How to Apply

The Pathology Residency Program accepts applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The program and institution fully participate in the National Resident Matching Program.

For consideration, we require the following materials:

• Current CV
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a pathologist and one from a physician in a different specialty are preferred)
• Official medical school transcripts
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation
• USMLE Step 1 score or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMPLEX) 1 score
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certificate (international applicants only; not required for interview but required by the Match submission deadline)
• Legal eligibility to work in the United States is required (i.e., U.S. citizenship, permanent residency or valid employment authorization). The program sponsors J-1 visas only or may consider an in-country change of status (e.g., J-1 to H-1B). Applicants must indicate their expected visa/employment authorization status in ERAS under the "Expected Visa/Employment Authorization Status" field. Please note: All H-1B petitions are subject to institutional review and approval and cannot be guaranteed. Applicants must have a passing USMLE Step 3 score by January of the program start year to be considered for H-1B sponsorship.

ERAS Interview Process/Timeline

All applications will be given fair consideration. Northwestern University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, genetic information or any other classification protected by law.

Our residency program participates in the unified interview timeline. As part of this commitment, we will not release initial interview invitations for the incoming academic year until around mid-October. After that, we will send invitations on a rolling basis, depending on remaining interview slot availability and cancellations.

We ask that applicants respond (accept or decline) to interview invitations within two weeks of receipt so we can offer any unfilled slots to other applicants in a timely fashion.

Interviews are conducted from October through January. Second Look interviews are not offered.

Once accepted into the program, the Illinois licensure process begins. Trainees cannot start residency without a valid Illinois license.

Detailed information on housestaff benefits is available from the McGaw Medical Center for Graduate Medical Education. For more information, contact Raven Rodriguez at raven.rodriguez@northwestern.edu.

Pathology Physician-Scientist Training Program

The Department of Pathology offers a six- to seven-year Physician-Scientist Training Program through Northwestern University's Starzl Academy. This program is designed for MD/PhD or MD graduates with extensive research experience who are interested in a career in academic pathology and investigation.