Note: This policy is consistent with guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and with the corresponding Institutional Policy for Graduate Medical Education (Clinical Program Trainee Selection Policy; GMEC Approved on 10/23/17).
The Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Rheumatology desires to recruit and select the most qualified residents for the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship training program. This shall be done in compliance with the institutional requirements and applicable laws.
The University of Michigan Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status.
Eligibility
1. Please refer to the Institutional Policy for Graduate Medical Education, Clinical Program Trainee Selection Policy (http://www.med.umich.edu/i/medschool/GME/policies.htm) for details regarding mandatory institutional selection criteria addressing items such as acceptable medical school training, citizenship and visa status, board scores, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) status, licensure, background checks, and successful completion of the credentialing process including primary source verification.
2. Non-United States citizens are required to have a Permanent Resident status or a J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). J-1 visa holders must be eligible to renew their J-1 visa for the length of the UMHS GME training program.
3. According to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines, applicants are required to have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited residency program in Pediatrics, Medicine-Pediatrics, or another program that establishes board eligibility in the field of Pediatrics, or in an RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada, unless granted an exception by the GME office of the University of Michigan.
Selection
1. The University of Michigan Division of Pediatric Rheumatology will select from among eligible applicants on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, academic performance, and personal qualities.
2. All applicants must apply through ERAS. Pediatric Rheumatology participates in the NRMP Fellowship Match program.
3. Applications are initially reviewed by the Program Director and Program Coordinator to verify applicant eligibility.
4. The Program Director is responsible for the final decision regarding which applicants to invite for an interview, seeking input from the Division Director and other division faculty when there is disagreement. These decisions are based on review of each application in its entirety, with an initial focus on identifying “red flags” such as unexplained gap’s in time, failure of boards, unprofessionalism, etc. that might trigger the need for a more intensive review before inviting an applicant for an interview or are sufficient to lead to the decision not to invite an applicant for an interview.
5. If consideration is given to inviting an applicant with potential “red flags” for an interview, the program will consult with the Department of Pediatrics Associate Director of Fellowship Programs and/or the Lead Coordinator for Fellowship Programs, along with the credentialing personnel in the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office, prior to offering an interview
6. On interview days, applicants meet individually or in groups with division faculty and fellows. When possible, applicants meet with faculty outside of the division based on identified research and career interests of the applicants. These interviews are designed to provide applicants with information about the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program and to assess applicant suitability for the program.
7. Standardized evaluations are completed by faculty, fellows, and any others who interview applicants. The Program Coordinator collects evaluations and assembles a summary of the data, including a preliminary rank list based on the evaluations, which is shared with division faculty and fellows at the end of the interview season.
8. The Program Director and Program Coordinator lead a meeting in which division faculty and fellows review the applicants and evaluation results. The preliminary rank list is modified if necessary as based on the discussion.
9. Before an applicant is placed on the rank list for the Match, the Program Director, Associate Program Director, and/or the Program Coordinator will verify references and contact other sources when deemed appropriate to verify information or seek additional information about an applicant. Other division faculty may assist with this process.
10. When an individual with a potentially problematic background is being considered after the process described above, the program will seek review from the Department of Pediatrics Associate Director of Fellowship Programs and/or the Lead Coordinator for Fellowship Programs Graduate Medical Education Office before an applicant is placed on the rank list for the Match.
11. The finalized rank list will be submitted to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) website and certified by the Program Director before the Rank List Certification deadline.
This policy is in compliance with the Institutional Policy for Graduate Medical Education, Clinical Program Trainee Selection, which can be viewed at: http://www.med.umich.edu/i/medschool/GME/policies.htm
