General Surgery Residency Application Process

The SIU General Surgery Residency Program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). All applications must be submitted through ERAS. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding applications to our program.

How many residents do you match each year?

We are currently approved for four categorical spots per year. We do not offer preliminary positions or observerships.

What are the requirements to apply to your program?

We require a USMLE Step 1 score of 220 or higher, three letters of recommendation other than the MSPE (formally the Dean’s letter), and a personal statement before offering an interview. The deadline to submit your application is Oct. 15.

What about Step II?

We only require that you have passed USMLE Step 2 prior to starting the program in June. If you have taken step 2, we will factor that into our interview selection and overall ranking. We do not have a limitation on exam score nor the number of attempts for USMLE exam, but do take into consideration any failed attempts.

What does a typical application consist of for those who are invited to interview?

Along with USMLE scores, letters of recommendation have the most weight upon the selection committee and should include at least one from a general surgeon, preferably from an academic institution. Research, honors in the surgery clerkship, and a strong personal statement are also factors.

Is there a cut off from date of graduation?

We do not have a cut off for number of years since graduation from medical school.  This will be taken into consideration when reviewing applications.

Is US Clinical Experience Required?

We do not require US clinic experience to apply to our program.

Do you invite foreign medical graduates?

We invite two to four strong candidates from foreign medical schools each year. We currently have four FMGs in our program. We do not have a limitation on length of time after medical school graduation.  It is not required you have your ECFMG certificate to apply, but will need this prior to beginning residency training with us.  For more information regarding our institutional policies please click here.

What type of Visas do you offer?

SIU and its affiliated hospitals do not, as a matter of policy or practice, sponsor residents/fellows for H visas or benefits. Please review the Office of Graduate Medical Education's Resident Eligibility and Employment Authorization Policy

Learn more about Visas here.

What does a typical interview day consist of?

Our interviews are held on Thursday mornings. On the evening before your interview, you will be invited to an informal dinner at the home of one of the residents. This is a casual gathering of the applicants, current residents, and spouses/families, which we hope gives you an outlook on the program from a resident’s perspective. On the morning of your interview you will attend an orientation by the program director highlighting the SIU General Surgery program. You will also individually meet with the Chair of General Surgery, Associate Program Director, a PGY 4 resident and one faculty member, followed by lunch where you will have another oppootutniy to visit with residents and your day will end with a tour of our facilities.  Your day will be completed by 2:00pm.

When are your interview dates?

We will be interviewing four days:  November 7, 2019, November 21, 2019, December 5, 2019, and December 13, 2019

Who can I contact for more information?

Melissa Smock, Residency Program Administrator

Phone: 217-545-4401

Email: msmock@siumed.edu

Click here to learn more about our institutional residency program information.