Latest Update:  09/02/2008

Frequently Asked Questions

0. What are the criteria for acceptance into St. Elizabeths Hospital Psychiatry Residency Training Program?

          In order for a candidate to be accepted, they must meet the criteria "A" to "F" below:

0. Candidate must have at least one of the following credentials:

                      i.      Graduate of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on

                           Medical Education (LCME) 

                     ii.      Graduate of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American

                           Osteopathic Association (AOA). 

                    iii.      Graduate of medical schools outside the United States and Canada who have a currently valid ECFMG

                           certificate prior to appointment 

                   iv.      Graduate of medical schools outside the United States who have completed Fifth Pathway program

                          provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.

0.  Candidate must have excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

0. Candidate must have broad interest in human condition, be sensitive to cultural issues, psychologically minded and curious about psychological functioning

0.  Candidate must present at least 3 letters of reference from physicians or supervisors familiar with your work.

0. Candidate may not have any failed grade in USMLE Combined history (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS) except 1 failed grade will be accepted if Step 1 and Step 2 scores are both over 85.

0.  If more than 5 years have elapsed since graduation from medical school, USMLE Step 3, (OR) a full medical license in a US jurisdiction is required.

The following criteria are highly desirable but are not required for acceptance:

A.     Graduated from medical school in the past 5 years

B.     If graduated from medical school more than 5 years ago, continuous clinical experience since graduation, preferably some in the US, and/or postgraduate training in psychiatry.

C.    Passed USMLE Step 3

D.    USMLE scores above 85.

E.     Research experience/productivity.

F.     Clinical experience in the field of psychiatry, and one letter of recommendation from a psychiatrist who has been clinical supervisor.

G.    Creative interest in psychiatry, psychological mindedness, and integration of personal experience with the desire to become a psychiatrist.

H.     Language skills in addition to English.

0. When do you start accepting applications?

We accept applications only through ERAS. We start interviewing in September.

0. What are the cut off dates for graduation from medical school?

We do not have a cut off date for graduation. However, preference is given to more recent graduates (unless you have previous postgraduate training in psychiatry). If you graduated from an US medical school more than 4 years ago, you will need to be eligible for full medical license in the District of Columbia (since this will be required to join any residency program in DC). If you graduated from a foreign medical school more than 5 years ago, you need to have passed USMLE Step 3 by February 1^st of the year of the match in order to be ranked.

0. What is your Accreditation status?

Saint Elizabeths Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Currently our status is “Continued Accreditation”.

0. Where can I get more information about your program including curriculum, faculty, benefits and other information?

Our website: www.stelizabethshospitalresidency.org provides more information about our program.

0. Do you offer prematch positions?

Usually, all 8 of our PGY-I positions are filled through the NRMP. For exceptional candidates, however, we may consider a request for prematch acceptance.

0. What Visas do you sponsor?

In the past we have sponsored J-1 and on rare occasions, H-1 visas. We may consider sponsoring H-1 visa if the candidate is exceptional, and can provide written documentation of having passed USMLE Step 3 before January 31 of the year of match.

0. What is the Length of Training required?

The required length of training for which the St Elizabeths Hospital Psychiatry Residency Training Program is accredited is 48 months.

0. What are the average work hours during the residency? How much call are Residents expected to take?

The average hours per week that a resident works during PGY-I (excluding beeper and at-home call, but including patient care activities, research, and conferences) is 50 hours. However, during the Internal Medicine rotation (4 months), the average number of hours is 70 hours/ week. The maximum number of consecutive hours a resident is allowed to work during PGY-I (excluding beeper and at-home call) is 30 hours. The average number of days off per week scheduled for residents in PGY-I (i.e., complete 24-hours off-duty) is 1.5 days. Night float system is currently being used in one of the sites where PGY-I residents rotate for Internal Medicine rotation. The most taxing call schedule is as follows:

Call Schedule Total duration

PGY-I S ix 12-hour calls & 4 Months
Two 24-hour calls per month
OR every 3rd night

PGY-II Every 7^th day 12 Months
8 AM to 8 AM

PGY-III Every 7^th evening 12 Months
5:30 PM to 11 PM

The number of weeks a resident is on beeper call or home call for each year of the program:

PGY-I & II 0 weeks
PGY-III & IV 6 weeks

0. What is the Residency Program's policy regarding USMLE Step 3 Requirement?

Candidates are strongly encouraged to pass USMLE Step 3 prior to the end of their PGY-I. A passing score on Step 3 is a requirement for advancement to PGY-II. Residents who have not passed Step 3 by the middle of their PGY-I will not have their contracts renewed for PGY-II.

0. What are the Licensure Requirements for Residency Training in the District of Columbia?

Please read the “ Municipal Medicine Regulations” to determine whether or not you need a D.C. license. In general, the following statements apply, but you should consult the regulations mentioned above or contact the Health Professionals Licensing Administration directly at the address/number given below.

If you are currently fully licensed to practice medicine in any jurisdiction in the United States , you have to be fully licensed in the District of Columbia in order to join a residency training program (unless you are an International Medical Graduate with less than 3 years of US residency training). Please contact the Health Professionals Licensing Administration at:

Health Professional Licensing Administration -- DC Department of Health
717 14th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 724-4900

You may also apply for the license online at http://app.doh.dc.gov/prof_license/services/main.asp

If you currently do not have a full license to practice medicine in any US jurisdiction:

In general, if you are a graduate of an American medical school, you may not need a license to enroll in a District of Columbia residency program during the first four years after graduation. If you are foreign medical graduate who has never been in an accredited residency training program in the U.S., you may not need a D.C. license. Those not needing a license will need to enroll in the Postgraduate Physician Training Enrollment Program of the District of Columbia Department of Health/ Health Professionals Licensing Administration. This can be done at the commencement of residency training.

If you are required to have a full unrestricted DC license, you MUST have it by your start date. If you have questions about licensing/ postgraduate physician training enrollment, you may contact Ms. Lisa Robinson at lisaa.robinson@dc.gov or (202) 724 4900.

0. Are Residents required to have Computer Skills?

Basic computer skills and ability to type are becoming necessary in many areas of residency training and medical practice. If you do not have basic proficiency in typing, you are strongly encouraged to learn typing. If you already own a computer, software programs like “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing”, which are widely available for about $20, can be very useful for learning to type, as well as to upgrade typing skills. Computer skills that are recommended include being able to log on and off on secure accounts, creating a document (such as on Microsoft Word), being able to save and retrieve files from the hard drive and floppy disc, being able to work with tables, and being proficient in sending and receiving emails, including working with attachments.