Surgery Residency Program Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Days of Vacation Do Residents Receive? Expand Content Four weeks (28 days) of non-clinical time. This can be PTO, vacation or sick days, or conference attendance. What Is Inova's History with Residency Programs? Expand Content Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and Inova Children's Hospital have a long history in preparing residents and medical students from nearby medical schools. In addition to surgery, we have primary residencies in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, transitional medicine, podiatry, psychiatry, pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. Many of the attending staff in our program have teaching appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University – Inova Campus and other surrounding universities. Where Do Residents Live? Expand Content Most residents live within a 15-mile radius of the hospital. Inova Fairfax and Inova Children's Hospital are in Northern Virginia, located near the Capital Beltway in the Washington, DC, metro area. The hospitals are fairly accessible from all directions, with commutes typically ranging around 30 minutes or less. Northern Virginia has enjoyed explosive growth over the past 20 years. Does the Program Participate in ERAS and NRMP? Expand Content Yes. What Are the Restrictions on Year of Graduation? Expand Content An applicant has to be a graduate of medical school within the last 5 years. Do You Sponsor H and J1 Visas? Expand Content ECFMG sponsors J1 visas and the institution sponsors H1. We do accept both visas. Do You Require Applicants to Be Certified by the ECFMG Before the Interview? Expand Content No, an applicant needs to be certified by ECFMG by the time he/she matches with us. Do You Require U.S. Clinical Experience From Applicants? Expand Content Yes, our program requires a mandatory three months of US clinical experience. Do You Consider Observership as Us Clinical Experience? Expand Content No. Do You Offer Observership or Externship? Expand Content No. Do You Require Any Non-US Clinical Experience? Expand Content No. Does the Program Consider Applications From Foreign Medical Graduates? Expand Content Yes. What Is the Last Date to Apply for the Program? Expand Content November 30. How Many Categorical and Preliminary Positions Does the Program Offer Each Year? Expand Content Our program has seven categorical positions available each year. No preliminary positions are currently offered. Is Pre-Match Offered? Expand Content No. Are There Specific Requirements Regarding Letters of Recommendations? Expand Content We require three letters of recommendation from US or Canadian physicians, including, if possible, the chair of surgery or designee and a dean's letter (or equivalent). International medical graduates must have letters of recommendation which clearly document US or Canadian clinical experience.