Internal Medicine

What are some important statistics around the specialty? 

About 1 in 5 US MD senior's apply to internal medicine. The match rate is typically north of 95%.

What general advice do you have for someone choosing this specialty?

Internal Medicine is a deeply rewarding field that offers intellectual challenge, diagnostic complexity and ability to significantly improve lives of patients. You get the opportunity to treat both acute and chronic conditions. You may choose to subspecialize and the wide array of subspecialties range between procedural heavy fields such as cardiology and gastroenterology to more outpatient predominant fields like Rheumatology and Allergy/Immunology. There are countless options and this is what makes it exciting because there is something for everyone! During medical school, seek out mentors, immerse yourself in inpatient and outpatient experiences. Ultimately, choose Internal Medicine is you're drawn to the art of thinking, the science of problem-solving and the privilege of walking alongside patients through some of the most pivotal moments of their lives.

What are the top three areas that students can focus on to help prepare themselves for a successful residency application and a successful transition to residency? (i.e. grades/academics, professionalism, any of the categories listed above, etc.)?

1. Strong performance in clinical rotations--especially Internal Medicine.
2. Strong Step 2 CK scores 3. Professionalism and work ethic

What resources would you share with a student who is just starting to research their interest in this specialty and/or wants to learn more specifics of this specialty (anything from what a typical day may look like to specifics on rotations, specialty specific residency info, fellowships)?

Talk to your mentors! Learn what their day to day schedule looks like. Ask them why they chose their specialty and if they could go back, would they do it all over again? Attending teaching rounds and noon conferences adds a lot of insight into this decision. Also encouraged is listening to some podcasts such as the Curbsiders which helps flame interest in curious minded individuals considering Internal Medicine and is a great tool for learning. The American College of Physicians website offers tools that go into some depth about what makes an Internal Medicine Physician and what are different pathways in terms of subspecialties. This can be found here: https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/about-internal-medicine. FREIDA is an excellent tool to explore Internal Medicine residency programs, compare training structures, see program stats, and learn about available subspecialty fellowships: https://freida.ama-assn.org 

What subspecialties exist with this specialty?

Cardiovascular Disease Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Gastroenterology Hematology Infectious Disease Nephrology Oncology Pulmonary disease Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology Critical care medicine Hospice and palliative care Neurocritical care Sleep medicine Sports medicine. 

What does a typical workday or work week look like (hours/schedule/shifts, work setting, team based environment, acuity, etc.)?

It varies widely based upon specialty and/or subspecialty within Internal Medicine. It can be shift work or a fixed 9-5 schedule daily. It may be completely outpatient, inpatient, or even sometimes fully remote. There is a great degree of flexibility and variability in terms of what different people do.

What are the important traits, qualities, and/or considerations recommended for physicians in this specialty?

Intellectual curiosity, commitment to lifelong learning and presence of humility and compassion. Successful internists are detail-oriented and thoughtful problem-solvers who are comfortable navigating diagnostic uncertainty and managing complex, multisystem disease. The best internists balance scientific rigor with humanity and demonstrate consistency, reliability, and a sense of purpose in the face of evolving clinical demands.

How does the specialty work differ in various settings (e.g. a private vs community vs an academic environment)?

There is a wide degree of variability in different clinical environments. This can result in differences in schedule, salary, clinical burden, exposure to teaching. For clinicians in academic centers, they are deeply involved in medical education of residents, fellows and medical students. In private practice models, work hours may sometimes be longer but may also have higher salaries. It is important to note that this is an over generalization and many nuances apply.

What does training for this specialty look like (how many years, is a separate prelim year needed, etc.)?

Internal Medicine comprises of 3 years of training. There is an option to complete a fellowship in a specialty following residency training.

What types of experiences might strengthen my future residency application, especially in areas of service, leadership, and research? 

Participation in clinical, outcomes-based, or quality improvement research relevant to Internal Medicine or it subspecialties is a great way to show academic curiosity an commitment to evidence-based practice. Having a poster, abstract, or publication is helpful--but what matters more is being able to articulate your role and what you learned from the process. Engaging in community service and advocacy is always encouraged and demonstrates commitment to the core mission of Internal Medicine--to help humankind.

Is there a specialty interest group?  If not, what other networking options would you recommend?  Are there any specific national organizations or committees I should join?

Yes there is! More information to follow on this. American College of Physicians is a great national level society to join. There are many opportunities for medical students including networking and mentorship. 

What advice would you offer MS1s and MS2s who are interested in this specialty?

Talk to medical students who are matching or have matched into Internal medicine and ask them why they chose it as a specialty. Ask clinicians you work with the same question and understand what it is about the specialty they enjoy and ask yourself whether these things resonate with you.

How and where can I find other mentors for this specialty?

Finding a mentor is like dating--you need to find the right match for you! It may be someone who has a similar background as you or someone who has similar subspecialty interests as you. It can be daunting to find a mentor--but the important thing is to find someone who you think can commit and carve out time for you. Your house advisor will be a good initial resource to guide you in the right direction. In addition, speaking medical students who have matched into Internal Medicine can be very helpful.

Is there anything else in addition to the suggestions above that could aid my future application, now that Step 1 is P/F?

Step 2 continues to remain important, and it is imperative that lots of preparation goes into this. 

Which group and association memberships might strengthen my future residency application (e.g., AOA, GHHS, MSG, Specialty specific groups, etc.)? 

These memberships and honors can strengthen your residency application by signaling excellence, professionalism and engagement. AOA, GHHS and MSG are well recognized In addition, joining the ACP as a medical student demonstrates early investment in Internal Medicine and provides access to mentoring, educational resources, and national networking opportunities. Participation in interest groups or ACP’s student or regional chapters is a plus. Ultimately, it’s not just the membership—it’s how you’ve engaged with these groups, contributed to their mission, and grown as a professional that will resonate most with residency programs..

How important are Step 2 scores to this specialty?

Somewhat Important

Are publications important to this specialty? Is there a general number of publications or presentations I should be aiming for?  How important is it for these to be within the specialty I am pursuing?

While important, they are not vital to matching successfully into an IM program. Applicants with abstracts, posters, or publications can certainly strengthen your application at more competitive and prestigious residency programs. There is no magic number but 1-3 can demonstrate academic curiosity and allow you to talk about your experience and what you learnt from it. If you're aiming for a competitive program or a fellowship pathway, early involvement in a research project within IM or a subspecialty can be a great way to both strengthen your CV and find mentors.

Are there any special considerations when applying for residency?

Think about the type of program you want to train at and where you want to train (location wise). IM has a great variety (strong academic programs to small community programs). If you are considering fellowship down the line, look for programs with robust scholarly activity, mentoring, and fellowship match success.

What is a general recommendation for how many programs to apply to (recognizing that this may vary based on student situation)?

Variable and you should discuss this with your mentors, house advisor and specialty advisor.

What letters of recommendation are recommended for this specialty (e.g. from research, physicians within this specialty, academic, etc.)

Strong letters-- ideally from Internal Medicine faculty who know you well can carry significant weight. Aim for letters that speak to your clinical ability, professionalism, and potential to thrive in residency. You may choose to get a letter from a subspecialist if you have a specific interest or have been involved in research within that specialty. Depending on what kind of program and pathway you are interested in, your letter may be from a clinician vs a clinician-scientist.

If other disciplines are appropriate for letter of recommendation writers, are there specific specialties you would strongly recommend?

The most impactful letters come from individuals who speak specifically and enthusiastically about your clinical judgment, work ethic, communication skills and growth mindset, regardless of the specialty. While it is highly encouraged that your letters be from Internal Medicine or Internal Medicine subspecialty attending's, it is quite ok to have a letter from a non-IM physician if you have a deep relationship with them and you are confident they can write you a strong letter.

How competitive are the residency programs in this specialty?

The match rate is usually north of 95% for U.S MD's.

When do programs typically offer interviews?

September through January

What is UA COM-P's history with matching in this specialty?

*Need details on this.

Are away rotations required for this specialty and if so, when should I plan to do them?

They are not.