Department of Neurology

Application Information

Thank you for your interest in the University of Washington Adult Neurology Residency Program.

The UW Neurology Department is committed to recruiting, training and promoting a diverse community of scholars. We welcome diverse individuals and are committed to including residents and faculty of diverse race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. We believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial components in providing both excellent patient care and an excellent learning environment.

PGY1 Applications

The University of Washington Neurology Program accepts PGY1 applications only through ERAS – the Electronic Residency Application Service, administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Matching with our program will automatically place you with the UW Internal Medicine Program for your internship year.  You will not need to submit a separate application for that program.

Required Documents

New PGY1 applications must be received by the ERAS Post Office no later than December 31. To maximize your chance of being selected to interview we highly recommend you submit your application by October 21.

The following items are required as part of your ERAS application:

  • Personal Statement: Please submit a brief personal statement telling us something about yourself, your interest in neurology, your plans for residency training, and your career goals in neurology.
  • Medical School Transcript: Ask your medical school to provide an official copy of your transcript.
  • Dean’s Letter: Ask your medical school to provide a copy of your Dean’s letter.
  • Letters of Recommendation: In addition to the Dean’s letter please request at least three letters of recommendation from members of the School of Medicine faculty of your medical school or from schools where you have taken electives. Ideally, one of the letters will be from a neurologist with whom you have worked.
  • USMLE Transcripts*: Please have your USMLE scores made a part of your ERAS application, request that the transcript be submitted to the ERAS Post Office.

*Please note that there are no minimum score requirements for these exams.  

Criteria for International Medical Graduates

The University of Washington Neurology Residency Program will accept applications from International Medical Graduates only if they meet the following criteria: 

  • The applicant must: 
    a. Submit all documents listed above for PGY-1 applicants (and) 
    b. IF REQUIRING H-1B VISA SPONSORSHIP ONLY -Have passed all four (4) of the USMLE boards on their first try prior to February 1 in the year in which they intend to start training in order to be confirmed eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship prior to rank list submission.  
  • The applicant must apply through the ECFMG ERAS program. Applications must be received by the ERAS Post Office no later than September 30, 2023.  

International Medical School Graduate applicants must have graduated within the last 2 years, and have at least one of the following: 

  • 2 months (8 weeks) of inpatient clinical clerkships and/or sub-internships at an LCME-accredited US, Puerto Rican, or Canadian medical school. These rotations need to be formal rotations, and should appear on your transcript. A letter of recommendation from the supervising physician for this training must be submitted with your ERAS application. The letter must include the date, location, and type of clinical experience. Shadowing or observation shifts (including externships) do not count towards this component. 

~OR~ 

  • Successful completion of at least three months of residency training in an ACGME-accredited program. A letter of recommendation from the program director must be submitted with your ERAS application and must include the dates and description of the clinical experiences.

International Medical School Graduate applicants must have graduated within the last 2 years and have at least 2 months of inpatient direct patient care experience in the U.S. or Canadian Health Care Systems during that time. Clinical experience is regarded as having direct patient care responsibilities on a medicine service (including medicine subspecialties and neurology). Shadowing or observation shifts (including externships) do not count towards this component.

Visas

The UW Neurology Residency Program accepts foreign national physicians who meet UW Eligibility and Selection requirements into its accredited residency program. Foreign nationals requiring visa sponsorship must obtain a J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The UW does not generally provide H-1B sponsorship for residents or fellows in its clinical training programs unless the resident/fellow is otherwise ineligible for a J-1 visa. Requests for H-1B visa sponsorship are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to approval by the UW GME Office and the UW Provost’s Office. Please refer to UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures for more detail.

Interview Procedures

Invitations to visit our program and to have interviews with our faculty will be given only to applicants who, in our opinion, have a reasonable chance of matching into our program. An invitation can be extended only after we have reviewed material supporting your application. After reviewing these materials, we will let you know via e-mail if you are being invited to visit our program and interview. Interviews will be held on selected Thursdays in October, November, December, and January. All interviews will be conducted remotely for the 2023-2024 season. The interview day will include an overview of the program by the Program Directors and Chief Residents, interviews with faculty members via Zoom, Zoom chat rooms with current residents, and the opportunity to attend Grand Rounds and other conferences.

Thank you again for your interest in our program. We look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

For further residency program information, please contact our residency manager:

Stella White
University of Washington
Department of Neurology
Box 356465
1959 NE Pacific St.
Seattle WA 98195-6465
206-616-5207 (VM)
206-685-8100 (Fax)
E-mail stellad@uw.edu