IMG-Friendly Internal Medicine Residency Programs

IMG friendly internal medicine programs

Applying for a U.S. Residency program can be quite challenging and complex. When researching which programs to apply to, it is crucial to consider which states and programs are known to be IMG-Friendly Internal Medicine Residency Programs. There are several resources one can use to figure this out. Research has helped me determine my top ten IMG-friendly states as follows:

  1. New York.
  2. Connecticut.
  3. Pennsylvania.
  4. Michigan.
  5. Florida.
  6. Illinois.
  7. Texas.
  8. Ohio.
  9. New Jersey.
  10. Massachusetts.

This list represents the states with better acceptance rates for IMGs and the largest program size by state. New York is the state with the largest number of internal medicine residency programs that are known to be IMG friendly, though very competitive. However, New York has been shifting this tendency in the last couple of years and is accepting fewer international applicants than before (my opinion). Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, and the other states are great places to search for residency programs. My bias can tell you that Connecticut and Massachusetts are great places for applying (I have experience in both).

To determine this list of programs, information from several resources and colleagues was compiled. FREIDA (from AMA – American Medical Association) was the most important tool and one we highly recommend you use for your research of programs. You may use this list as a guide to begin doing your investigation. The names and codes of the programs will be listed so that more information can be found by you when using FREIDA and other resources that you may find appropriate. However, please, double-check this information with official sources such as program websites, as this may change with time.

NameAccreditation IDStateCity
University of Alabama Hospital Program1400100893ALHuntsville
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Program1400421030ARLittle Rock
Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University Program1400811074CTBridgeport
Danbury Hospital Program1400811076CTDanbury
Griffin Hospital Program1400831077CTDerby
Norwalk Hospital/Yale University Program1400831086CTNorwalk
St Vincent's Medical Center Program1400811075CTBridgeport
University of Connecticut Program1400831078CTFarmington
Yale-New Haven Hospital Program (Waterbury)1400800910CTWaterbury
Yale-New Haven Medical Center Program1400821085CTNew Haven
George Washington University Program1401021093DCWashington
Georgetown University Hospital Program1401021091DCWashington
Howard University Program1401021461DCWashington
Providence Hospital Program1401021095DCWashington
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center Program1401100924FLAventura
Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Program1401100923FLBoca Raton
Florida Hospital Medical Center Program1401131539FLOrlando
Florida State University College of Medicine (Sarasota) Program1401100947FLSarasota
Florida State University College of Medicine (Tallahassee) Program1401100894FLTallahassee
Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health System Program1401121100FLMiami
Kendall Regional Medical Center Program1401100926FLMiami
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Jacksonville) Program1401121509FLJacksonville
Memorial Healthcare System (Hollywood, Florida) Program1401100950FLPembroke Pines
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida Program1401112101FLMiami Beach
Naples Community Hospital, Inc Program1401100942FLNaples
Orange Park Medical Center Program1401100937FLOrange Park
University of Central Florida College of Medicine/HCA GME Consortium (Gainesville) Program1401100938FLGainesville
University of Central Florida College of Medicine/HCA GME Consortium Program1401100909FLOrlando
University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville Program1401121099FLJacksonville
University of Florida Program1401121098FLGainesville
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holy Cross Hospital Program1401100929FLFort Lauderdale
University of Miami/JFK Medical Center Palm Beach Regional GME Consortium Program1401131535FLAtlantis
Atlanta Medical Center Program (Wellstar)1401212106GAAtlanta
Emory University Program1401221105GAAtlanta
Medical Center of Central Georgia/Mercer University School of Medicine Program1401221491GAMacon
Morehouse School of Medicine Program1401221502GAAtlanta
Piedmont Athens Regional Program (new)1401200928GAAthens
Advocate Health Care (Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center) Program1401611114ILChicago
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Program1401621111ILNorth Chicago
Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin Univ of Med & Sci Program1401600543ILMcHenry
John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County Program1401612113ILChicago
Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Program1401611115ILChicago
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program1401621119ILChicago
Mercy Hospital and Medical Center Program1401611116ILChicago
Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center of Chicago Program1401621541ILChicago
Presence Saint Francis Hospital Program1401611126ILEvaston
Presence Saint Joseph Hospital (Chicago) Program1401611122ILChicago
Southern Illinois University Program1401621132ILSpringfield
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Program1401631131ILPeoria
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana Program1401621456ILUrbana
Berkshire Medical Center Program1402411179MA1402411179
Lahey Clinic Program1402421511MABurlington
MetroWest Medical Center Program1402421177MAFramingham
Mount Auburn Hospital Program1402411176MACambridge
Salem Hospital Program1402412180MASalem
St Elizabeth's Medical Center Program1402421173MABoston
St Vincent Hospital Program1402411183MAWorcester
Steward Carney Hospital Program1402411166MADorchester
UMMS-Baystate Program1402411181MASpringfield
University of Massachusetts Program1402421184MAWorcester
Harbor Hospital Center Program1402331158MDBaltimore
Prince George's Hospital Center Program1402321161MDCheverly
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Program1402312157MDBaltimore
St Agnes HealthCare Program1402312156MDBaltimore
Union Memorial Hospital Program1402312159MDBaltimore
University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus Program1402311154MDBaltimore
Allegiance Health Program1402500912MIJackson
Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University Program1402521194MIDetroit
Hurley Medical Center/Michigan State University Program1402531196MIFlint
McLaren-Flint/Michigan State University Program1402521471MIFlint
Mercy Health Saint Mary's Program1402500927MIGrand rapids
Providence-Providence Park Hospital/MSUCHM Program1402511203MISouthfield
St John Hospital and Medical Center Program1402511191MIDetroit
St Joseph Mercy Hospital Program1402512186MIAnn Arbor
St Joseph Mercy-Oakland Program1402511200MIPontiac
Wayne State University School of Medicine Program1402500896MIRochester
William Beaumont Hospital Program1402512201MIRoyal Oak
Hennepin County Medical Center Program1402631207MNMinneapolis
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester) Program1402621208MNRochester
University of Minnesota Program1402621205MNMinneapolis
Mercy Hospital (St Louis) Program1402831217MOSt Louis
SSM St Mary's Hospital-St Louis Program1402811220MOSt Louis
St Luke's Hospital Program1402821219MOSt Louis
University of Missouri at Kansas City Program1402831214MOKansas City
University of Missouri-Columbia Program1402821210MOColumbia
Vidant Medical Center/East Carolina University Program1403611323NCGreenville
Atlantic Health (Morristown) Program1403311235NJMorristown
Atlantic Health (Overlook) Program1403311245NJSummit
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital Program1403321227NJCamden
Monmouth Medical Center Program1403311233NJLong Branch
New York Medical College at St Michael's Medical Center Program1403300532NJNewark
Saint Peter's University Hospital/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Program1403321531NJNew Brunswick
Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences (St Francis) Program1403313523NJTrenton
Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center1403321228NJEnglewood
Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences Program1403321498NJElizabeth
University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine Program1403121483NVReno
Albany Medical Center Program1403531248NYAlbany
Bassett Medical Center Program1403511253NYCooperstown
Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center Program1403511263NYBronx
Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Program1403511264NYBrooklyn
Brooklyn Hospital Center Program1403512265NYBrooklyn
Coney Island Hospital Program1403511269NYBrooklyn
Harlem Hospital Center Program1403511273NYNew York
Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital Program1403511304NYStaten Island
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Beth Israel) Program1403511261NYNew York
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Bronx) Program1403531517NYBronx
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Queens Hospital Center) Program1403521510NYJamaica
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Program1403531288NYNew York
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center Program1403521301NYNew York
Interfaith Medical Center Program1403521276NYBrooklyn
Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine Program1403531521NYBronx
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Program1403521470NYBronx
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Moses and Weiler Campuses) Program1403521287NYBronx
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New Rochelle) Program1403511258NYNew Rochelle
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Wakefield Campus) Program1403521285NYBronx
Nassau University Medical Center Program1403521254NYEast Meadow
New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program1403531290NYNew York
New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program1403531290NYNew York
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus) Program1403521270NYNew York
New York-Presbyterian/Queens Program1403511262NYNew York
Rochester General Hospital Program1403531314NYRochester
Rochester Regional Health/Unity Hospital (Rochester) Program1403531527NYRochester
St Barnabas Hospital Program1403521485NYBronx
St John's Episcopal Hospital-South Shore Program1403521486NYFar Rockaway
Stony Brook Medicine/Mather Hospital Program1403500922NYPort Jefferson
SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn Program1403521305NYBrooklyn
United Health Services Hospitals Program1403531255NYJohnson City
University at Buffalo (Catholic Health System--Sisters of Charity) Program1403521251NYBuffalo
Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center Program1403521487NYBrooklyn
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center Program1403521520NYBrooklyn
Akron General Medical Center/NEOMED Program1403811328OHAkron
Canton Medical Education Foundation/NEOMED Program1403821330OHCanton
Case Western Reserve University (MetroHealth) Program1403811336OHCleveland
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Program1403821335OHCleveland
Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program1403812339OHCleveland
Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program1403821340OHCleveland
Kettering Health Network Program1403821347OHKettering
Mercy St Vincent Medical Center/Mercy Health Partners Program1403812533OHToledo
Ohio State University Hospital Program1403811342OHColumbus
St Elizabeth Health Center/NEOMED Program1403811349OHYoungstown
St Vincent Charity Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University Program1403811338OHCleveland
University of Toledo Program1403821348OHToledo
Abington Memorial Hospital Program1404112358PAAbington
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Program1404111369PAPhiladelphia
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Program1404131367PAJohnstown
Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital Program1404121374PAPhiladelphia
Geisinger Health System Program1404111362PADanville
Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine Program1404121359PAAllentown
Main Line Health System/Lankenau Medical Center Program1404111373PAWynnewood
Mercy Catholic Medical Center Program1404111375PADarby
Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System Program1404111376PAPhiladelphia
PinnacleHealth Hospitals Program1404111365PAHarrisburg
Reading Hospital Program1404121388PAWest Reading
Robert Packer Hospital/Guthrie Program1404112389PASayre
St Luke's Hospital Program1404131360PABethlehem
Temple University Hospital Program1404121378PAPhiladelphia
UPMC Medical Education (Mercy) Program1404111385PAPittsburgh
UPMC Medical Education Program1404121504PAPittsburgh
Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island/Brown University Program1404321473RIPawtucket
Roger Williams Medical Center Program1404331401RIProvidence
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center Program1404500406SCMyrtle Beach
University of South Dakota Program1404621406SDSioux Falls
University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga Program1404711407TNChattanooga
Methodist Hospital (Houston) Program1404813534TXHouston
Texas Tech University (Amarillo) Program1404821477TXAmarillo
Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Program1404821459TXLubbock
Texas Tech University (Permian Basin) Program1404821519TXOdessa
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Program1404831423TXHouston
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler/Good Shepherd Medical Center (Longview) Program1404800890TXLongview
University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine at San Antonio Program1404821425TXSan Antonio
University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals Program1404821421TXGalveston
University of Texas RGV (DHR) Program1404800891TXEdinburg
University of Texas RGV (VBMC) Program1404821524TXHarlingen
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Program1404821419TXDallas
Eastern Virginia Medical School Program1405121432VANorfolk
Marshfield Clinic Program1405631444WIMarshfield
Charleston Area Medical Center/West Virginia University (Charleston Division) Program1405511438WVCharleston
Marshall University School of Medicine Program1405521439WVHuntington

A well-thought strategy is required to smartly and effectively apply for residency, allowing you to determine a focused group of programs to apply to.

We hope this serves as a guide, particularly for IMGs like myself struggling to find the best way to get the residency spot of their dreams.

As always, thanks for reading and following our posts. Please, do not hesitate to contact us or make a comment in the section below.

Good luck!

Juan Chango Azanza
Latest posts by Juan Chango Azanza (see all)

12 Comments

  1. thank you for such a valuable information, I am from Mexico

    I want a focused apply to save money, scores 220,234, first attempt, CS will be released 1st week October

    Do you suggest aiming mainly at hospitals that staff latin physicians?

    Or do you think is safer to apply to more programs only considering that they are IMG friendly based on Medical schools outside US?

    Do you think is OK to apply until release of CS? I know my rate of interviews will probably be lower but don’t want to risk applying and failing CS ?

    Thank you for your precious suggestions

    • Hello Oziel.

      Good luck with your application this year. Usually, IMG’s tend to apply to more programs compared to US-IMG’s and US grads. The number depends on the applicant’s decision. It is difficult to say with confidence a specific number of programs to apply in order to get a good number of interviews. Some people say that every 10 applications may give an applicant an average of 1-2 interview invitation, but that is not accurate at all. Depending on the specialty you decide to apply for and the program you are interested in, you can plan your list and then decide how large should it be.

      Applying for IMG-friendly programs is extremely important. Mayo Clinic did not answer my application! And I realized that I spent my money in an uninformed decision. That will happen with most big programs in the U.S. I also applied to John Hopkins and as you can guess, they did not reply at all. I should have seen that coming. The idea is to be smart and realistic in your application.
      Regarding the application with CS exam pending, I would say that if your exam result date is October, although it is a little late, it is always better to apply early. You can always email programs to update your exam result and that gives you already an excuse to contact them directly. If you failed the exam, of course, will harm you as an applicant. But at the same time, waiting a year to apply is a long time. If you feel confident that your CS exam went ok, you may apply. It is really difficult to make that decision and it will be your choice. Consider that waiting for a year more can be harmful as well, and more if you are an old graduate.

      Have your letters of recommendation, Dean’s letter, and all the other application materials ready. Try to write a good personal statement. People will say that nobody reads personal statements, but in my case, I believe it was one of the biggest reasons why they chose me for an interview in a University program. Scores are important, but a lot of programs look more than that. They look for applicants that are committed to their careers and are easy to work with.

      Good luck. Prepare your strategy and trust yourself. I hope everything turns out really well for you.

  2. Jajajaj oh my god, this gave me a bit of laughter and happiness, I have been following your post and advice for a few days because they are very good, thank you very much and looking for possible hospitals to do the residency I see you in the Residents of GPY 1 of UCONN Health. this makes me feel hopeful because I am a Cuban FMG, I have 228 in Step 1 and right now I am preparing the CK, I am a bit tense because I think that it will not have on time the CS note for the Match on September 15, and also i graduated in 2012, some advice you can give me about these difficulties . Do you think that I could apply to some programs without the CS note or need to wait until 2020? Any advice I appreciate, is that I’m head of my family and I have a child, I urgently need to leave this study stage.

    • Hello Jorge.

      I appreciate your words. Thank you. The best advice I could give you is to continue fighting hard as you have been. Good scores are key when applying for a residency position, and trying to get the best score as you can in your step 2 CK will definitely improve your chances. Try to take CS as soon as possible before the application. It depends on you whether you would like to wait or not for the next year’s season. However, I think you do still have time to finish CS and CK and apply. US clinical experience would help you as well.

      I wish you good luck with your studies. Thanks for your comment.

  3. Hi ,
    I have an attempt in CS
    Last time I didn’t even get a single interview
    Please let me know which programs take an attempt an Img friendly too !
    Regards

  4. hello,
    i am a non US IMG..YOG 2009.
    have done residency in anesthesiology in india and have 8yrs experience in anesthesiology and critical care.
    step1 228
    CK 228
    CS is in november 2019.
    15 days of US experience(observership)
    shud i apply anesthesiology and or IM?
    reaults of CS shud be out in december..

  5. Dear sir i am an INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE looking forward to do my clinical rotations/internship in usa, Still i am preparing for USMLE STEP1 can you suggest me procedure how to do it

    • Hello Abhishek,

      Thank you for your question. I would suggest reviewing the following article in which I summarized most of the important information regarding US Clinical Experience. Unfortunately, it is true that it is becoming more challenging to have clinical experiences with time and COVID. However, there are still a few options available.

      https://ecuadoctors.com/u-s-clinical-experience/

      Best wishes!

  6. Hi
    This article is a great help.
    But can you give me some input regarding internships for IMG’s in California
    Would appreciate it.
    Thank you

  7. […] How do you stand out in these programs? Examine your application now to ensure that your fit is emphasized. How do I stand out from the crowd in a competition? Begin by looking for IMG friendly programs in your state. Furthermore, professional commonality is critical to understanding how people work. You can find a list of our other specialties here: IMG Friendly Internal Medicine Programs. […]

  8. Hi Doctor, I am Dr Murthy from India I am 2022 graduate and my Step 1 passed and Step 2 score is 221. I have 4 LORs from US and my name is published in 8 journals. Could you please advise me for IM how many programs can I apply with Non US Img friendly only.

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