University of South Dakota Program

The University of South Dakota (USD) Sanford School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to train residents to become competent internists. The program prepares residents for various career paths including outpatient primary care practice, hospitalist medicine practice, or further specialization through fellowships. Emphasizing the importance of becoming excellent medical educators, the program provides ample opportunities for residents to achieve excellence in scholarship within an environment that promotes personal and professional wellness.

Program Features:

• Duration and Structure: This is a 36-month residency program leading to ABIM board eligibility. It incorporates an integrated approach with rotations at Sanford Health, Avera, and various private practices. Ambulatory care is a significant component, accounting for approximately 33 percent of the training. The residency utilizes a 4+2 model, alternating between four-week inpatient and two-week ambulatory blocks, designed to enhance learning and work-life balance.
• Training Sites: Residents benefit from training at progressive, tertiary care medical centers with over 1,000 patient beds, ensuring exposure to a broad range of complex clinical conditions.
• Curriculum Highlights: The curriculum includes inpatient blocks covering various aspects of internal medicine, with the ambulatory blocks providing broad, comprehensive outpatient care training.

Support and Benefits:

The program offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance plans and a $1,000 orientation stipend. Salaries range from $63,000 for PGY-1 residents to $78,000 for PGY-7 residents.

Application Requirements:

• USD Sanford School of Medicine accepts applications through ERAS until October 31, 2023, for the 2024-2025 academic year.
• U.S. or Canadian Medical School Graduates: Must submit Dean's letter, medical school transcript, photo, three letters of recommendation, personal statement, and USMLE or COMLEX transcript.
• International Medical Graduates Requirements: Include USMLE Step 1 & Step 2 CK scores of 230+ on the first attempt, patient care experience in the U.S. (preferably 2+ months), three letters of recommendation (at least two from U.S. physicians), and ECFMG certification by February 1, 2024. The program strongly prefers applicants to be within three years of graduation but considers candidates with more extended periods in certain scenarios. The program sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas, with H-1B candidates required to have a passing USMLE Step 3 score on file by match day.

Interview Process:

All interviews for the 2024-2025 academic year will be conducted virtually. Interviews are scheduled via email and include meetings with the Program Director, Associate Program Director, or a core faculty member, along with interactions with current residents.

Additional Highlights:

The residency highlights the importance of camaraderie among residents, a diverse and supportive faculty dedicated to residents' education and career development, and the unique advantages of living in Sioux Falls, SD. The program's small size fosters close relationships within the residency community, and the city offers a blend of amenities and a friendly, close-knit community atmosphere.

The USD Sanford School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program presents a well-rounded approach to Internal Medicine training, emphasizing education, wellness, and preparation for a wide range of career opportunities in the field.