Applying TO MGH
Applying Basics
Our program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and does not accept paper applications.
The following documents are required:
- A completed ERAS application
- Dean’s letter
- Medical school transcript
- Personal statement*
- Photo
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Board results
* In your personal statement, please include a paragraph about why you are specifically interested in our program.
All interviews for our Program this year will be 100% VIRTUAL.
Application Timeline
- October 6, 2023
Last day to submit an application to our program - By October 23, 2023
All MGH interview invitations will be sent
Second looks
- For equity reasons, we will not be offering in-person “second looks”, though we will have virtual open houses for applicants who interview with us.
Interview Schedule
- To best accommodate different time zones, interviewees will be able to sign up for either a “morning” interview day (~8:30-1p EST) or an “afternoon” interview day (~12p – 4:30p EST)
- All interviewees will be invited to virtual hangouts with residents the evening before their interview.
General Questions
FAQ
What do I need to do to apply?
All applicants are required to complete an Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) application. Please make sure you have the following completed documents:
- An ERAS application
- Dean’s letter
- Medical school transcript
- United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) Board scores
- Three letters of reference
- Personal statement*
* In your personal statement, please include a paragraph about why you are specifically interested in our program.
How do signals factor into the application process?
We will use signals as part of our initial application review process to determine which candidates will be invited for interviews. Once the interview invitations have been extended, all signal-related information is removed from the applications. Our interviewers conduct the interviews without any knowledge of these signals, ensuring an unbiased evaluation of each candidate’s qualifications.
While signals play a valuable role in the initial phase of our recruitment process, it’s important to note that sending a signal does not guarantee an interview invitation. We anticipate receiving a significantly higher number of signals than we have available interview slots.
Should I signal MGH?
If you’re considering sending a signal to MGH, we encourage you to reflect on the qualities we value in our candidates. Specifically, we are looking for applicants who:
- Are clinically in the top half of their cohorts.
- Place a high value on kindness, and prioritize teamwork over individual achievement.
- Are seeking a clinically rigorous experience that involves hard work and commitment.
- Have academic aspirations that align with our department’s mission and vision.
If you find that you meet all these criteria, we strongly encourage you to consider sending a signal, regardless of the school you attended. Of note, we also place significant value on diversity of background, as we believe it enriches our classes and elevates the quality of care we deliver to our patients.
Do you sponsor or accept any visas, H1 or J-1?
Yes, we sponsor both H-1b and J-1 visas. We will take care of all the paperwork and fees for residents only. However, if you have children, we will process the paperwork with your packet, but the fees must be covered by the resident and/or parent.
Do you accept international medical graduates (IMGs)?
Yes, we do. It is highly recommended that international medical graduates have clinical experience in the United States.
Is there a required minimum for USMLE scores, and is there an attempt limit?
We do not require minimum USMLE scores, but we do prefer you pass on the first attempt on all USMLE steps.
Do I need to take Step 2 to apply?
No.
As an IMG, do I need to have my Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate to be invited for an interview.
Yes, please make sure it is included in your ERAS application.
What do the different match tracks mean?
4-year Categorical (Anesthesiology/PG 1-4, 1261040C0)
We offer up to 24 positions for our categorical four-year program that includes a transitional year internship.
4-year Research (Anesthesiology/Research, 1261040C1)
We offer up to 2 positions for our PRIME (Pathway to Research Independence with Mentorship and Education) track. The PRIME track is a categorical match (PGY1-4) and provides an earlier entry point to our research scene. Elective time during intern year (prior to starting in anesthesia) can be dedicated to meeting research mentors and getting to know labs and projects. It also comes with increased, earlier longitudinal mentorship and guaranteed meeting funding for each CA year.
3-year Physician-only “Immediate Start” (Anesthesiology/IS 1261040R0)
Applicants who have completed or are completing an intern year at an ACGME-accredited institution can apply to start with us as PGY-2 residents (CA1 resident) this upcoming summer. We typically offer 2 of these positions.
Do you offer positions outside of Match?
No. The NRMP has adopted the “all in” policy where all applicants must go through the Match. We are fully compliant with this policy.
Do you offer PGY2 positions to applicants who can start right after the Match? If so, how many?
Yes – Immediate Start (Anesthesiology/IS, 1261040R0)
This track is reserved for applicants who will have already completed their internship/ PGY-1 year and are looking to start with the program in the summer after the match with 1-2 positions available. These positions are all through the NRMP Match.
Do you offer couples Match?
Yes. If you are applying for a position in anesthesia at Mass General and received an interview invitation, and your significant other also applied to our program and did not receive an interview, please email our residency coordinator. The application may not have been reviewed, and we can usually provide an answer regarding the interview within two days.
Do you accept applicants who have already completed a prior residency or part of a prior residency?
Yes. We do accept applicants who already have completed a prior residency. All applicants applying for a position after starting or finishing another residency must apply through the ERAS.
If you matched to a position last year and would like to transfer to the Anesthesia Residency Program at Mass General, we require a release letter from your current program director. Because you matched to a position through the NRMP, you are contracted to that position for the duration of your residency unless it is agreed by both the program director and resident. In some circumstances, an NRMP waiver is required. We will need proof that your current program director agrees to give you permission to begin looking for an alternate position.
If you are in a matched position for a preliminary or transitional year and did not match to a residency program last year, you will still need to complete an ERAS application.
Do I need to complete an internship year with your program if I have already completed a different residency (pediatrics, surgery, medicine, etc.)?
Not necessarily. An accredited internship in other fields does count as the internship, but you still must complete all the clinical requirements of the anesthesia clinical base year. Many requirements are already covered in these internship programs; however, any missing components must be made up while in residency.
Video Q&A with our Program Director
- 00:10 – What general advice do you have for applying to residency?
- 01:10 – How should I approach applications this cycle?
- 02:51 – What advice do you have about virtual interviews?
- 04:23 – What’s special about MGH Anesthesia?
- 05:58 – What does MGH look for in future residents?
- 07:26 – Is the program responsive to suggestions for change?
- 08:08 – Do I have to be research-oriented to fit at MGH?
- 09:19 – Tell me about the MGH anethesia residency community.
Contact
Contact Us
Picking a residency is a big deal, and we know that many questions arise. We want to support you through the application process. If there’s anything we can do to be helpful, please reach out.
Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA, Program Director
c/o Alicja Martins, Program Coordinator
Gray-Bigelow 444
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
ether@mgh.harvard.edu
Phone
(617) 726-6890