Univ of TN COM Chat Recruitment book

Pediatrics Residency Program

Pediatrics Residency – Department of Pediatrics

910 Blackford Street – Chattanooga, TN 37403 – www.uthsc.edu/comc/pediatrics














Hospital Overview

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Pediatrics Residency Program is based at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger:
• 107-bed regional tertiary care facility
• 14-bed PICU
• 64-bed NICU
• Region’s only pediatric teaching hospital
• State of the Art Pediatric Outpatient Center opened December 2018
• 1 of 4 Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Centers in Tennessee
• More than 120,000 annual patient visits in Emergency Room,
staffed 24/7 by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians


Quotes from some of our recent residents: Program Overview


“Chattanooga is the perfect city for me.”
• 8 residents per level
“The program provides the best of both worlds— • Morning report held 2 days/week, Board review 1 day/week, Grand Rounds 1
a community setting in an academic environment.” day/week, 3 hour didactic block on Friday afternoon

“We have a diverse range of pathology and first • 50% of graduates go on to fellowships, 40% enter private practice, 10% become
class facilities needed to care for these patients.” hospitalists
• Offer innovative 3+1 rotation scheduling, allowing for focused educational experience
e
“The one-on-one interaction with the faculty was • Built-in time for independent study, scholarly activity, community service and advocacy
the most valuable aspect • Active resident wellness program
of the program for me.”
• Supportive Faculty Mentorship program

Faculty Key Contacts
• Close working relationship between faculty and residents is
the foundation of our program Chair: Charles R. Woods, M.D., M.S.
• 86 full-time faculty (56 male, 30 female) and 3 part-time Program Director: Karla Garcia, M.D.
faculty Associate Program Directors: Alicia Andrews, D.O., and
• 40 volunteer faculty who practice general pediatrics and Jason Zurawick, M.D.
Resident Liaison: Kathryn Hines, M.D.
related subspecialties in the community Residency Coordinator: Ashley Thurston

The Department of Pediatrics offers specialized care in these Address: 910 Blackford Street
subspecialties: Chattanooga, TN 37403

Adolescent Medicine, Allergy/Immunology, Ambulatory Care, Email: [email protected]
Anesthesiology, Bariatrics, Cardiology, Craniofacial and Pediatric
Plastic Surgery, Critical Care, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Phone: (423) 778-6217
Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Genetics, Hematology/Oncology, Toll Free: (800) 947-7823, ext 6217

Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neonatology, Neurology, Webpage: www.utcomchatt.org/pediatrics
Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology,
Pediatric Surgery, Psychology/Behavioral Science, Pulmonology,
Radiology, Sleep Medicine and Urology

THINGS TO DO IN CHATTANOOGA!!


FREE ACTIVITIES Rainy day?
Explore downtown Chattanooga: -Tennessee Aquarium
-Coolidge Park -High point climbing
-Renaissance Park -Ruby Falls
-Walnut St Bridge: was once the longest -Hunter Museum of American Art
pedestrian bridge in the world! -Rock City Gardens: free rain ponchos
-Riverwalk: bike, walk, run provided
-Chattanooga Market (Small market on
Saturdays next to the Aquarium. Larger
market on Sundays at the First Tennessee
Pavilion)

Hiking:
-Lula Lake Trails: only open certain days of
the week
-Sunset Rock
-Craven’s Trail to Point Park
-Fall Creek Falls State Park
-Edward’s Point

Experience the Arts:
-First Street Sculpture Garden
-Bluff View Art District
-River Gallery Sculpture Garden Restaurants: Resident’s favorites!
-Sculpture Fields at Montague Park Feed
Tremont Tavern: Havarti burger!
Flying Squirrel: innovative cocktails
Bitter Alibi: brunch
Other Outdoor Adventures/Relaxation: Champys: for the fried chicken lovers
-Paddleboarding 2 Ten Jack: Exquisite Ramen
-Reflection Riding Nature Center and Embargo 62
Arboretum Alleia: $$$ but delicious Italian food
-Riverboat Cruises The Boathouse
Brewhaus: German pub food and brews
Public House
Urban Stack
Tony’s
Food Works

Coffee/Dessert:
-Frothy Monkey
-Mean Mug
-Rembrant’s
-Clumpies ice cream
-Hot Chocolatier
-Milk and honey




Descriptions and Information from Chattanoogafun.com

THINGS TO DO IN CHATTANOOGA!!


SIGNAL POINT: Tucked into the cliffside in Signal Mountain’s historic district, Signal Point is the perfect
destination for nature lovers and history buffs alike. From the parking lot, it’s only about a hundred
yards down a gradual staircase to the first overlook. From here, you’ll have a clear view of the
Tennessee River as it cuts through the steep gorge. Raccoon Mountain is also visible to the west.

RIVERWALK: Chattanooga’s Riverwalk is impressive both for its length and its scenery. The wide, paved
path spans from St. Elmo to the Chickamauga Dam, passing directly through downtown along the way.
The Riverwalk is almost entirely flat, making it manageable for all skill levels and ages, and it offers
amenities such as restrooms, playgrounds, and picnic tables. A popular access point to the riverfront
path is from the Bluff View Art District in the heart of downtown. Don’t have a bike? Pick one up at one
of over 30 bikeshare docking stations and pedal to your heart’s content.

REFLECTION RIDING NATURE CENTER AND ARBORETUM: Take a trip to this hidden gem for a relaxing
day in a beautiful natural area. Located at the foot of Lookout Mountain, Reflection Riding offers 14
miles of hiking trails, a 3-mile scenic drive, calm water, wildlife, and much more.

WALNUT ST BRIDGE AND COOLIDGE PARK: Connecting the trendy NorthShore neighborhood to the
lively downtown area, the Walnut Street Bridge is one of Chattanooga’s signature attractions. The blue-
trussed bridge was constructed in 1890 and was once the longest pedestrian bridge in the world.
Though it no longer holds that title, the beautiful bridge remains a favorite place for both locals and
visitors to enjoy walking, running, and biking. Coolidge Park, located just below the Walnut Street Bridge
on NorthShore, is a great spot to relax and cool off on the Tennessee riverfront after your stroll.

CHATTANOOGA MARKET: Every Sunday from May to November, vendors and artisans from around the
region set up shop at the open air First Tennessee Pavilion for the Chattanooga Market. You’ll find
gourmet cheese, local produce, craft beer, unique art, fresh popcorn, and much more among the
market’s many aisles. Each week, there are an array of food trucks and local musicians, so you can easily
make a day of your trip to the Chattanooga Market.

PADDLEBOARDING: If you’ve always wanted to try stand-up paddleboarding, there’s no better place
than Chattanooga. With the Tennessee River flowing right through downtown, getting on the river
couldn’t be easier. And because of this easy access, there are several places around town to rent gear
and get instruction. Rock/Creek Rentals and Outpost on the Riverwalk offers a variety of SUPs and
kayaks, and their knowledgeable staff will make sure you’re comfortable and confident before getting
on the water. Similarly, BOTE on River Street offers rentals and guided paddles on the Tennessee River.

The Southern Belle is designed to mimic the luxury riverboats that cruised Chattanooga’s waterways in
the 1800s. This triple decker riverboat holds up to 500 passengers, and cruising options abound. Short
1.5-hour sightseeing excursions are perfect for a downtown river view while longer journeys venture up
the Tennessee River Gorge. The most popular options are the dinner cruises, which include live music,
bingo and prizes.

Take a ride aboard the Chattanooga Ducks, authentic WWII amphibious landing crafts built specifically
for the D-Day invasion. This historic 1-hour tour takes you through the heart of downtown Chattanooga.
Just when you think you've seen it all, the vehicle splashes into the Tennessee River for a historical and
ecological tour of the river and the Chattanooga Riverfront.






Descriptions and Information from Chattanoogafun.com

Pediatrics Residency Interviews 2020-2021

Residents



PGY-1


Joshua Bland, MD [email protected]





Tanner Cabbage, DO [email protected]




Jenna Dedeker, MD [email protected]





Katie DeMars, MD [email protected]






Merla Hubler, MD, PhD [email protected]






Daniel Mathis, MD [email protected]





Nikita Patil, DO [email protected]






David Sheron, MD [email protected]

PGY-2




Jared Amos, MD [email protected]






Jeremiah Arnold, DO [email protected]






Beth Brooke, MD [email protected]






Caroline Hawes, MD [email protected]






Marlie Patel, DO [email protected]






Sarah Rodriguez-Sawao, DO [email protected]






E. Jacob White, MD [email protected]







Perrin Windham, MD [email protected]

PGY-3




Meg Armour-Jones, MD [email protected]






Alexandra Biller, DO [email protected]






Sarah Jane Camper, DO [email protected]






Lindsey Gordon, DO [email protected]







Rupa Hari Gopal, MD [email protected]






Stephanie Mueller, MD [email protected]





Kathryn Oelsner, MD [email protected]
*Administrative Chief Resident





Michael Palmieri, MD [email protected]

Pediatrics Residency Interviews 2020-2021

Selection Committee



Charles Woods, MD [email protected]
Chairman
Professor of Pediatrics
(Infectious Disease)

Karla Garcia, MD [email protected]
Residency Program Director
Assoc. Professor of Pediatrics (General
Pediatrics)

Alicia Andrews, DO [email protected]
Assoc Program Director
Asst. Professor of Pediatrics
(Gastroenterology)

Jason Zurawick, MD [email protected]
Assoc. Program Director
Asst. Professor of Pediatrics
(Hospitalist)

Kathryn Hines, MD [email protected]
Resident Liaison
Asst. Professor of Pediatrics
(Hospitalist)

Heather Gilliam, DO [email protected]
Asst. Professor of Pediatrics (General
Pediatrics)



Rachel Nelson, MD [email protected]
Asst. Professor of Pediatrics
(Hospitalist)



Ashley Thurston [email protected]
Residency Program Coord

Annual Resident Stipends*




2020-2021







$4468
PGY-1 $53,616.00






$4616
PGY-2 $55,392.00





$4760
PGY-3 $57,120.00






$4967
PGY-4 $59,604.00






$5152
PGY-5 $61,824.00






$5349
PGY-6 $64,188.00






$5547
PGY-7 $66,564.00





University of Tennessee
College of Medicine Chattanooga


*Includes $660 allowance for disability/life premiums

The UNIVERSITY of TENNESSEE
College of Medicine Chattanooga

Value of Our PGY-1


Salary & Benefits


Pediatrics




Description Amount

• 2020-2021 PGY-1 Salary $ 53,616*
(includes $660 offset for Basic Disability & Life Premiums)

• Employer Paid FICA (Social Security) 4,102
• Employer Portion – Average Health, Dental, & Vision
Premiums 10,073

• Orientation and GME Electronic Communication
Stipend for Incoming Residents 750
• Immunity from Professional Liability (i.e., Malpractice
protection via the State Claims Commission 1,300
• Workmen’s Compensation Premiums 134

• Unemployment Premiums 373
• Funding for Call Meals within Erlanger
(not taxable as income) 1,000
• Noon Conference Lunch (1x wk) & evening & weekend
food in the Peds Resident Lounge 1,536

• Free Parking 720
• Monogrammed Lab Coats, Pager, ACGME Fees, License
Exemption, Background Checks, Drug Screens, Titers,
Certifications, AMA General Competencies, Resident
Assistance Program (NexGen Total Well-Being), etc. 2,911
• Funding for conference and educational books at the
discretion of Chair and Program Director 500


*Tennessee does not have a state income tax.
Total $ 77,015
Work, learn, live where life is good … Chattanooga

www.utcomchatt.org/pediatrics (423) 778-6217

Blending the Art and Science of Medicine
www.utcomchatt.org/pediatrics























All accredited residencies have the same requirements

to ensure quality education, but think about what else
the Chattanooga programs have to offer …


• Great quality of life

• Four distinct seasons

• Excellent, competitive pay scale

• Funding toward call meals in Erlanger

• Low Premiums for Health, Life, Disability, Dental, & Vision
Insurance

• Free, attached, covered parking

• Discounted, on-site child care

• 70% of our residents own
homes

• Low cost of living

• America’s talking about

Chattanooga as a great place
to visit, work, and play




The UNIVERSITY of TENNESSEE
College of Medicine Chattanooga

Erlanger Health System

RESIDENT and


FELLOW BENEFITS


2020-2021



Vacation Residents/Fellows are allowed three weeks of vacation, including days during the
Christmas/New Year’s season, given approval of the Program Director and coverage for
patients. A vacation week should include five work days plus at least one weekend before
or after the week off. Some programs might offer additional vacation, especially at the
senior level, given board certification requirements. Residents/Fellows may not be paid for
unused vacation at the end of each year.

Sick Leave Residents/Fellows are allowed up to 21 sick days per year; three working weeks (15
weekdays) with six additional weekend days. However, these cannot be carried over from
year to year. The Program Director may request a physician’s statement for periods of
sick leave. Residents/Fellows may not be paid for unused sick leave at the end of the
year.

Parental Parental leave is available for the birth or adoption of a child or foster care placement,
Leave per state and federal FMLA provisions for trainees employed for 12 months or more. All
available sick and vacation days up to a maximum of 6 paid weeks duration may be
used. With prior approval, additional unpaid maternity leave may be granted by the
Program Director. Extended leave due to complications may be covered under the
Resident’s/Fellow’s disability policy after the 90 day waiting period. For trainees not
employed for 12 months, mothers may be granted all paid leave available and additional
leave at the discretion of the Program Director. For a parent Resident/Fellow other than
the birth mother, they may use paid sick leave to take 7 consecutive calendar days to
assist with parental duties commencing with the birth of the child. Additional paid time
may be taken using any available annual leave. With prior approval, additional unpaid
leave may be granted by the Program Director. Specific board eligibility requirements
may limit the amount of leave the Resident/Fellow can take without extending training.


Immunity As employees of the State of Tennessee, Residents/Fellows are protected against
from suits for malpractice via the Tennessee Claims Commission Act. They have immunity
Professional from professional liability. The State is self-insured so there is no insurance carrier;
Liability however, coverage is similar to that of a standard malpractice insurance policy.

Health, The University of Tennessee provides health, hospitalization, dental and vision insurance
Dental & coverage for Residents/Fellows. The University pays a large percentage of monthly
Vision premiums. Residents/Fellows may elect Individual, Employee and Spouse,
Insurance Employee and Children, or Family Coverage, depending upon the family situation.

Disability The University provides long-term disability insurance coverage. Actual premiums vary
Insurance depending upon the trainee’s birthdate. Currently, the basic policy guarantees tax-free,
monthly income of $1,500 after a three-month waiting period is met. Residents/Fellows
can elect additional income guarantee amounts ($2,500, $4,000, or $5,000 per month)
with higher premiums. To offset the cost of the basic long-term disability coverage ($1,500
per month), the University adds $55 each month to the base approved stipend scale. This
$55 is also intended to offset the cost of basic life insurance (below) program in which
each Resident/Fellow must participate. Residents/Fellows cannot drop basic LTD
coverage.
GME Benefits – Updated 07/01/2019

Life A basic life insurance policy is also provided as part of the resident\faculty insurance
Insurance package. The current policy provides a $100,000 benefit ($4.40 per month premiums).

Call Although living quarters are not provided for Residents/Fellows, Erlanger provides
Quarters call quarters, lounge facilities stocked with refreshments in the evenings, and lockers.

Professional Departments have some funds available for professional development (e.g.,
Development educational books, travel for external conferences, electronic CME materials, USMLE
Step 3 fee, and professional/specialty memberships) at the discretion of the Chair and
Program Director. Opportunities are available for research, patient, and quality
improvement. Annual reimbursement amounts may vary by department and PGY levels.

Other Benefits
• Funding for call meals at the primary affiliated clinical site -- Erlanger
• Orientation and GME Electronic Communication Stipend ($750 total) for attending required
sessions in June before training begins (added to the first paycheck)
• Alpha-Digital pager provided by the hospital during training
• Parking at no charge in the Erlanger parking garage
• White, monogrammed lab coats at no charge each year
• Immunizations, including Hepatitis B, annual TB skin testing, and flu vaccines at no charge
• Web email accounts at no charge (UT and Erlanger)
• 24 hour computer access for research and personal use, including Internet and hospital e-mail
access
• Medical Library access (24/7 at Erlanger and access from anywhere outside the hospital via
the Internet) including electronic resources such as Up-to-Date and Visual Dx
• Copying privileges for educational materials at no charge in the UT Erlanger Medical Library
• Access to all electronic databases via the UT Health Science Center Library (in Memphis) via
the Internet
• Funding available via departments for presentations at regional and national conferences
• Local CME courses and seminars sponsored by the University – at no charge to
Residents/Fellows
• On-site child care at the hospital (E-Kids) on a space-available basis and at a discounted rate
equivalent to Erlanger employees
• Discounted fees for gyms and various workout facilities throughout Chattanooga (not payroll
deducted) as well as discounts as UT employees with cell carriers (e.g., Verizon and AT&T)
• Resident/Fellow Organization (UT House Staff Association)
• Resident Advisory Board with input in developing institutional and program well-being
programs
• Notary service at no charge
• Resident Assistance Program (NexGen) for counseling, legal, and financial matters
• AIRS Program – An Aid to Impaired Residents Program offers intervention and assistance to
Residents/Fellows who admit impairment and comply with recommended treatment. Given
compliance with treatment guidelines, every effort is made to allow a resident or fellow to
continue residency training and benefits.
• Exercise room in Erlanger at no charge
• Workers Compensation coverage for work-related illness, accident, or exposure
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) – fee of $150
per six months plus one-time $10 fee.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College of Medicine Chattanooga - Graduate Medical Education
960 East 3rd Street, Suite 104. Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: (423) 778-7442 or (800) 947-7823. Website: www.comchattanooga.uthsc.edu
GME Benefits – Updated 07/01/2019

Comparison Chart for Pediatric Programs

Current Resident CME In-hospital Leave
Institution Salary Health Benefits Licensing funds Meals Parking Fitness Center Research/ QI (Time off) Childcare
$53,616
(TN does 1 presented/
not have PGY1: $500; published
state PGY2: $750; research and 1 GME allotted 3
income PGY3: $1000 QI project weeks vacation,
tax) Useable on travel Free food on Free required over 21 days sick
*Valued at to conferences/ night float or covered residency *May leave On-site
$77,015 Employer/employee board reviews, weekend garage Access provided be same Dept offers 6 discounted child
University of Tennessee - with all paid health insurance Institution state and DEA license board prep service; Meal parking by GME on 2nd project if personal days care from
materials,
Chattanooga provided for residents and provided (not individual application); card provided floor of Medical robust and PD and 5 CME days 6weeks-5years;
(NRMP # 1689320C0) benefits families Free BLS, ACLS, PALS, NPR computers, etc provided by GME Mall approves per year Open M-F 6A-6P

GME POLICY #100 RESIDENT RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND APPOINTMENT

RESIDENT* RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND APPOINTMENT

Applicant Eligibility
The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga has adopted the eligibility and selection
criteria for Residents established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME), as well as the rules of the National Resident Matching Program and the guidelines set by the
University’s Affirmative Action Policies. Only the following individuals will be considered as applicants
in residency and fellowship programs in the University of Tennessee Graduate Medical Education
Program:

• Graduates of Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)-approved U.S. and
Canadian Medical Schools. LCME accredited schools are listed on the LCME website:
http://www.lcme.org/directory/
• Graduates of American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited Osteopathic Medical
Schools. AOA accredited schools are listed on the AOA website:
http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/cib/2017_com-map.pdf?sfvrsn=12
• International Medical Graduates who have valid Educational Commission for Foreign
Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificates or who have completed a Fifth Pathway program
provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.
• The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners requires that applicants for license in Tennessee
must be graduates either from LCME or AOA accredited schools or from international
schools whose admission meet or exceed those of medical schools accredited by the Liaison
Committee on Medical Education.
• For applicants to our programs to meet eligibility requirements, The UT College of Medicine
Chattanooga and its programs have determined that they will only consider applicants for
student rotations or residency/fellowship applications who are from schools who meet these
same criteria so they would be eligible for medical license in Tennessee after completing
residency. The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners adopts the following list of
accreditation bodies:
• Medical Board of California list of approved medical schools
www.mbc.ca.gov/Applicants/Medical_Schools/Schools_Recognized.aspx
• Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health
Professions (CAAM-HP) www.caam-hp.org/assessedprogrammes.html
• Accreditation Commission of Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) www.accredmed.org/
• In addition, the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation
(NCFMEA) provides a list of countries whose designated accreditation process or
designated organization used for their accreditation has comparable standards used to
evaluate medical schools in the United States by the LCME. Medical schools in those
countries and accredited by the listed accrediting authority will be deemed to meet
the criteria required in Tennessee http://sites.ed.gov/ncfmea/comparability-
decisions/

USMLE Requirements
USMLE Steps 1, 2 (CK), and 2 (CS)
• To ensure that all Residents meet minimal standards and meet comparable policies at all
University of Tennessee Graduate Medical Education campuses, the UT College of Medicine
Chattanooga (UTCOMC) and its Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) require
that all Residents entering any UTCOMC Graduate Medical Education program at the PGY-1


Sponsoring Institution: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Page 1

or PGY-2 level must have passed the United States Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1
and 2 (Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Sciences) or examinations judged equivalent by
individual license (COMLEX –USA or MCCQQE). This means that departments have the
discretion of accepting the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination
(COMLEX-USA) Parts 1 and 2 for osteopathic medical school graduates.
• Any Agreement of Appointment or offer letter (Letter of Commitment) will be contingent
upon the physician’s passing Steps 1 and 2 (or equivalent exams). Each resident or fellow is
responsible for providing copies of passage of Steps 1 and 2 (CK and CS) or equivalent
examinations to the Program Director and to the Director of Graduate Medical Education and
will not be permitted to begin training until this documentation is submitted. A valid
ECFMG certificate will be accepted as proof of passing Steps 1 and 2 (CK and CS) for
international medical school graduates since the ECFMG confirms this information before
issuing the ECFMG certificate.
• Accepted or matched Residents who have not passed Steps 1 and 2 (or equivalent exams) by
July 1 (or the official training start date) will be judged as not having met eligibility
requirements and will be released from their appointments. Per NRMP Policies, any program
that releases a resident or fellow who matched through the NRMP will be required to obtain a
waiver from the NRMP. The waiver must be granted before offering the position to another
applicant.


USMLE Step 3
• Applicants for advanced residency or fellowship positions (PGY-3 or greater) must have also
passed USMLE Step 3 (or equivalent exam such as COMLEX Part 3 for osteopathic
graduates) before beginning training at UT. The resident or fellow is responsible for
providing evidence of Step 3 (or equivalent exam) to the Program Director and Director of
Graduate Medical Education. Any Agreement of Appointment or offer letter (Letter of
Commitment to begin training at the PGY-3 level or higher will be contingent upon passing
Step 3 (or equivalent exam).
• Accepted or matched Residents who have not passed the all steps of required U.S. Medical
Licensing Examinations (or equivalent exams) prior to their scheduled start date will be
judged as not having met eligibility requirements and will be released from their
appointment. Per NRMP Policies, any program that releases a resident or fellow who
matched through the NRMP will be required to obtain a waiver from the NRMP. The waiver
must be granted before offering the position to another applicant.
• Any entering resident or fellow who has already passed Step 3 (or equivalent exam) or holds
a current, unrestricted medical license, meets UT GME USMLE requirements. Individual
programs may have earlier examination deadlines or specific score requirements. The
resident or fellow will be responsible for meeting individual program requirements if they are
more stringent from the overall GME requirements.

Visa Status
Visa status for International Medical Graduates must fall within the following categories:
• Eligible to seek J-1 visa
• Permanent Resident or Alien status (i.e., "Green card")
• In accordance with University of Tennessee Graduate Medical Education guidelines, our
programs do not sponsor Residents for "H1-B" visas.






Sponsoring Institution: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Page 2

Application Process and Interviews
• All applications will be processed through the Electronic Resident Application Service
(ERAS) except in those programs in specialty matches or fellowship programs which handle
their own application process.
• Opportunities for interviews will be extended to applicants based on their qualifications as
determined by USMLE scores, medical school performance, and letters of recommendation.

National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
NRMP and Rank Order Process for First Year (PGY-1) Positions
• Our UT GME Programs participate in the NRMP MATCH for all PGY-1 positions and will
only consider applicants participating in the MATCH.
• All interviewed applicants will be considered for ranking in the MATCH in order of
preference based on the following criteria: USMLE scores, medical school performance,
letters of recommendation, residents’/fellows’ and faculty perceptions during interviews,
determination of communication skills, motivation and integrity via interviews. Letters of
recommendation from UT faculty will be given high consideration.
• Characteristics such as gender, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or veteran
status, or any other applicable legally protected status, will not be used in the selection
procedure. The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/section
504/ADA/ADEA employer.
• Recommendations of all interviewing faculty and Residents will be considered in determining
the rank order of interviewed applicants.

Federal Exclusion Lists and Tennessee Abuse Registry
The University of Tennessee and Erlanger require that in order to be appointed to a Resident or
Fellowship position, physicians must not be listed on any federal Health and Human Services/Office of
the Inspector General’s (OIG) list of individuals excluded from federal health care programs. Also,
physicians must not be listed on the Tennessee Abuse Registry.

Subspecialty Programs
• Cardiovascular Disease, Emergency Medical Services, Gastroenterology, Orthopaedic Trauma
Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Ultrasound (Emergency Medicine), Urology, and
Vascular Surgery utilize their own specialty or fellowship matching programs since they seek
applicants for positions beginning beyond the PGY-1 level. Our advanced residency or
fellowship programs must participate in these specialty matching programs if required by their
specialties.
• Applicants to these advanced residency or fellowship programs must have completed the required
prerequisite training for each of these specialties by the time they would begin in these
subspecialty training in order to be considered for these programs.
• The Emergency Medical Services and Ultrasound Fellowships do not utilize matching programs,
however only applicants who meet all eligibility criteria will be considered.

Program Specific Eligibility Criteria
• Individual program policies may specify additional, specialty-specific eligibility and selection
criteria.

Appointments
• Appointments will be issued to all matched applicants who meet eligibility requirements.
• Following release of the MATCH results, attempts will be made to fill any vacant positions in
accordance with the terms of the UTCOM Chattanooga Institutional Agreement with the


Sponsoring Institution: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Page 3

NRMP. If an applicant is unable to fulfill a Match commitment, the Program will not recruit
another candidate until the NRMP has granted a waiver.
• Unless otherwise stated in specialty-specific requirements, the Program Director may not
appoint more residents than approved by their Review Committee.
• Initial Agreements of Appointment for all positions will be issued through the Graduate
Medical Education Office following a review of eligibility.

Appointments of Residents Transferring from Another Program
• In accordance with ACGME Common Program Requirement III.C.1., “Before accepting a
Resident who is transferring from another Program, the Program Director must obtain written or
electronic verification of previous educational experiences and a summative competency-based
performance evaluation of the transferring Resident.”
• The DIO must receive copies of this documentation before a transferring resident can begin
training at our institution.

Vacancies
• Chairs and Program Directors understand that candidates for vacancies can only be considered if
they meet the eligibility requirements stated by the ACGME and UT GME policy.
• The Director of Graduate Medical Education must review the eligibility of these candidates to
ensure compliance with these guidelines.

Interviewed Applicants
• A copy of this policy and a sample copy of the Initial Resident Agreement of Appointment will
be distributed to all interviewed applicants.
• This may be accomplished via links from each program’s applicant information webpage.

*The term, “Resident” refers to both Resident and Fellow trainees.

Revised and Approved by the GMEC 9/20/2017. Administrative edits 5/5/2019.




































Sponsoring Institution: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Page 4

Pediatrics Residency Program







www.uthsc.edu/comc/pediatrics








[email protected]








423-778-6217







@utchattpeds