How To Apply to Our Program 

The mission of our residency mirrors the mission of Sutter Health, “We enhance the well-being of people in the communities we serve through a not-for-profit commitment to compassion and excellence in healthcare services.”  

It is important to the residency that conduct by residents mirror the mission and values of Sutter Health when working as well as outside of work. We are looking for applicants that are outstanding clinically but represent the core values of the residency and the institution at all times as it serves its community.  

Application Process

Applications for Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Internal Medicine Residency Program must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

M.D. and D.O. graduates from U.S. schools may register for ERAS through their deans' offices. The ECFMG serves as the dean's office for all international medical graduates. A request for an ERAS Application Kit is available on the ECFMG homepage.

Standard Application Requirements are:

• Standard ERAS application
• 3 letters of recommendation (one of them preferably the chair’s letter)
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts
• USMLE Scores
• COMLEX Scores (if applicable)
• Dean’s letter

Interviews are by invitation only.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Medical Board of California will no longer issue Postgraduate Training Authorization Letters (PTAL) to International Medical School Graduates. Therefore, it is not a requirement to apply to our program. To qualify, the medical school needs to be recognized by the Medical Board of California.

At this time, we do not sponsor J1, H1B, or other types of visas.

Interviews

Interviews are by invitation only. They will occur from December to the end of February 2025. We do not interview the week of Christmas and New Year's.  

Salary and Benefits

The ABSMC Transitional Year Residency offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, aligned with Sutter Health’s system-wide offerings. Benefits include health coverage, paid vacation, meal stipends, and educational allowances.

View ABSMC Transitional Year Salary and Benefits

International Applicants

At this time, Sutter Health does not sponsor J-1, H-1B, or other types of visas. Employment Authorization Document (EAD) will be considered. Applicants must have approved EAD upon start date of the program and maintain EAD active status throughout training duration. International Medical Graduates are welcome to apply to our residency and fellowship programs provided they meet the following requirements:

1. Authorization to Work in the United States Applicants must have appropriate work authorization at the time of application and for the duration of training.
2. Medical School Recognition
   Applicants must have received all medical education from, and graduated from:
   1. A U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA); or
   2. A foreign medical school evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or an ECFMG-authorized foreign medical school accreditation agency, and determined to meet the minimum requirements substantially equivalent to LCME, CACMS, or COCA standards; and
      1. The school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (maintained by the World Federation for Medical Education [WFME] and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research [FAIMER]), or approved by the Medical Board of California.
3. Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) 
   As of January 1, 2020, the Medical Board of California no longer issues a PTAL to International Medical Graduates. A PTAL is not required to apply to Sutter Health programs.

Applicants should also review the specific eligibility criteria for the program(s) to which they are applying, as individual programs may have additional requirements.

Have Questions?

For further information regarding our program, please contact Serena Smith at serena.smith2@sutterhealth.org.