Information for Applicants

Read a message from our program director

How to Apply

Applications for residency should be sent only through the Electronic Residency Application Service. Our program is listed as Northwestern/McGaw/NMH/VA-IL.

Relevant program numbers are:

• 2247140CO for Categorical Medicine
• 2247140PO for Medicine Preliminary
• 2247140C1 for Medicine PSTP (Please also complete our online PSTP application)

Applications should be supported by the following documents:

• MSPE
• Transcript including first quarter senior grades
• Chair of Medicine's letter or a letter from their designee. We accept “traditional” letters and Standard Evaluation Letters (SELs) per the Alliance of Academic Internal Medicine guidelines.
• In addition to Chair’s letter, at least two additional letters of recommendation. At least one of these letters must be from an internal medicine faculty member or subspecialist who has worked closely with the applicant. The others may be from clinical faculty or research mentors / others who have a strong relationship with the applicant and can speak to their potential for excellence in residency.

We require a Pass on USMLE Step 1 and a score recorded on USMLE Step 2 before beginning residency training.

Preparation for the PGY1 year is assessed carefully on each applicant. We strongly recommend completion of a medicine sub-internship and a MICU rotation in the senior year.

You must be a current senior or graduate of an LCME-accredited medical school (or osteopathic equivalent) or an international graduate with a valid ECFMG certificate and valid visa or permanent resident status. All appointments for residency are subject to the ability to obtain an unrestricted Illinois medical license.

An interview is required for admission. Interviews are by invitation only and are conducted from October 22 through January 16. Interview invitations will be distributed through Thalamus. Our first interview invitations will be released on October 16. We will continue to invite applicants throughout the season based on availability and cancellations.

The deadline for receipt of application is September 25, 2024.

Program Director's Message

Dear Applicants,

The 2024-25 interview season for our Internal Medicine Residency brings hope and excitement.  We are committed to an all-virtual experience to keep things equitable, affordable and to reduce our collective carbon footprint. We are confident we can share our program curriculum and culture with you through this virtual experience.

We seek applicants with exceptional clinical and communication skills, an emphasis on teamwork and collegiality and a mindset of growth through challenge and support. We review applications holistically, emphasizing performance, past accomplishments and the metaphorical "distance traveled."

This year, we will use program signaling and geographic preferencing as one factor in granting interviews. We do not use preference signaling in our ranking process; we understand that preferences change as applicants gather information from interviews.

We encourage you to follow our residency program on X (@NU_IntMed) and Instagram (@Northwestern_IM) and to learn more about our program through these resources:

• Residency Brochure 
• Residency Match lists
• Fellowship Match list 
• Research log

Our mission is to train academic internal medicine physicians focused on leadership in education, research, quality and safety, equity and advocacy. We encourage you to review our website and brochure to learn more about our program.

We are proud of our values and believe this is reflected in our residents' wellness and education. You are choosing medicine at a time when physicians are needed more than ever. We seek trainees who share our motivation to learn and serve. Thank you for your interest in our program.

Bruce Henschen, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) and Medical Education
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency
Vice Chair, Education