An applicant's evaluation of an emergency medicine internship and residency

Applicants to emergency medicine residencies face an increasingly difficult task of evaluating a greater number of training programs. High-quality information must be obtained by applicants prior to their submission of a ranking list to the National Intern and Residency Matching Program. Resources to assist applicants in this task have been limited; personal interviews are critical in this process. In the relatively new specialty of emergency medicine, medical students may fail to obtain optimal information during interviews. A list of suggested interview questions is provided. Judicious use of appropriate questions can help applicants obtain the proper information. Residency program directors and staff may also use these questions to assist applicants.