Thank you for your interest in the occupational/environmental medicine residency program at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. The Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has had an accredited and NIOSH-funded Occupational/Environmental Medicine residency since 1993.

Two tracks are available for interested applicants. The first is a traditional "fellowship" program in which graduates of primary care (internal medicine or family medicine) residencies complete two additional years of public health and occupational/environmental medicine training. Our second track is more unique and challenging, merging dual training in the UConn Primary Care Internal Medicine (PCIM) residency and the occupational/environmental medicine residency. For all intents and purposes, it is a combined Internal Medicine-Occupational Medicine residency. The flexibility of our Primary Care Internal Medicine residency and that residency's use of block ambulatory rotations, second continuity clinics, and elective experiences allows residents to complete much of their MPH course work and participate in our occupational medicine clinic throughout their second and third years. The final year of training in both tracks is the practicum year in which trainees rotate with area industries, the state health department, the regional poison control center, as well as participate in research and other divisional consulting and teaching activities, and in other activities related to our discipline.

We are approved for two trainees per year and have enjoyed excellent recruiting experience drawing from local and regional residency programs. At the conclusion of their residency, all graduates are qualified to take the examination of the American Board of Preventive Medicine for certification in occupational medicine. The primary care-occupational medicine dual-track residents are eligible for certification by both the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the Preventive Medicine board.

Our Division operates a busy diagnostic occupational/environmental unit, an expanding medical surveillance program, and is part of the state-wide PPO for workers' compensation injuries. Residents participate in the full range of activities that are part of clinical occupational medicine. In addition, we support and staff the Health Center's Employee Health programs so that our residents learn about the hazards of and regulatory issues in the health care industry. Through our consultant role with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, residents participate in disease outbreak investigations, participate in community environmental health crises, and provide educational outreach to workers, employers, public health agencies, and communities. Faculty participate actively in the educational mission of the university at all levels, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate and we involve our trainees frequently in these as well. We have five full-time physician faculty, as well as a interdisciplinary staff that includes expertise in industrial hygiene, epidemiology, ergonomics, biomechanics, and social work.

If you would like to apply, please write a brief summary outlining your career goals, enclose a copy of your curriculum vitae, and either enclose or have mailed separately three letters of recommendation by faculty physicians or scientists with whom you have worked, to the address below.

We will review applications as they are completed. A personal interview is required, and will give the applicant an opportunity to meet the faculty in the Division. Notification of candidates is generally made in mid-December, so that application to the program in the early fall preceding the July start date of the residency is desirable.

A separate application to the Graduate Program in Public Health (MPH) is also required and will be mailed upon request. Information on electives for primary care residents and medical students at UConn, including either a research or clinical elective with the DOEM can also be provided, if interested.

Please note that the program does not offer an initial-year or PG-1 position, and will not consider candidates without evidence of completion of an ACGME-accredited postgraduate year (with preference given to those having completed a full three-year primary care residency) other than those applying to the dual IM/OM program.

Applicants must also be US citizens or hold a Permanent Resident ("Green Card") visa. Because of funding and practicum site constraints, the program is unable to accept foreign nationals holding only training or J-1 visas.

Please contact me through our Residency Program Office at (860) 679-4638, or email our program (csteciak@.uchc.edu) to request our residency brochure, or if you wish to discuss any further information or to answer any questions you might have. My colleagues and I look forward to hearing from you.

Contact Information
John D. Meyer, MD, MPH
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
University of Connecticut Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6210
Farmington, CT 06030-6210
Phone (860) 679-4947
Fax (860) 679-1349
Email meyer@uchc.edu

Address correspondence to:

Kathy McDermott
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
University of Connecticut Health Center
Dowling North, 3rd Floor
263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6210
Farmington, CT 06030-6210
Phone (860) 679-4823
Fax (860) 679-1349
Email mcdermott@nso.uchc.edu

Guidelines for applying to the UCHC IM and PCIM Residency Programs (for applicants to the combined IM/OM residency only):

All applications are processed through ERAS. Applications are processed as early as September and are reviewed through December 15th. All Applications are reviewed and should include: a completed form, Dean's Letter, Transcript, and 3 Letters of Recommendation. General guidelines include the following:

• USMLE parts 1&2 passed on first attempt. These scores must be part of the application.
• Medical School graduation (including required internship) should be within 5 years of residency application.
• Interviews are conducted between the end of October and the end of January.
• Only J-1 visas are available for those candidates who are not permanent residents. The University will NOT sponsor H1b Visas.
• United States, Canada or United Kingdom clinical experience is desirable, but not required for consideration.
• Clinical Skill Assessment completed prior to February 1.
• Valid ECFMG certificate for graduates of foreign medical schools.
• Application deadline is December 15th.

Interviews are by invitation only. Once the application is completed, the candidate will be invited by letter or e-mail and asked to call to schedule interview date.

The interview day begins at approximately 8:00 a.m. and ends at approximately 3:00 p.m. The applicant will visit the University of Connecticut Health Center, either Hartford Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, New Britain General Hospital or Connecticut Children's Medical Center (CCMC), speak with faculty and house officers and tour the facilities. The applicant is welcome to tour other sites on a second visit. A limited number of PGY II and PGY III positions may be available. Applications for those positions follow the same guidelines.

For More Information
Find out more about UConn's Internal Medicine Residency programs
Find out more about other UConn Residency Programs