Frequently Asked Questions

How can I apply to your program?

We accept applications through the ERAS program. We do not offer any positions outside of the NRMP match.

Are there moonlighting opportunities available?

In principle the Endocrinology Division discourages moonlighting because of the inherent risk of interfering with a fellow’s educational activities.

With that said, we do recognize the need for fellows to gain additional clinical experience as well as to supplement their income. Due to this fact a moderate amount of moonlighting may be acceptable.

The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires fellows who wish to engage in moonlighting to give the Program Director a written request for permission to moonlight.

Keep in mind that BOTH internal and external moonlighting count towards the ACGME 80-hour work week limit. To monitor moonlighting privileges, fellows are required to log moonlighting shifts as duty hours in MyEvaluations, on an “as worked” basis.

Moonlighting must not interfere with the assigned duties of the fellow.

Fellows should recognize that when moonlighting away from the medical center campus their MetroHealth malpractice insurance does not cover them.

It is the responsibility of the fellows to ensure that they are adequately covered during their moonlighting activities.

What is the salary?

This depends on post graduate year. Please see Salary and Benefits.

What kind of step scores do I need in order to apply?

We look at the entire application and do not have a strict score cut off. However, because of the nature of our specialty, a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism is academically challenging and demanding.

You will continue to have to take examinations throughout you training and your career (in training examinations, board certification examinations, re-certification examinations).

Because of this, we favor applicants with a strong history of academic performance and prioritize scores above 220.

What if I failed a USMLE step score?

As this represents the minority of applicants, we will not prioritize looking at applicants that have failed any portion of the USMLE exams.

What is the cut off point for year of graduation from an internal medicine residency?

We require all applicants to have successfully completed or to be on track to successfully complete internal medicine training in an ACGME-approved internal medicine residency program.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply regardless of the year in which they completed their internal medicine training.

Do you accept applications from foreign medical graduates.

We accept applications from all qualified US and International graduates. However, we require all applicants to have successfully completed, or to be on track to successfully complete, training in internal medicine in an ACGME-approved internal medicine residency program.

What visas do you support?

We sponsor both J1 and H1B visas.

What EMR do you use?

We use EPIC for all of our medical records, both inpatient and outpatient.

What is it like to live in Cleveland?

Cleveland is a city that offers many of the advantages of life in a large metropolitan area without many of the difficulties (e.g. cost of living and excessive traffic).

Advantages of living in Cleveland include easy access to:

Professional baseball, basketball, and football
A world-class symphony orchestra with a delightful summer home at Blossom Music Center (where you can sit on the lawn and enjoy a concert)
Playhouse Square – offering a wide variety of theatrical productions, musicals, ballet, dance, and concerts
The Metroparks “Emerald Necklace” - an extensive system of 18 nature preserves encircling Greater Cleveland, offering over 300 miles of walking, bicycle, and horse trails as well as numerous picnic areas, nature education centers, golf courses, and countless fishing spots.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – covering 183 acres and home to 3000 animals, with attractions including the Australian Adventure, African Savanna, Northern Wilderness Trek, Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, Waterfowl Lake, RainForest, and the newly added Asian Highlands. The Cleveland Zoo has one of the largest primate collections in North Americ
The Cleveland Museum of Art - named the second best museum in the U.S. by Business Insider magazine (topped only by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City).
University Circle – in addition to being the home of the Cleveland Museum of Art, University Circle also includes the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Music
The biennial Cleveland International Piano Competition
The annual Cleveland International Film Festival
And, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

For more information, see Living in Cleveland.

Additional Questions?

For more information, please email us.