UPMC Medical Education Program

The UPMC Medical Education Program (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) offers a comprehensive Internal Medicine Residency program. As an academic medical center, UPMC is committed to training the next generation of physicians to become leaders in medicine. The program emphasizes a deep understanding of clinical medicine, innovative research, and cutting-edge science to prepare residents for advanced fellowship training and academic careers.

The program boasts a robust clinical and research environment that addresses significant challenges such as aging populations, metabolic syndrome, climate change, addiction, and the integration of big data in medicine. UPMC is part of one of the largest hospital systems and ranks in the top 10 list of NIH-funded institutions, showing its commitment to translational science and involving residents in innovative research.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at UPMC offers an innovative curriculum that includes traditional inpatient and outpatient medicine. The program focuses heavily on leadership training, exposure to telehealth, clinical analytics, and team-based population health management. Residents are considered crucial in advancing healthcare, demonstrating the importance of their role within the system. The program aims to cultivate a community of physicians who work collaboratively to push medicine forward while serving the needs of a diverse patient population.

Residents at UPMC treat patients with a wide range of complex conditions, benefiting from mentorship by renowned physician-scientists. The program is structured to offer vast opportunities for customizing training and accessing extensive resources through the University of Pittsburgh, enhancing the residency experience.

Unique Aspects of the UPMC Internal Medicine Residency Program:

1. Resident-Led Rounds: A hallmark of the program, where second- and third-year residents lead walk rounds on all medicine floor inpatient rotations, fostering autonomy and expertise as educators.
2. Customized Courses – Tracks: This includes tracks in Generalist, Women’s Health, Global Health and Underserved Populations, Clinical Scientist, Research Pathway, Geriatrics, and International Scholars, providing targeted education, mentorship, and career guidance.
3. Four + Four Schedule: This alternating schedule of call months with ICU or Floor rotations and off-call months with electives provides exposure to diverse subspecialties and more time for individualized learning.
4. Focus on Medical Education: The program includes resident teaching retreats, opportunities for medical student teaching, a Teaching to Teach Elective, and a Medical Education Teaching Certificate for those interested in teaching throughout their careers.
5. Bedside Multi-Disciplinary Rounds: Integrating case management and nursing staff for coordinated care and efficient discharge planning.
6. Specialized Training Opportunities: Including addiction medicine, global health, women’s health, clinical reasoning, point-of-care ultrasound training, and health policy advocacy group.

For the application process, UPMC Internal Medicine Residency Program accepts applications via ERAS, with a deadline in mid-December. The program requires a common ERAS application form, medical school transcript, USMLE Step 1 scores (and Step 2 when available), a Department of Medicine letter, at least two faculty recommendation letters, and an MSPE.

For International Medical Graduates (IMGs): Applicants must have graduated from an ECFMG-certified medical school within the past five years, and traditionally, those with U.S. clinical training have been more successful in gaining admission. UPMC sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas for eligible applicants.

Choosing UPMC for Internal Medicine Residency emphasizes becoming part of an institution dedicated to innovation in healthcare, offering a multitude of opportunities for professional development in clinical practice and research in a supportive and dynamic environment.