Fellow Selection

The Graduate Medical Education Programs of AIDHC have, as their core purpose, the education of compassionate, highly-skilled, knowledgeable physicians who are committed to excellence and the achievement of Board Certification by the relevant American Board of Medical Specialty (ABMS) Certification Board.  Thus, all candidates appointed to an ACGME-accredited residency position at AIDHC will satisfy, as a requirement for selection, all ABMS Specialty Board-related eligibility prerequisites required to enter training in the related specialty program at AIDHC and Jefferson. Candidates must have completed a pediatric residency program at an accredited institution. Further, all candidates must satisfy the requirements of the State of Delaware and Pennsylvania  Boards of Medical Licensure for appointment at the specific level of training for which the position is offered. Residents and fellows must be selected based on qualifications that meet or exceed the standards outlined below.

Applicants with one of the following qualifications are eligible to be considered for appointment to residency programs of AIDHC:

1. Graduates of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the LCME;
2. Graduates of osteopathic medicine in the U.S. accredited by AOA;
3. Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. who meet one of the following qualifications:
   1. Have received a currently valid certificate from the ECFMG; or
   2. Have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction.
4. Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.

Residency programs will select only from among the pool of eligible applicants, evaluating each applicant on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skill, and personal qualities such as motivation, honesty, and integrity. Programs must not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

AIDHC Graduate Medical Education Programs require that all requisite prior training be successfully completed prior to matriculation.  Each Fellow accepted into a training program must receive the appropriate stipend as listed in the annual House Staff Stipend Schedule. Under no circumstances should an individual be accepted into a training program without the appropriate stipend support.

All applicants that are granted interviews will be interviewed in person, or if extenuating circumstances make that impossible, by telephone. Program directors evaluating the fitness of Fellows attempting to transfer from other educational programs (prior to completion of training offered in that discipline in that institution) will speak directly with the referring program director or chairman to assess the educational qualifications of the Fellow prior to making any offer of employment. A final letter of evaluation and recommendation must be obtained from the referring program director for all Fellows entering programs at AIDHC after completing some phase of training in another institution. This must be obtained prior to the GMEC evaluation of the application for appointment.

Fellow selection is through a national pediatric gastroenterology fellowship matching program. Applicants may apply through ERAS (electronic residency application service) through the AAMC. After applicants are interviewed, a ranking list is submitted and the match takes place in June. Matched applicants will then be notified. Whenever-sponsored programs participate in the National Residency Matching Program, they will adhere to the rules and regulations of the Match.

Offers of employment by the fellowship program director or chairman must be contigent upon approval of the GMEC, licensure and satisfactory completion of training in an ACGME-approved program, or, when applicable, an AOA-accredited program. Fellows entering their first year of training are required to have passed USMLE Steps I , II and III (or the COMLEX I, II and III) in order to qualify for appointment. All applicants selected for hire must demonstrate the appropriate qualifications as outlined above, and demonstrate to the GMEC that they have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and ethical deportment befitting a physician at AIDHC. Actions available to the GMEC include requests for additional information prior to rendering a decision, placing of limitations or stipulations on the appointment of a fellow, full appointment of the fellow, or refusal to appoint.

The Residency program shall not require Fellows to sign a non-competition guarantee.