Mercy Catholic Medical Center Program

The Mercy Catholic Medical Center (MCMC) Internal Medicine Residency program offers a comprehensive training experience for residents, emphasizing clinical excellence, education, and research. With campuses in Darby, PA, and West Philadelphia, the program provides residents with the opportunity to care for a diverse patient population, encompassing a wide range of diseases, including complex cases typically found in urban settings. The program highlights the importance of using advanced technology, such as state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners, and capitalizes on its certification as a stroke center of excellence.

Program Highlights:

• Clinical Training: The program fosters a strong clinical foundation by splitting training between Mercy Fitzgerald and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s HUP Cedar campus. This setup ensures exposure to diverse patient populations and a rich spectrum of diseases, providing a broad clinical experience.

• Curriculum: The residency follows a rigorous and academically-focused curriculum, recently adopting an "X+Y" model for scheduling, enhancing the educational experience in response to resident feedback. This model allows for a balance between inpatient and outpatient care, emphasizing individual learning needs and career goals.

• Supportive Environment: MCMC prides itself on creating a supportive environment that offers residents the tools necessary for providing excellent patient care. The program prioritizes flexibility in selecting electives and provides opportunities for career development.

• Success: Graduates of the program have successfully entered prestigious fellowship programs and held careers in both hospital-based and ambulatory settings, highlighting the program's efficiency in preparing residents for future roles.

Application Details:

• Interviews: All interviews will be conducted virtually for the application cycle.

• Application: Encourages early submission through ERAS, with no specific application deadline mentioned.

• Visa Sponsorship: MCMC sponsors J-1 visas but does not sponsor H1B visas.

• International Medical Graduates (IMGs): The program seeks at least one U.S.-based Internal Medicine faculty recommendation, requires USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (Step 2CS not required), and mandates ECFMG certification by the program start date.

• US Medical Graduates: Applicants should provide at least 3 letters of recommendation, with USMLE or COMLEX Step 1 scores required, and Step 2 scores preferred (Step 2 CS not required).

• Clinical Experience: A minimum of 2 months of U.S. clinical experience is preferred, ideally involving externship or clerkship at a teaching hospital.

• Graduation Recency and Exam Failures: Applicants are encouraged to apply if they have graduated within the past five years, have continuous post-graduate clinical experience, and exhibit a single failure in a step exam with an otherwise strong application. A holistic review approach is used to select candidates.

Resident Life and Wellness:

MCMC emphasizes the importance of wellness and work-life balance among its residents. The program includes various activities and supports to enhance resident life outside the hospital environment, emphasizing the importance of community and support among colleagues.

In summary, the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mercy Catholic Medical Center stands out for its comprehensive training, supportive environment, and success in preparing residents for a wide range of future careers in medicine. It caters to both DO and IMG applicants, with a structured program that adapts to the evolving field of healthcare.