Frequently Asked Questions
How to Apply
1. How do I apply to your program?
Please apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and register for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The official name of our program is Brigham and Women's Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
2. Is there an application deadline?
Our application deadline is October 15, but we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.
3. Does my application have to be complete before I submit it through ERAS?
No. You can submit additional documents through ERAS when available.
4. How many letters of recommendation should I have?
We require three letters of recommendation, but you are welcome to submit four.
5. Do I have to submit a letter from a neurologist?
It is very helpful but not required to have a letter from a neurologist.
6. Do I have to provide a letter from a chairperson?
No. It is usually best if the letters you provide are from people who know you well and can speak about you in a knowledgeable manner.
7. Is research experience required to apply to your program?
No. Our residents have diverse clinical and academic interests, including basic and clinical research, medical education, global health, patient safety, diversity, and health equality. We are interested in applicants who demonstrate commitment to their passion within any realm of medicine.
8. Do I have to apply separately for a preliminary position?
Yes. Our program is Advanced, not Categorical, meaning that the neurology program is three-years in length. Residents complete a separate medicine preliminary year. We offer 20 preliminary medicine positions (10 at BWH, 8 at MGH, and 2 at Salem Hospital). The Salem positions are to accommodate international medical school graduates (IMGs). Applicants must apply separately to the preliminary medicine programs. We encourage applicants to apply to as many preliminary medicine programs as they feel comfortable, both within and outside of MGB.
9. Can I interview for neurology and medicine during the same visit?
Interviews for neurology and medicine will be conducted virtually this year. BWH and MGH medicine interviews will occur during the same week as the interview for our program. You will hear from our program regarding an interview prior to hearing from the BWH Medicine and MGH Medicine programs.
10. Do you have a cut-off for year of graduation from medical school?
No. However, we strongly prefer applicants who have graduated from medical school within the past 5 years or have been continuously involved with clinical work.
11. Do you have minimum USMLE score requirements?
No. The USMLE performance is just one measure of an applicant’s potential.
12. Do you require USMLE for all candidates?
No. Canadian physicians and Doctors of Osteopathy who are eligible for licensure may substitute documentation of successful completion of LMCC/MCCQE and COMLEX examinations, respectively, in lieu of USMLE examinations.
13. Do you offer in-person second looks?
Information regarding in person second looks will be made available to applicants selected to interview.
For Foreign Medical Graduates
1. Do you accept foreign medical graduates?
Yes. We have a strong history of training foreign medical graduates in our program. Diversity is a cornerstone of our residency.
2. Do you require US clinical experience?
No. However, we strongly prefer applicants with US clinical experience. Hands-on clinical rotations are preferable to observerships.
3. Do I have to be ECFMG certified to apply to your program?
Yes. You should be ECFMG certified when applying and must be certified when invited to interview.
4. Do you provide visas for foreign medical graduates?
Yes, we provide both J1 and H1B visas for applicants who match with us. The visa type depends on the individual resident's situation. Applicants usually continue on the type of visa they held during internship (provided to them by the Medicine departments either at our hospitals or at outside institutions). MGB has an International Office, which handles visas and you are not required to retain a lawyer.
About Our Program
1. You have the largest Neurology Residency Program in the country. What systems are in place to assure resident cohesion/community in such a large program?
We have 19 adult neurology residents per year. While large for neurology programs, this is still a small number in the context of 3 years of training together in our residency family. First and foremost, we rely on our current residents to help identify and recruit the most appropriate candidates who show the kind of passion for neurology and commitment to teamwork that makes our program so cohesive. We explicitly foster a supportive environment through active engagement from our program directors, department chairs, our faculty, and our dedicated education administrative support team. We hold frequent town hall meetings to seek feedback from residents to improve the program. The residency House System further increases faculty exposure to residents and helps to build our community. We have residency-wide events including Boston Red Sox outings, house dinners, Boston Symphony Orchestra nights, and so much more.. Ultimately, our size promotes a diverse group of residents and offers flexibility to innovate and support the varied interests our residents pursue.
2. How do residents balance their responsibilities between two major teaching hospitals (Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital)? How are residents able to move between the two hospitals?
The partnership of neurology training at two major teaching hospitals offers unique opportunities and challenges. Residents on inpatient rotations are based at one or the other hospital during each block, with little need to travel to the other hospital. Should transit be needed, the hospitals are just over 3 miles apart by free shuttle bus, subway, or car. The electronic medical record system is identical and shared between BWH and MGH, making transition seamless between the two hospitals. A shared teleconference allows interaction with faculty and residents at each hospital every day. Social events such as happy hour are another way for residents to connect independently of their location. While the program takes advantage of the amazing resources at both major hospitals, the residency is a cohesive and tight-knit community.
3. What opportunities exist for research? How is research time built into the resident experience?
The breadth and depth of research opportunities at BWH, MGH, Harvard Medical School and other affiliated institutions is unparalleled. While clinical training and career development are the primary goals for residency training, our residents have access to a wide array of projects and labs from basic science to translational to clinical research. Through assigned mentors, program directors, and residency-wide research advisors, residents are offered guidance on available opportunities and feasible goals for residency research. The R25 program offers up to two years of research funding, at least 6 months of which occurs within residency. With at least 3 months of elective time during each of the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years, all residents can explore research projects. In addition to the R25, the Research Certificate Program offers structured mentoring for any resident to engage in research ranging from wet lab to exploring data sets to compiling case series. All residents have access to our research mentoring and noon conference series. For those completing the R25 or Research Certificate Program, additional workshops are available after hours on topics including grant writing, manuscript writing, and choosing a lab mentor.
4. What does mentorship look like in your program?
Our residents have access to a multitude of mentors and sponsors. Based on continuity clinic and inpatient supervision rotations, each resident is placed into a House, which is led by faculty members from both hospitals. Through Chiefs Rounds, Morning Report, and additional events hosted outside of the workplace, our Department Co-Chairs provide varying degrees of mentoring and sponsorship to residents. Our Program Directors meet with each resident regularly and discuss their development with House Faculty and Department Co-Chairs. Residents participating in any of our certificate programs are assigned a project mentor. Beyond all of this formal mentoring structure, the collegial and casual environment in our program allows residents to find mentors organically based on their interests or experiences with specific faculty.
· If you have additional questions, please contact our team at neuroresidencyrecruitment@mgb.org
