How To Apply
Prospective Applicants
Selection Criteria
We are seeking self-motivated, reflective individuals who are committed to excellence – not only in clinical care, but also in their growth and development. Our ideal candidates are those who:
- Engage in continuous improvement through feedback and self-reflection
- Prioritize wellness and teamwork as essential components of a sustainable career
- Deliver compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care
- Approach each day with curiosity and a desire to learn
If you’re energized by the opportunity to learn from every experience, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are dedicated to innovative, high-value care, we encourage you to apply! Training with us offers a supportive, challenging, and educationally rich experience that will prepare you for whatever path you choose in internal medicine.
Applicants must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) program from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Candidates can access the ERAS program by visiting AAMC FREIDA, program code: 16492479
We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about your goals, your journey, and how you might contribute to our growing residency community.
Application Requirements
- Applications must be submitted through ERAS
- Minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation (up to 4 may be submitted)
- One of these should be our Chair Letter/Standardized Letter of Evaluation
- Three letters from faculty who know you personally are recommended
- Medical Licensing Exams:
- Having both steps/levels of your licensing exam (USMLE 1 & 2 or COMLEX 1 & 2) available as early as possible in the interview season strengthens your application and is helpful to be considered for an interview
- While we do not have strict exam cut-offs, having a strong Step 2 or Level 2 score strengthens your application
- Passing scores on USMLE 1 & 2 or COMLEX 1 & 2 must be uploaded to ERAS by early February to be considered for ranking by our program. Applicants who do not have a passing score on Step/Level 2 available before rank list submission will not be considered for ranking
- Applicants must have graduated within the last three years
- We do consider exceptionally qualified International Medical Graduates:
- J1 Visa’s sponsored by the ECFMG
- Must have graduated within the past three years
- We required ECFMG certification before the start of the program
- Applicants should have substantial and creditable hands-on clinical experience of at least two months in the US within the last three years
- Banner Desert Medical Center does not sponsor any other Visas bedsides J1
Program Signals
- Our program does participate in program signaling within the ERAS application
- We welcome program signals from applicants who are genuinely interested in our program, as we always seek to recruit candidates whose interests and experiences align with our location, setting, mission, and values
- A program signal is not required to be considered for an interview, nor does a signal guarantee an interview
- In alignment with the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, we encourage applicants to use their program signals to indicate their genuine interests in specific residency programs
We recognize that the residency application and match process can be both exciting and stressful, and we are committed to approaching it with transparency, fairness, and respect for your time and effort.
Our program conducts a holistic review of applications, carefully considering each candidate’s experiences, attributes, and potential to contribute meaningfully to our residency community. While this process is time-intensive due to the large number of applications we receive, we believe it is essential to ensure we are thoughtfully evaluating all well-qualified applicants who express interest in our program.
To support fairness and reduce applicant stress, we only extend interview invitations to the number of candidates we can accommodate. Invitations are released in several rounds throughout the fall to allow for ongoing holistic review and to avoid overbooking our available interview slots.
We appreciate your interest and the effort you put into your application. We look forward to learning more about you!
Contact
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact UAPHXIMDesert@bannerhealth.com or Jennifer Collins, Program Administrator
