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How to Apply

Procedure and Dates, Interview Travel, Information for International Applicants, and Licensure

General Information

The Stanford Adult Psychiatry Residency Program only participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Within the NRMP and ERAS we offer three tracks:

  • Categorical  [NRMP Program Code: 1820400C0]:
    Main residency match for all PGY-1 applicants.

  • Research C  [NRMP Program Code: 1820400C1]:
    Our research track is for residents interested in pursuing an academic research career that culminates in a NIH T-32 research-training grant.  For more information on the research track, please visit our learning page. Categorical residents interested in pursuing research during residency, may do so by through our scholarly concentration.

  • Community/Public Psychiatry C [NRMP Program Code: 1820400C2]:
    The community and public psychiatry track is for residents who are deeply committed to careers addressing mental health inequities, broadly defined. Modeled upon our existing research track and the UC PRIME model, this new track offers enhanced training and curriculum with an emphasis on mental health equity, cultural psychiatry, public policy, and advocacy in both the East Bay and throughout the Peninsula.
     

When do I apply?

All complete applications must be in ERAS by: September 27, 2023

We recommend you to submit your completed applications by this date, as our interview schedule fills quickly.

Applications received in ERAS after this date will not be screened or reviewed. No exceptions.

How do I apply for a PGY-1 position?

Please use myERAS to track the status of your documents.  Due to the large volume of applications, we will not be able to let you know which documents we received.

A complete application includes the following documents in ERAS:

  1. ERAS application.
  2. Personal statement.
  3. Four (4) letters of recommendation.
    1. From faculty members who have worked with you in clinical settings and know you well. 
    2. At least one (1) letter of rec from a psychiatry clinical setting; and
    3. One (1) letter of rec from a primary care specialty (internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, or ob-gyn) clinical setting.
  4. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
  5. Official medical school transcripts.
  6. Curriculum vitae.
  7. Official copy of your United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores.*
    Candidates must pass Step 1 and Step 2 CK to be considered for NRMP ranking.
    It is recommended to have Step 2 scores available as early as possible in the selection process.
    *Osteopathic (DO) Medical Graduates:  USMLE scores are preferred and recommended.
  8. Photo.
    Preferably, a professional high-resolution headshot.

International Medical Graduates must also submit the following ECFMG Supporting Documents in ERAS:

  • ECFMG Certificate and Status Report
  • Stanford Hospital and Clinics does not sponsor the H-1B visa.


For more information, please review the ECFMG Supporting Document Submission At-a-Glance

How do I apply for a PGY-2 position?

Currently, our program is full and we do not anticipate any PGY-2 openings.  If our program status has changed, contact the residency training office (psychresidency@lists.stanford.edu) in late December or early June for an available PGY-2 position in the upcoming academic year.  Please include your curriculum vitae (CV) and psychiatry personal statement.

Interview and Travel Details

All interviews will be conducted virtually during the 2023-2024 application cycle.

When are interviews held?

Our interview season begins in mid-October and goes through the end of January.

We conduct Categorical interviews only on Thursdays. Typically, we start at 7:45am and end at 5:15pm.  

We conduct Research track interviews only on the following Friday. Typically, we start at 8:00am and end around 4:00pm.

We review complete applications in last September. Should you receive an invitation to interview from us, please reply promptly to confirm your interview date.

*Our program uses the Thalamus GME application to send out invitations to interview. Invitations generally are sent once a week on Tuesdays.*

Where can I stay when I come to interview?

Stanford’s location adjacent Palo Alto and Menlo Park offers an abundance of lodging choices, ranging from B&Bs and motels to luxury hotels.

The Stanford lodging guide is based on proximity to the main campus and includes website links, rates, and contact information.

Other helpful lodging information is available at Destination Palo Alto.

While our program does not endorse Airbnb, some visitors have had relative success using the lodging application.

Area maps

Airports

Stanford is roughly equidistant from the San Francisco and San Jose airports.  Three major airports serve the San Francisco Bay Area:


We suggest comparing fares to all three airports, as there can be significant differences, even for the same airline.

Choosing airports

Although San Francisco is the largest of the three area airports and offers the most airlines and flights, some visitors find that San Jose’s smaller size makes it a somewhat more convenient alternative, especially for domestic flights.

Information for International Applicants

Important information for International Medical Graduates (IMG)

All applicants to the Stanford Adult Psychiatry Residency Program must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of California.  Graduates of international medical schools should first contact the Medical Board of California to ensure the requirements to obtain a medical license and practice medicine in California have been met.

International Medical Graduates must obtain the ECFMG Certificate and Status Report. it is required to be submitted with the ERAS application to the Stanford Adult Psychiatry Residency Program.

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) resources:

International Medical Graduates Visa Requirement

Stanford Hospital and Clinics does not sponsor the H-1B visa. All trainees in residency and clinical fellowship programs are placed on ECFMG-sponsored J-1 visas.

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
Telephone (215) 386-5900

Canadian Visa Requirements

Stanford Hospital and Clinics does not sponsor the H-1B visa.  Graduates of Canadian medical schools are placed on ECFMG-sponsored J-1 visas.

Canadian medical graduates are not required to take the qualifying examinations such as FMGEMS, NBME, and USMLE in order to obtain visas.

At this time, the government of Canada is restricting approval of physicians wishing to obtain clinical training outside Canada. Stanford Hospital and Clinics is unable to obtain a J-1 visa without the consent of the Canadian government.

Licensure

California Licensure

These licensure requirements are for California only. If you intend to train or practice in another state please contact their respective Medical Board. To be eligible for licensure in California, you must have received all of your medical school education from and graduated from a:

  1. U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation; or LCME Accredited U.S. Programs.

  2. A foreign medical school which has been evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or one of the ECFMG authorized foreign medical school accreditation agencies and deemed to meet the minimum requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

    The foreign medical school must be listed on the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) World Directory of Medical Schools joint directory, or the World Directory of Medical Schools; or World Directory of Medical Schools.

  3. A foreign medical school that has been approved by the Medical Board of California (Board).

Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
Telephone (916) 263-2382 or (800) 633-3233