Combined Internal Medicine - Preventive Medicine Track

Summary of Educational Experiences by Training Year:

• The PGY-I in the combined IM-PM residency program will have a similar schedule as PGY-I residents in the categorical program (6+2 blocks) plus 8 weeks of preventive medicine (2 blocks of 4 weeks each). In addition, this resident will participate in Preventive Medicine seminars weekly during ambulatory blocks, Preventive Medicine and elective rotations.


• The PGY-II in the combined IM-PM residency program will have a similar schedule as PGY-II residents in the categorical program ( 6+2 blocks) for 6 months, and the other 6 months will be spent in Preventive Medicine. This resident will participate in Preventive Medicine seminars weekly during ambulatory blocks, preventive medicine and elective rotations, and will attend clinic weekly during Preventive Medicine rotations. In addition, the PGY-II resident is expected to begin coursework in the School of Public Health (SPH). By the middle of PGY-II, the resident will select one or two community-based organizations and a project that will be continued longitudinally for the remaining years of training. The project may be committee/ planning; patient education; home visitation; epidemiology; literature reviews to help organization leadership.


• The PGY-III resident in the combined IM-PM residency program will have a similar schedule as PGY-III residents in the categorical program for 6 months and the other 6 months will be spent in Preventive Medicine. Participation in Preventive Medicine seminars and community-based organizations will same as described for PGY-II. In addition, the PGY-III resident is expected to continue coursework in the SPH, with the expectation to complete at least 30 credits by the end of PGY-III. During the year, the PGY-III resident is expected to decide on the topic and faculty mentor(s) for the MPH capstone project in urban public health, select a faculty preceptor and develop the project idea and research methods. The focus may be on epidemiology, QI, or education.


• The PGY-IV resident in the combined IM-PM residency program will have 8 months of Internal Medicine rotations (6+2 block schedule) and 4 months of Preventive Medicine. At the end of the PGY-IV, the residents will be board eligible in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. Throughout the year, the PGY-IV resident will attend weekly continuity clinic sessions during Preventive Medicine rotations and will participate in weekly Preventive Medicine seminars during Preventive Medicine rotations, and during Internal Medicine ambulatory blocks and elective rotations. Participation in community-based organizations will remain as described for the first 3 years of training. The PGY-IV resident is expected to complete the remaining credits toward the MPH degree, and to complete the capstone project (3 credits), to submit an abstract at the ACPM annual conference and SPH and DOM research days.

Diagram schedule for the 4 years in 4-week blocks (13 blocks/ year, including vacation)

(Grey: IM, green: PM; yellow: vacation)

Over the 4 years of training, Preventive Medicine rotations will include Maternal Health Rotations, VA Health Promotion Disease Prevention (HPDP) activities, University Hospital Quality Improvement, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC); and rotations through the Department of Health at state and local level.

The distribution of SPH courses over PGY-II to IV years will be decided in collaboration with the SPH advisor.

We have partnered with ObGyn and with community organizations to ensure elective rotations and community projects that allow work in maternal morbidity and mortality.
At the end of 4 years of training, graduates are eligible for Board certification by both ABIM and ABPM

We plan to enroll 1-2 residents per year in the combined IM-PM track.

For any questions, please contact the IM-PM track co-directors:

Dr. Mirela Feurdean (feurdemi@njms.rutgers.edu) and Dr. Pauline Thomas (thomasp1@njms.rutgers.edu)

Preventive Medicine Website

How do I apply?
We accept applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Please apply to the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Residency Program in Internal Medicine and check off the box for the Internal Medicine-Preventive Medicine track. (If you so wish, you are welcome to apply to both the categorical medicine program and the IM-PM track!)

Can I submit an application directly to the program?
No. We accept applications only through ERAS.

How many residents are in your program?
We accept 1-2 residents per year.

Are there special requirements for graduates of foreign schools?
International Medical Graduates must be ECFMG certified to be considered for a position.

Do you sponsor visas for residency?
International or Foreign Medical Graduates must either possess U.S. citizenship, have permanent residency, or must be eligible and seek ECFMG sponsorship as a J1 Exchange Visitor. A valid ECFMG certificate is required to be considered for interview. We do not sponsor H1B visas.

Is U.S. clinical experience a requirement for International Medical Graduates?
Clinical US experience is preferred, but not mandatory.

Does the program enforce a cutoff score for USMLE Step 1 and 2 exam results when reviewing applications?
The program does not make its decision solely based on scores and takes into consideration many factors. There is no cut-off for USMLE scores.

Is USMLE Step 3 a requirement to apply to your residency program?
No.

Do you require any research experience?
No.

What is your application deadline?
December 31.

How will I be notified that my application has been reviewed?
We give all applications careful scrutiny, which takes time. You will then be notified via ERAS of invitation to interview or if additional time is needed to review your application. We do not send out rejection letters.

How will I be notified that I have been selected for an interview?
You will be notified via ERAS, with specific instructions on scheduling your interview. Interviews are held between November through late January.

Do you participate in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP)?
Yes.  The 4 year Combined Internal Medicine- Preventive Medicine residency track has a separate NRMP code from the categorical program. The NRMP code for the IM-PM track is 1398140C3. Use this code to rank the IM-PM track in NRMP.