UNC Health Blue Ridge Program

Morganton, NCLast Updated: 2/12/2026

About This Program

Program Length

3 Years

First Year Positions

9 Positions

Application Deadline

Nov 1, 2025

Avg Work Hours

60 Hours/Week

Program Setting

Community

Application Service

ERAS

Program Statistics

View All

Compensation

$57k-$62k

22 Vacation Days
-- Sick Days

View All Benefits

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Rahul Sampath, MD
UNC Health Blue Ridge

[email protected]
(828) 580-2700

Primary Program Contact

Michelle Collins
UNC Health Blue RIdge

[email protected]
(828) 580-5357
Program Website

Survey Received: 7/16/2025

Program ID: 1403600326

Locations

UNC Health Blue Ridge
Internal Med Pgm
2201 S Sterling St
Morganton, NC 28655

Sponsor Location

PRIMARY TEACHING SITE

UNC Health Blue Ridge

2201 S Sterling St
Morganton, NC 28655

Participant Locations

Carolinas Medical Center

1000 Blythe Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28232-2861

WG (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center

1601 Brennan Ave
Salisbury, NC 28144

Application Information

Applicant Interview Format

Virtual

Interviews Conducted Last Year

150 Interviews

Interviews/First Year Positions

16.7:1

Program Participation

Participates In

Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

Code: 1914140C0

ERAS®

Yes

Doesn't Participate In

Advanced or Fellowship Match of NRMP
San Francisco Match
Military Match
Urology Match

Medical Exam Licensing Requirements for Interview Consideration

U.S. MD Applicants

Must Have Passed Step 1

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

IMG Applicants

Must Have Passed Step 1

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

DO Applicants

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1

Yes

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 1

Must Have Passed Step 2

Recommendation Letter Requirements

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Minimum

3 Letters

Maximum

4 Letters

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)

Additional Eligibility Information

Requires Previous GME

Offers Preliminary Positions

Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations

Required Supplemental Information

Osteopathic Recognition

Medical School Graduation Timeline

Graduation from medical school must have occurred within the past 1 year(s).

Gap Experience Requirement

PGY-1 applicants to this program with a gap of 1 year or more between medical school graduation and entry to residency must have the following experience occur during the gap: Research or other medical education pursuits (clinical experience not required)

Resident / Fellow Characteristics

Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Program Faculty

Faculty/Resident Ratio

1.9:1

Program Faculty

Female Faculty

28.6%

Faculty Distribution

Physicians (93)

Non-Physicians (--)

Work Environment

Work Schedule

Program Start Dates

July 1

Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)

60 Hours

Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)

12 Hours

Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)

1.00

Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)

Yes

Night Float System

Yes

Call Schedule

Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year

Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)

Year 1 - N/A

NGO

Year 2 - N/A

NGO

Year 3 - N/A

NGO

NA = Not Applicable

NGO = Negotiable

OTH = Other

Visa Status

This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.

J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG

Yes

H-1B visa

F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)

Program Size

Current Residents

PGY-1s9

PGY-2s9

PGY-3s9

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

NOV1

Application Due

Nov 1, 2025

OCT7

Interview Period Starts

Oct 7, 2025 - Jan 27, 2026

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Structured Didactic Activities

Hospital Outpatient

33%

Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care

Employment Policies & Benefits

Moving allowance

Free parking

On-call meal allowance

iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance

Educational Benefits

Offered

Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)

Yes

Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork

Yes

Economics of health care systems curriculum

Yes

Debt management/financial counseling

Yes

Resident/fellow retreats

Yes

Off-campus electives

Yes

Hospice/home care experience

Yes

Research rotation

Optional

Not Offered

Integrative medicine curriculum

Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language

Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum

Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation

International experience/global health

MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training

Tracks & Educational Features

Offered

Primary care track

Yes

Hospitalist track

Yes

Rural track

Yes

Not Offered

Research track/non-accredited fellowship track

Women's health track

Academic or clinician educator track

Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length

Evaluations

Program Evaluations

Aggregate resident Milestone achievements

Yes

Graduates’ board certification pass rates

Yes

Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)

Yes

Resident Evaluations

Patient surveys

Yes

Portfolio system

Yes

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)

Yes

Medical Insurance Coverage

Institution & Resident Share Cost

Major medical for residents
Major medical for dependents
Outpatient mental health
Inpatient mental health
Dental insurance

Fully Paid by Institution

Group life insurance
Disability insurance

Salary Compensation

$57k-$62k

PGY-1 through PGY-3

PGY-1

$56,903

PGY-2

$58,938

PGY-3

$61,500

Salary paid by a non-profit institution.

Vacation & Sick Days

Residents receive 22 Vacation Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

Vacation Days22

Sick Days--

Family & Medical Leave Policy

Maximum # of paid days

NGO

Maximum # of unpaid days

NGO

Quality of Life Information*

Morganton, NC

Purchasing Power Index

Safety Index

Health Care Index

Climate Index

Cost of Living Index

Property Price to Income Ratio

Traffic Commute Time Index

Pollution Index

Estimated Monthly Costs

Estimated cost does not include rent.

Family of 4

Single Person

*Source: Numbeo

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UNC Health Blue Ridge Program

About This Program

Program Statistics

Compensation

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Primary Program Contact

Locations

Application Information

Participates In

Doesn't Participate In

U.S. MD Applicants

IMG Applicants

DO Applicants

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Medical School Graduation Timeline

Gap Experience Requirement

Resident / Fellow Characteristics

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Program Faculty

Faculty Distribution

Work Environment

Visa Status

Program Size

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

Application Due

Interview Period Starts

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Employment Policies & Benefits

Educational Benefits

Tracks & Educational Features

Evaluations

Medical Insurance Coverage

Salary Compensation

Vacation & Sick Days

Quality of Life Information*

Estimated Monthly Costs

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