Applicant Selection & Eligibility
The following information is provided to all applicants to our training program to help them better understand our selection policies and to provide them with a detailed understanding of contractual obligations between applicants and the Department of Anesthesiology should an applicant be selected for training in anesthesiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
Eligibility and Selection Process
Residents are selected for the Anesthesiology Residency Program at the University of Florida College of Medicine according to the policies outlined below. These policies are fully compliant with our Institutional Policies for Resident Selection.
All training programs in the Department of Anesthesiology are equal opportunity programs. Applicants from all races, ethnic backgrounds, and countries are considered and evaluated based on the merit of their applications. Factors considered, among others, are preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.
All residents selected for this program must be a graduate of an LCME accredited medical school, AOA accredited Osteopathic Medical School, possess verified credentials from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates or have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME accredited medical school.
Applications to our residency program must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). In addition to the application, we require three letters of recommendation (one of which may be the Dean’s Letter of Evaluation), a personal statement, and a current curriculum vitae. Applicants must have passed Part 1 of the USMLE prior to initial application. All successful applicants to the program must also pass USMLE Part 2 prior to beginning training at the University of Florida. Failure to do so renders the applicant ineligible to train at the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology.
All PGY-1 level and first specialty PGY-2 level residents will be chosen via the National Resident Matching Program. Residents may also be chosen after completing training in another specialty or after military service as a physician, but these residents will generally be selected outside the matching program. Conduct of both the applicants and of this program and its representatives will be governed by the current rules of the National Resident Matching Program.
Notice to Our International Students
The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology welcomes applications for residency from our international colleagues. Please be aware, however, that the University of Florida College of Medicine will usually only sponsor visas of the J-1 (visitor exchange) type. The College of Medicine will only in rare circumstances sponsor any new H-1 type visas for training in any medical specialty. Permanent resident aliens who already have permanent work authorization are, of course, welcome to apply. All applications must be filed through ERAS.
As an international graduate please pay special attention to our Test of Spoken English (TSE) exam requirement. The TSE is not to be confused with TOEFL, USMLE, ECFMG, or CSA. The TSE is a verbal examination that tests your ability to function in an English-speaking environment. Many international medical graduate residents, who have successfully passed their ECFMG and are highly qualified, have experienced language difficulties in the OR arena where rapid, effective communication with colleagues in anesthesiology and other medical specialties is critically important. Therefore, additional English speaking testing requirements have been implemented for all non-native English speaking applicants to our program. The exam requirement may be waived by the program director if you have been raised or spent significant time in a country where English is the primary language and received your medical training in English. Otherwise, the test of spoken English exam is mandatory and the results must be available prior to any consideration for listing in the match program. Your application to our residency program will be reviewed once it is complete.
If your application appears competitive, we will issue an invitation for an interview and advise you to take the TSE examination. We do not advise signing up for the examination until your application is determined to be competitive. The TSE examination results do not have to be available to be considered for an interview, but must be available to be considered for the matching program. You must receive a score of 50 or higher on this examination, and the results must be available prior to February 1st in order to be included on our rank order list for the National Resident Matching Program.
Sample Contract for Residency Training
Some of the content from a sample contract for training in the Department of Anesthesiology is provided below so that you may better understand your obligations and the obligations of the Department of Anesthesiology should you be selected for training. In the case of residents selected through the NRMP, contracts will be mailed to all matched applicants within one week of the release of match results. All NRMP matched applicants are expected to sign and return a copy of the contract within one week of receipt. If circumstances change and a successful matched applicant no longer desires training at the University of Florida, he/she must obtain a written release from the program director (Dr. Martin) releasing him/her from all obligations incurred by participation in the matching program. There is no guarantee that such a release will be given, and if the release is not given, the applicant will be expected to begin training at the expected time (July 1). In general, however, release will be given for legitimate reasons.
In the case of applicants outside the NRMP, applicants will be notified during their final interview (with the program director) when they could expect to receive notification of selection and a contract. Contract will be mailed to the applicant within one week of selection, and the applicants will be given a deadline date to return a signed copy of the contract, after which the contract will be null and void.
Sample Contract Language
Below is an example of some of the language you will see in a contract for training with us.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT: Appointments are renewed annually and continued retention in the training program depends on your satisfactory performance/training progress, including adherence to acceptable professional behavior, as well as the continuation of requisite funding for the program. A resident’s/fellow’s reappointment and progression to more advanced levels will be based on the results of periodic reviews of the resident’s/fellow’s educational and professional achievement, competence, and progress as determined by the program director and teaching faculty. All assignments and call schedules are made at the discretion of the appropriate program director of the University.
The primary site of your graduate medical training will be the University of Florida College of Medicine and its major teaching hospitals and affiliates, but the location of the training for any resident or fellow may occur at various sites. All members of the medical training program are subject to the policies and procedures of the University of Florida College of Medicine and the teaching hospitals and affiliates in which the training and rotations occur.
Regulations and policies that may affect your appointment are reviewed on an ongoing basis. To ensure that you are aware of the most current University regulations and policies, please regularly visit the Regulations and Policy Hub. Additional policies are located on the UF College of Medicine’s Human Resources webpage. Graduate Medical Education (GME) Institutional Policies can be found on the GME page.
Financial Support and Other Benefits Stipend: Each resident is given a stipend to pursue the resident’s graduate medical education in an amount appropriate to the resident’s level in the program. Stipend levels are reviewed annually by the Graduate Medical Education Committee of the College of Medicine and recommendations for changes are subject to approval by University’s Dean of the College of Medicine. Living quarters, meals, laundry, and other such expenses are the resident’s responsibilities. In some cases and at the discretion of the University, a meal subsidy may be issued to the resident; similarly, living quarters may be provided during some rotations outside of the primary location of the program.
Health, Life and Disability Insurance, Worker’s Compensation Insurance: Health insurance is provided to residents and their eligible dependents; life and disability insurance are provided to residents only. If a resident suffers a work-related injury, the resident is generally covered under the workers’ compensation program of the University provided the resident complies with the requirements of the worker’s compensation program.
Professional Liability Coverage: All residents are employees of the University of Florida Board of Trustees (UFBOT). As state employees, residents may not be held personally liable in tort or named as a party defendant in any action for any injury or damage suffered as a result of any act, event, or omission of action in the scope of her or his employment or function, unless they acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property. Subject to Section 768.28, Florida Statutes, UFBOT is responsible for any civil claims or actions arising from the negligent acts of its employees and agents, including residents in University graduate medical programs.
The University of Florida J. Hills Miller Health Center/Gainesville Self-Insurance Program (SIP), a self-insurance program established by the Florida Board of Governors pursuant to Section 1004.24, Florida Statutes, provides professional liability protection to the UFBOT and Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc. for incidents in which patients suffer bodily injury, personal injury, or property damage caused by the negligence of UFBOT residents. SIP also affords residents professional liability protection when residents act in the role of a “Good Samaritan”, when involved in community service work that has been pre-approved by the University, and when serving on a University educational assignment outside of Florida.
Institutional Leave Policy: A comprehensive leave policy is outlined by the UF College of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Office. It is the responsibility of the resident to review with the Program Director at the time leave is requested how leave(s) of absence may impact the ability of the resident to satisfy requirements for program completion and/or eligibility for specialty board examinations.