Pain Medicine Fellowship Application and Interview Process

Currently our 2008 fellowship positions are filled. We will begin accepting applications for 2009 in July, 2008.

The Department of Anesthesiology accepts fellowship applications from candidates that are presently in or have graduated from an university-based, and accredited anesthesiology residency program or from other residency programs that have included rotations in related specialties.

Applicants are required to complete and submit the Pain Medicine Fellowship application form along with a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (CV), three (3) letters of recommendation including one from your current program, and their United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or COMLEX transcript.

International medical graduate applicants are accepted provided that the applicant meets a certain requirements. For example, the individual must have a current ECFMG Certificate and USMLE I, II, III above the 50th percentile (greater than 220). Additional information about these requirements is available from the Rush Department of Anesthesiology Education Coordinator. Candidates from anesthesiology residency programs should be eligible to take the Board Examination in Anesthesiology at the time of starting the Fellowship in Pain Medicine.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted one year in advance of the proposed starting date (July 1) of the Fellowship. The program has a rolling admissions policy. Candidates can be offered positions as soon as their applications and personal interviews with the Rush Department of Anesthesiology Attending staff have been completed. Applications are closed as soon as all the positions for a given year are filled.

The fellowship application is available for download in the "Related Topics" section. Completed Pain Medicine fellow applications and letters of recommendation should be sent to Sherri Sachs, Education Coordinator, Department of Anesthesiology.

Interview Process

Applicants granted interviews should plan on spending the day with us. The applicant will come to the Rush Department of Anesthesiology office located at 1750 West Harrison Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60612 and will meet with all core faculty members and the current fellows enrolled in the program and will spend time in the Rush Pain Clinic.

Criteria for Application Selection:

Applicants are chosen to be interviewed based on a combination of medical school performance, USMLE scores, letters of recommendation, and if applicable, ABA/ASA in-training exam scores. Applications are then further evaluated by members of the Admissions Committee who make the final decision to interview. Offers to join the program are based on both the quality of the application and the interview.