Trying to build my PCCM rank list and could use some firsthand wisdom.

Would appreciate firsthand perspectives on ranking these programs (no particular order):

Stanford, Washington, UCSF, UCSD, Mayo Rochester, Vanderbilt, OHSU, Brigham, Utah, WashU, and Arizona–Tucson.

What I’m looking for:

• “Comfortable with anything” critical care training. Broad ICU experience, real ownership, strong airways/procedures, and CVICU exposure—ideally on the primary team.
• Early IP and PH exposure, with meaningful involvement while I’m figuring out where my interests lead.
• Academic medicine with room to grow. Passionate about ultrasound and becoming a good educator. Could see myself in program or department leadership someday.
• Research mentorship: Interested in big data/AI and clinical systems projects, including learning the tools to contribute meaningfully.
• A life outside the hospital: Climbing, mountain biking, nearby green space, and a short commute. Ideally, hospital → climbing gym → home doesn’t require a regional transportation strategy.

My extremely specific dream gig is joining the faculty whenever Bozeman, Durango, or Flagstaff decides to open a medical school. In the meantime, I’d be happy training somewhere I could stay.

Basically, I want to become a strong intensivist and educator, keep academic doors open, and still get after it climbing and biking.

Given that, where would you go? Especially interested in firsthand takes on airway ownership, CVICU responsibility, clinician-educator support, night burden, and how much you actually get to enjoy the location.

I am interested in solid onc + clinical trials:

Mayo Clinic

MD Anderson

MSK

DFCI

Stanford

Penn

I'm working on my rank list for Cards and would love any guidance or general comments about the programs below and how to rank them. Geography is not an issue.

1. ChristianaCare

2. Newark Beth Israel

3. Maimonides

4. SIUH

5. Mt Sinai Morningside

6. Mt. Sinai Brooklyn

7. Tower Health

hello all , I need help ranking for heme onc please .

Penn state Hershey program

Geisinger Wilkes barre

Geisinger Danville

USA health system , mobile alabama . thank you

How did it go for everyone who took it today? I feel like I was guessing on a lot between two answers

Uni of Oklahoma
UT Memphis
AGH
cook county
WVU
CAMC
Advent Health

Looking for strong clinical training, family friendly area ( have two toddlers)

I’ve applied to both Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship, but I’m a bit confused about NRMP registration. Since there are separate registrations for IM residency and fellowship, do I need to register for both separately? And should I register for both at the same time?
Would appreciate any guidance from someone who has gone through the same process.

Hi guys,

I’m an OMS-3 in the Northeast. Application has no flags so far: passed step 1 and level 1 first try, honored first two shelves so far. Other than that, my application is bare. I really want to match heme Onc. Ideally stay in the NY/NJ area too, but don’t want to ask for much. What should I aim for to get the best chance? I know it’s early and I’m probably being too ambitious but any advice would be super appreciated.

1. Medical University of South Carolina
   
2. Houston Methodist Hospital
   
3. Allegheny Health Network Hospital
   
4. Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
   
5. Hackensack University Medical Center
   
6. West Virginia University
   
7. SUNY Upstate Medical Center
   
8. Charleston Area Medical Center, WV

J1 Visa requiring Non-US IMG. Looking for solid training. Willing to move anywhere.

Hi everyone!

I’m a PGY-2 IM resident at a community program without an in-house fellowship, and I’m a visa-requiring IMG (Step 2: 25x, Step 3: 23x).
I’ve been passionate about cardiology since medical school and have focused most of my research on it, including multiple projects and abstracts accepted at national cardiology conferences.
However, my ICU rotation was genuinely one of the best experiences of my residency, possibly even more enjoyable than cardiology. Multiple ICU attendings encouraged me to pursue critical care, saying they felt I was a great fit for it.

I genuinely love both specialties and am now considering dual-applying to Cardiology and Pulmonary/Critical Care (PCCM) in the 2027 application cycle.
Since I started research relatively late in PGY-1, most of my work is cardiology-focused, with limited PCCM-specific research.

I’d appreciate some honest advice:
How competitive has the recent PCCM match cycle been, particularly for visa-requiring IMGs from community programs?

How much research is typically needed to be competitive at strong academic PCCM programs? Does cardiology research carry weight?

Is October of PGY-2 too late to build a strong PCCM application for the upcoming cycle?

Does dual-applying to Cardiology and PCCM negatively affect your chances?

What should I prioritize over the next 6–8 months to maximize my chances at a strong academic program?

I’d especially appreciate insights from current fellows, recent applicants, and faculty involved in fellowship selection.

My goal isn’t to treat either specialty as a backup. I genuinely enjoy both and want to give myself a fair shot at each.
Thanks in advance!

I’ve been juggling my ICU rotation and flying out for in person interviews this month. Still have three to go and today I realized I hadn’t registered for the NRMP yet (thank you Reddit). It’s paid now but should I email programs to update them? How bad is this situation?

I'm applying to GI and have been fortunate enough to receive over 10 interviews. However, I'm in a bit of a dilemma and genuinely curious what others would do in my situation.

Long story short, through a personal connection, I found out that I essentially have a guaranteed spot at my #4 program, but only if I tell them they're my #1 choice and rank them accordingly. To clarify, nobody from the program has directly told me this. It's coming from a family friend whom I trust.

The problem is that my top 3 programs are places I would definitely rather train at. I don't have any personal connections at those programs, and while I was fortunate enough to receive interviews, I have no idea where I stand or what my actual chances of matching at any of them are.

To complicate things further, everything below my #4 consists of programs in less desirable locations or places I would much rather not end up at. So there's a pretty significant drop-off in my preferences after that fourth program.

If I take the guaranteed spot, I'd essentially be giving up my chance to match at three programs I'd much rather attend. On the other hand, if I don't make that commitment, I risk losing what is essentially a guaranteed fellowship position in a program I somewhat like, and in a location I am also somewhat okay with. There's also the possibility that the program takes it personally if I don't tell them they're my #1 and ends up ranking me less favorably.

I'm extremely grateful to even be in this position, but it's a tough decision. Part of me feels like I'd be crazy to give up a guaranteed spot in such a competitive specialty, while another part of me feels like I'd always wonder what could have happened if I took my chances with my top 3.

My priorities, in order, are:

1. Solid clinical training

2. A non-toxic, supportive program culture

3. A decent place to live (warm, reasonable COL)

4. Low research expectations

My current list, roughly in order:

1. UT Houston

2. Ochsner

3. University of Cincinnati

4. University of Louisville

5. Marshall University

6. Aurora Health Care

7. Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV

8. Tulane

9. TidalHealth (Maryland)

10. HCA Florida / USF Morsani Bayonet Point

Any insights or information about these programs would be greatly appreciated and helpful in deciding how to rank them.

Hello everyone! I’m an IMG radiology resident applying for fellowships in Canada this year. Does anyone know when programs usually start sending interview invitations? Has anyone received an invitation yet? Thank you!

For the love of everything holy, register for the Match. Nothing is more infuriating then chasing down applicants so we can do the rank list!

Note: This is not a good look for a applicant. If you can't do a basic task in a timely manner, that makes people rethink things. If you are being told to do something as an applicant, just imagine the issues if the person matches. Makes you slide right off the rank lists.

Current IM resident at a community hospital, applying to A/I next cycle.

Quick background:

• US MD
• Previous Step 1failure; passed; Step 2 + Step 3 on first attempt
• Multiple A/I-related publications and presentations
• A/I-related award
• Research experience at a major academic institution with a potential strong A/I LOR

I have the opportunity to do an A/I away rotation at either Mount Sinai (NYC) or USF (Florida).

Given my background, which would be the smarter strategic choice to maximize my chances of matching? Would it be better to rotate at a more competitive institution or somewhere I might have a more realistic chance of matching?

Would really appreciate input from current A/I fellows or anyone familiar with fellowship selection!

Hey everyone, I am in a challenging spot when it comes to deciding which program I want to go to. I’ll place the programs I interviewed at below in no particular order.

The question I have is that everyone at my home program is telling me that I have to rank CCF in Ohio number 1 for the opportunities, etc. And even if I don’t rank them number 1, I have plenty of other options to put first before my true true number 1 spot, which is UArizona-phoenix.

I go to a top 15 IM program with a strong cardiology home program. I love my program but I genuinely want to venture out to a different program just to see how different people practice cardiology. On application, my goal is to go into academics, but in reality I just want to practice in the community.

Am I crazy for just choosing wellness/location/vibes over prestige?? Everyone I’m talking to at my program makes it seem like I’m making the biggest mistake in my life.

CCF - Ohio (didn’t signal them either)
UMich
Uchicago
WashU
MCW
UIC
UArizona- phoenix

Henry Ford
Allegheny general hospital
SUNY upstate
Carilion clinic
LSU Shreveport
Geisenger Wilkes barre
University of Oklahoma

My main focus is good clinical training but also balanced with good research opportunities. Geographic region is not a factor. Also may need a j1 waiver after training, so would also prefer institutions that would allow better access to those opportunities. Thank you in advance!

I'm struggling with how to rank two local fellowship programs, one of them being my home program. Both are academic, and we share some services and faculty, but each program is different in its own way.

I'm leaning toward the other program (non-home) for practical reasons and because it offers exposure to things my home program doesn't.

My biggest concern is how this might look. It's a small field, and my interviewers know my letter writers and mentors. I enjoyed both interviews, but I'm seriously struggling with who to rank first and how it might look down the road.

I also feel like I might be slightly biased against my home program because I've been in a leadership role here and have friends currently in fellowship, so I'm probably more aware of its shortcomings.

I feel like I'm overthinking this, but has anyone been in a similar situation? Did ranking another program over your home program affect your relationships later on? I plan to do academics and likely to stay.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!