Application Information
Thank you for your interest in the Boston Medical Center residency training program in Anesthesiology.
Important Information for 2024-25 Applicants
This year we will be using the Residency Central Application (i.e. CentralApp) as a supplement to Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS®). The CentralApp is free to use and you can apply to as many participating anesthesiology programs as you like. You can easily access the platform at https://centralapp.accessgme.com and create a secure account. You can request letters of recommendation, transcripts, and MSPE (dean’s letters) directly through the portal. The program will continue to participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Please direct any questions about the application to HELP@accessgme.com. If a letter of recommendation author has difficulty using this application service, we will still be able to access their letters via ERAS, however uploading to both services is preferable.
The following information must be submitted in order for your application to be considered complete:
• Completed application
• Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE) or Dean’s Letter
• Official medical school transcript
• USMLE scores (Step I required, Step II and III if available). COMLEX scores are accepted.
• At least three letters of recommendation. It is recommended that the letters be written by someone who is very familiar with your clinical work and who is accustomed to writing letters of recommendation (Clerkship Director, Program Director, Director of Service or a senior clinician). At least one must be from an Anesthesiologist.
• Personal Statement
• Photograph
• ECFMG certificate (for foreign medical graduates)
Preference Signals
Both ERAs and the CentralApp allow applicants to designate 5 programs as “gold” and 10 programs as “silver”. These preference signals must match between the two applications. Last year, we only interviewed candidates who “sent” us a gold or silver signal. We expect the same this year.
Training Program
The Department of Anesthesiology at Boston Medical Center offers two program tracks for the NRMP match. The Categorical track (# 1257040C0) is a 4-year program which includes a preliminary surgical year in conjunction with the Boston VA Healthcare System. The Advanced track (# 1257040A0) is a 3-year program where the applicant is required to secure a first-year position elsewhere. In all, we offer 12 positions in the NRMP match each year; 4 Advanced and 8 Categorical.
We encourage advanced applicants to apply to the Boston Medical Center Department of Surgery preliminary program. For more information visit: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/surgery/training/residency/preliminary-residency/
Categorical Anesthesiology Program
The Categorical Anesthesiology Program is a surgical-based PGY-1 year which is co-administered with the Department of Surgery at the Boston VA Healthcare System (BVAHS). The BVAHS provides tertiary surgical care at two campuses, one in West Roxbury and one in Jamaica Plain. This curriculum fulfills the American Board of Anesthesiology’s requirements and consists of the following rotations
• Anesthesiology
• Acute pain and regional anesthesia
• Cardiology (mornings focus on normal and abnormal ECG interpretation, then echocardiograms in the afternoons)
• Critical care medicine (2 rotations: on in ICU at the VA, and another in the Boston Medical Center SICU)
• Emergency medicine
• Otorhinolaryngology (with a focus on performing awake nasal fiber-optic examinations)
• The remaining time will be spent covering the general surgery wards, providing inpatient care to vascular, thoracic, and general surgery patients.
Four weeks of vacation will be provided during the year.
Application FAQs
Q: How can I apply to the residency program?
A: The program accepts electronic applications via Residency Central Application (https://centralapp.accessgme.com) (preferred) and the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
Q: Do you accept international medical graduates?
A: Yes. We accept international medical graduates with superior qualifications.
FAQs for International Medical Graduates
Q: Do you require US clinical experience?
A: No, however US clinical experience is extremely helpful. An observership does not count as US clinical experience.
Q: Do you accept applicants to begin off-cycle or after July of each year?
A: No. Only transfer candidates from other accredited anesthesia training programs will be considered if there is a vacancy.
Q: Are there any other requirements for international medical graduates?
A: International candidates must be ECFMG certified by the end of the interview season (end of January). All international candidates must have excellent proficiency in spoken and written English. Letters of recommendation must include at least one letter from a physician who has directly supervised the candidate in a major clinical rotation such as internal medicine, surgery or pediatrics, and when available, letters from US trained physicians are particularly helpful.