Gastroenterology Fellowship Application Guide
As of July 2007, the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program has participated in the ERAS match. This is a change that has greatly benefited the applicants, and upwards of 80% of the nation’s programs will participate. For programs that do not participate in the match, there are separate applications. For those, you are recommended to speak with a program coordinator first.
Fellowship applications are completed through the American Association of Medical Colleges’ Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which is accessed online. Click here for the ERAS website.
Timeline for applications for training beginning on July 1, 2012
Mid-June 2010: MyERAS User Guide available.
July 1, 2010: MyERAS website opens to applicants to begin working on their applications.
November 15, 2010: Applicants begin posting their applications to the ERAS system.
December 1, 2010 – February 1, 2011: The applications are reviewed.
March – April 2011: Fellowship program staff issue invitations for interviews. Some programs will interview in February, but almost none in May. Details on match can be obtained from the NRMP website at www.nrmp.org, and a listing of programs participating in the match can be found in the Education and Training Section of www.gastro.org.
Application Requirements
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell (and most other programs) will only review completed applications that include 3 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the Residency Program Director or Chief of Service. Attendings and the Program Director are usually more than happy to write you letters but are generally quite busy. They may sometimes need gentle reminders (i.e., prodding) to complete these, and thus it is advisable to make the request sometime in August/September.
A personal statement is required as well. You will generate a CV via ERAS. Many programs will begin downloading applications immediately upon completion in the ERAS post office. While fellowship program staff generally wait until the application window has closed before reviewing applications, many programs will review in early January and then only haphazardly after that. Therefore, it greatly behooves you to have the application complete as early as possible (i.e., by December 1).
General Advice
As Gastroenterology has become an increasingly competitive area, it is important to have a research component to your portfolio. Speaking to current residents who have matched for the following year is quite helpful. It is also recommended that you meet with either Dr. Ira Jacobson — the Chief of the Division — as well as one of the faculty for guidance. Applying broadly (to top-tier programs around the country) or deeply (to many programs in a particular geographic location, such as NYC) is important.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Fellowship Program Office at 646-962-4700 or one of the contacts below.
Contacts
Brian P. Bosworth, MD
Program Director
Tel: 212-746-5077
Email: bpb9002@med.cornell.edu
Ming Su
Program Coordinator
Tel: 646-962-4700
Email: mhsu@med.cornell.edu
