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Preventive Medicine Residency Columbia - How to Apply

Application information

Two Track Options

NRMP Reserved Track - 1681380R0 

Eligibility criteria

Successful completion of a PGY-1 internship year accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American Osteopathic Association (AOA)*, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) with at least 10 months of direct patient care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

  • Applicants must pass USMLE or COMLEX steps 1 through 3 prior to enrolling in the program.
  • Applicants must be eligible for limited licensure in South Carolina.  
  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible for a visa under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Currently our program does not support other visa programs.
  • In your ERAS application you must include letters from the program director at all training programs you have attended.
  • If selected for an interview, verification of prior training will be required.

NRMP Advanced Track - 1681380A0 

Eligibility criteria

Successful match with a PGY-1 internship year accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American Osteopathic Association (AOA)*, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) with at least 10 months of direct patient care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. This is a pathway for Fourth Year Medical Students to match with a transitional year PGY1 position in the same year as our public health and preventive medicine residency.  After completion of your PGY1 year you will already be contracted to join our residency the subsequent year.

  • Applicants must pass USMLE or COMLEX steps 1 through 3 prior to beginning our Public Health and Preventive Medicine program.
  • Applicants must be eligible for limited licensure in South Carolina.  
  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible for a visa under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Currently our program does not support other visa programs
  • Verification of completing your PGY1 training will be required

Acceptance into the program is contingent upon acceptance by the USC Arnold School of Public Health. Admissions information is available here.

* AOA accredited internships completed from June 2015 to the present.

Application procedure

Residency applications are processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  Our program participates in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP).

Besure to select the correct track in both ERAS and NRMP systems.

  • Reserved (R) track 1681380R0

    Also known as "Physician Positions", these programs are for physicians who have already completed graduate medical education and are starting in the PGY-2 year. 

  • Advanced (A) track - 1681380A0

    These programs begin in the PGY-2 year after applicants complete one of preliminary training. They match with both the preliminary training site (PGY1 year) and the preventive medicine site (PGY2 and PGY3 years) during the same match cycle.  Other examples of advanced programs include anesthesiology, radiology and dermatology.

We require all of the following for a complete application:

  • Completed ERAS application.
  • Dean’s letter and medical school transcript.
  • USMLE or COMLEX scores.
  • Personal Statement that describes your interest in preventive medicine.

At least three letters of recommendation dated within the past year.  

Additional information may also be required during the application process. Such as graduate school transcripts, if applicable.

Unless an applicant has completed all required MPH/graduate coursework, a separate application must be also be made to the USC Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) after an acceptance into the residency program. The application to the USC Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) MPH program must be done through SOPHAs. Residency applicants are only to apply to the ASPH after receiving acceptance into the residency program. 

Compensation and benefits

Residents receive the standard competitive package of benefits offered to all Prisma Health residents.  See GME Policies and Sample contract. In addition, our program provides funding for graduate coursework at the USC Arnold School of Public Health. 

Contact

All correspondence regarding the Preventive Medicine Residency Program should be directed to:

Preventive Medicine Residency
3209 Colonial Dr.
Columbia, SC 29203
Email: usc-prevmed@prismahealth.org