Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program

Nashville, TNLast Updated: 2/12/2026

About This Program

We are an academic/research/clinical program with a goal of producing academic surgeon leaders. Most candidates spend 2 years in research: clinical, translational, basic or educational. The majority of our graduates pursue fellowships, although in the past 12 years, several have also entered directly into community practice, academic practice, or the military.

Program Length

5 Years

First Year Positions

33 Positions

Application Deadline

Sep 23, 2025

Avg Work Hours

80 Hours/Week

Program Setting

University

Application Service

ERAS

Program Statistics

View All

Compensation

$72k-$83k

15 Vacation Days
24 Sick Days

View All Benefits

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Julia Shelton, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

[email protected]

Primary Program Contact

Kaitlyn Jones, MD
Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr

[email protected]
(615) 343-6642
Program Website

Survey Received: 7/9/2025

Program ID: 4404721327

Locations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Ccc-4322 McN
1161 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37232-0011

Sponsor Location

PRIMARY TEACHING SITE

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

1161 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37232-2104

Participant Locations

Ascension St Thomas Hospital West

4220 Harding Rd
Nashville, TN 37205

Nashville General Hospital at Meharry

1818 Albion St
Nashville, TN 37208

Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Nashville)

1310 24th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212-2637

Williamson Medical Center

4321 Carothers Pkwy
Franklin, TN 37067

Application Information

Applicant Interview Format

Virtual

Interviews Conducted Last Year

90 Interviews

Interviews/First Year Positions

2.8:1

Program Participation

Participates In

Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

Code: 1702440C0, 1702440P0

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

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

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

Yes

Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations

Required Supplemental Information

Osteopathic Recognition

Medical School Graduation Timeline

No cap on the number of years.

Gap Experience Requirement

Data not provided by program

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

1.3:1

Program Faculty

105

Female Faculty

36.5%

Faculty Distribution

Physicians (96)

Non-Physicians (9)

Work Environment

Work Schedule

Program Start Dates

July 1

Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)

80 Hours

Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)

16 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 - Every fifth night for 5 month(s)

Year 2 - Every sixth night for 2 month(s)

Year 3 - Every fifth night for 2 month(s)

Year 4 - N/A

Year 5 - N/A

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

Yes

F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)

Yes

Program Size

Current Residents

PGY-1s33

PGY-2s12

PGY-3s9

PGY-4s9

PGY-5s9

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

SEP23

Application Due

Sep 23, 2025

NOV12

Interview Period Starts

Nov 12, 2025 - Dec 12, 2025

2027 - 2028

SEP30

Application Due

Sep 30, 2026

NOV1

Interview Period Starts

Nov 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Structured Didactic Activities

Hospital Outpatient

20%

Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care

N/A

Employment Policies & Benefits

Free parking

On-call meal allowance

Placement assistance upon completion of program into practice, fellowship or academia

Educational Benefits

Offered

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

Yes

Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum

Yes

International experience/global health

Yes

Resident/fellow retreats

Yes

Off-campus electives

Yes

MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training

Yes

Research rotation

Optional

Not Offered

Integrative medicine curriculum

Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork

Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language

Economics of health care systems curriculum

Debt management/financial counseling

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

Hospice/home care experience

Tracks & Educational Features

Offered

Research track/non-accredited fellowship track

Yes

Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length

Yes

Not Offered

Primary care track

Hospitalist track

Rural track

Women's health track

Academic or clinician educator track

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)

Resident Evaluations

Patient surveys

Portfolio system

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)

Medical Insurance Coverage

Institution & Resident Share Cost

Major medical for residents
Major medical for dependents
Major medical for domestic partners
Outpatient mental health
Inpatient mental health
Group life insurance
Dental insurance
Disability insurance
Disability insurance for HIV

Fully Paid by Institution

Salary Compensation

$72k-$83k

PGY-1 through PGY-5

PGY-1

$72,450

PGY-2

$74,986

PGY-3

$77,611

PGY-4

$80,326

PGY-5

$83,138

Salary paid by a non-profit institution.

Vacation & Sick Days

Residents receive 15 Vacation Days and 24 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

Vacation Days15

Sick Days24

Family & Medical Leave Policy

Maximum # of paid days

NGO

Maximum # of unpaid days

NGO

Quality of Life Information*

Nashville, TN

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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Vanderbilt University Medical Center 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

2027 - 2028

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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