medical Graduates:

International medical graduates will need an ECFMG certificate.

For visa eligibility, please contact the Graduate Medical Education Office at (901) 448-5364.

Open letter to prospective residents:  (click HERE for a pdf version for printing.)

Thank you for your interest in our Pathology residency program. We take pride in the fact that in terms of the volume of cases that you could get to see during your training, this is one of the largest training programs in the country. Many large hospital systems and facilities are available for our residents to train in. Amongst these are two tertiary care referral hospitals, a VA medical center, a pediatric hospital currently undergoing $350 Million expansion, pediatric cancer hospital considered one of the best in the world, a regional medical center, county medical examiner’s facility, a national clinical laboratory, a private cytogenetic laboratory and a very high volume gastrointestinal pathology practice. In essence, the training offered in this training program is very diverse and comprehensive, overseen by board certified and sub-specialized pathologists representing all fields of pathology.

As ours is a competitive program, we have identified the following criteria to help us with our selection process:

1)    Evidence of commitment to pathology- generally this means prior training or electives in pathology

2)    Strong academic credentials- good lifetime academic achievements and membership in honor societies

3)    If coming through a research track, evidence of peer-reviewed abstracts and publications

4)    High USMLE scores and passage of USMLE 1, 2CK and CS. Additional preference is given to those who have passed USMLE-3

5)    Strong letters of reference, confirming commitment to pathology, academic pursuits, good interpersonal and communication skills. At least one or more reference letters from pathologists is a preference

6)    Track record of volunteerism

7)    A personal statement, not more than one page, indicating why pathology is your preference and what have you got to offer to the world of pathology and our training program that others may not be able to

8)    Performance at a personal interview with our faculty and residents (typically between Oct-Jan)

We do not offer travelling expenses for our interviewing candidates though we would help you find hotel rooms at UT corporate rates close to the medical center and would arrange for your pick up and drop from the hotel. University of Tennessee is an equal opportunity employer and every successful residency candidate through the selection process would have to undergo a background criminal check before they can start training. Our program emphasizes camaraderie and we take pride in training our residents to the highest standards. We only accept application material through the ERAS system. Our current residents include both US-educated physicians as well as high performing international medical graduates. Memphis is a moderately-sized city with a low cost of living. For further information, please email our residency coordinator, Mr. Alonzo Graves.

Again, thank you for your interest in our training program.

Nadeem Zafar, MD
Assistant Professor and
Associate Residency Program Director