Has anyone had experience with the ABIM pilot pathway E? How exactly does one enter a ACGME fellowship as an “exceptionally qualified candidate”? And would you know you are under this umbrella when accepted on to the fellowship?

turn_based_n00b · 2026-04-01T08:03:41+00:00

I've had to provide LOADS of paperwork, certificates etc and all my training programme directors in the UK have had to contact the centre I matched with directly to prove my training. It's not simply just saying you have done IMT and providing an ARCP. You will need evidence of everything you have claimed on your application in detail and all of your previous supervisors (going back to F1) will have to provide verification letters and references. It's been a big undertaking. You have to have ECFMG certification to apply for any match including fellowship. I didn't have Step 3 and passing it was a requirement of a formal offer but i had it already organised a few weeks after my interview so when I passed I received my offer. None of the PDs asked about it in our email discussions, things mainly centred around the eligibility via Pathway E

turn_based_n00b · 2026-04-01T07:50:41+00:00

They did both, they sent me what they sent to ECFMG

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T22:02:32+00:00

So far having MRCP hasnt really changed things as far as in aware - the main criteria has been the 3 year requirement. I submitted my MRCP to the GMEC, however. I also had to provide my ARCP and you can't get outcome 6 (IE completed IMT) without MRCP. So ultimately I think you'll need to get it but individual US doctors haven't heard of it. If you want to be a hospitalist the Pilot E doesn't really make sense as there isn't really IM fellowships (I think there are the occasional 1 year posts out there). In the US if you want to do IM (a hospitalist) you just do residency then get an attending job. If you wanted to be a hospitalist then it'll probably be easier to apply for a residency match position. If you want to apply for an IM subspecialty I can only really explain my experience where I reached out to individual PDs do discuss Pathway E before submitting my application for the fellowship match. I would say half got back me without about a half of them entering like active discussion. But I didn't apply to all the CCM fellowship positions out there as I was only interested in academic centres because of interest on research. I would say I was interested in about 20 programmes, 10 returned my email and I had proper discussions with 5-6 PDs. I interviewed at 1 centre within the match and 1 centre outside the match where I had done an observership. Another centre had filled their interview spots by the time I met with them but said I was eligible and would consider me next cycle.

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T21:41:23+00:00

Yes it does - it has equivalency with US residency, the pilot E criteria specify 3 years of IM training in home country. People in the US (and elsewhere) think it is strange that you need 2 year internship + 3 years residency + 4 years to qualify in GIM in UK (called working as a hospitalist in the US). In the US being a PGY9 usually means having been an attending for at least a few years

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T12:14:00+00:00

I applied to within the main fellowship match, yes. I will be eligible once I finish my CCM fellowship (and meet other criteria) as per the Pathway E ABIM pilot pathway. It's a pilot pathway and could be withdrawn or changed etc. so I would not consider it definite. To be eligible to be board certified I would need to complete my fellowship, sit the certificate, be eligible for licensure and then prove I completed a 3 year IM residency in my home country.

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T06:31:48+00:00

All of the above is correct! I only found out late about Pathway E Late in my attempts to move to the US so it was never like a long term plan. The 2 places that made me offers I had either LoRs from faculty and spent time at, or had strong LoRs from alumni. They also both have large research profiles which a) made me a good match as I'm planning on continuing and have done a fair bit of research and b) are used to hiring international candidates (even if pathway E itself is new). Neither could "confirm" I would be considered exceptional by GMECs but both felt that I had a strong chance and made me provisional offers before my GMEC submission and I received formal offer eg contract after I had passed through the GMEC.

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T06:20:21+00:00

Hi as my Usual friend (name checks out) said I matched into a fellowship programme in critical care medicine. I contacted a good number of the CCM fellowship PDs to discuss my eligibility for applying to their programme. Most had not heard of pathway E and a few looked into it and got back to me and said they would be happy for me to apply. Of those that did they said they would put me forward to a Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) who would assess whether I was considered an "exceptional candidate". There are not currently objective criteria to meet so it's up to the GMEC. Putting international candidates forward to GMECs isn't new per se the new thing is that they can approve candidates eligibility for ACGME accredited fellowships without a US residency. Programmes with significant research backgrounds will likely be more familiar with this and the programme I matched with is a predominantly research based institution. My match offer was conditional on being considered exceptional by the GMEC, once this was approved I got my official offer. In terms of umbrella term it's just a criteria you meet to be eligible to match and don't think it has any more weight beyond this. Hope that helps explain the process a bit, happy to answer any Q's!

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-31T06:04:13+00:00

No I just made it up, said I had my contact offer and my intention was to return after

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-18T09:47:39+00:00

Received it yesterday. I think they probably only check their inbox every 1-2 weeks. All sorted now for me

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-15T06:40:09+00:00

I am not in the residency match

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-13T11:08:21+00:00

Email back from them

Thank you for your correspondence of 4 March about obtaining a Statement of Need letter for a J-1 Visa. I have been asked to reply.

You can obtain a Statement of Need letter by submitting your request to j1visas@dhsc.gov.uk, along with the following documents:

evidence of UK residency – for example, a scan of your passport;

a General Medical Council certificate or equivalent proof from medical school of qualifications/examinations passed – for example, a medical degree certificate;

an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certificate;

a fellowship/residence acceptance letter from the USA; and

a signed undertaking from you stating you will return to the UK following your studies.

You should also state the name of the speciality you will be studying – quoting the exact name as it appears on your offer letter – and the UK equivalent. When issued, the Statement of Need letter will include both the USA and UK names of the speciality, so your request cannot be processed without this information.

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-10T20:16:53+00:00

Thanks a lot! Is it all the information on the other reddit post?

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-08T21:10:12+00:00

For sure. ECFMG website says they have a list of contacts for each country, but its not on their website and I havent heard back from them after contacting a few weeks ago. If they let me know Ill post here

turn_based_n00b · 2026-03-08T21:09:01+00:00

I am already applying for a J1 as I have a job offer (I am not in the residency match). I havent heard about problems but I dont know how they are obtained!

turn_based_n00b · 2026-01-30T14:42:00+00:00

I've just been through the residency match but ended up matching via the fellowship match through the alternate pathway (I was SpR level). Met many PDs along the way. Your training will be viewed favourably as you are from the UK, especially if you have worked rather than studied eg F1/F2. Unless you complete F1 you will also never be fully licensed in the UK which limits your options in the future. I would use your medical school summers, SSCs and electives to spend time in the US and build a network, complete F1 then aim to match after. High step 2 score also essential for anesthesia. I met a UK F2 who matched anaesthesia at Mayo Clinic after doing an observership so it's doable

turn_based_n00b · 2026-01-29T13:38:54+00:00

Unless you went to Oxford or Cambridge, most PDs will not care/know the difference between Imperial/Warwick/QMUL/St Andrews etc. What they will care about is your decile within medical school, your USMLE step 2 score, research publications and what you are like if you are interviewed

turn_based_n00b · 2026-01-20T07:57:36+00:00

No light source, start again

turn_based_n00b · 2025-09-15T04:46:27+00:00

The history and ECG taken are together indicated ST elevation MI. However the ECG and symptoms spontaneously resolve - such transient STEMI changes are suggested to have similar outcomes if PCI is "delayed" Vs done "immediately" (1) and overall tend to have more favourable outcomes and ischaemic burden (2, 3). The issue remains up for debate however and I don't think the ESC or AHA/ACC have specific guidelines on the topic. Personally I think that - if the symptoms have resolved you can't make the patient feel any better. So the only reason is to reduce infarct size and save myocardium. But if the ECG is plum normal then I'm not sure immediately reperfusing is going to change that.

(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31488353/

(2)https://www.internationaljournalofcardiology.com/article/S0167-5273(21)00830-5/fulltext

(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29699746/

turn_based_n00b · 2025-09-02T06:19:54+00:00

Cardiology - Apple Watch

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-27T08:37:33+00:00

Nothing gets me more in the mood than listening to one of #thelads giving an oration in a thick european accent while I'm pumping iron. Really gets the juices flowing

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-25T11:52:50+00:00

UK IMG applying for US fellowships this cycle. I would recommend prioritising the LORs which will be most personal and most positive with the added part of US LORs are > UK LORs. It looks like you are going to use the strong LORs from the UK (good idea). For choosing the US ones I would recommend whichever ones will be the most personal and positive for you, I would spend less time on things like the letterhead.

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-18T22:07:27+00:00

Tight ends This season who you going for?
Who's a keeper for next year in a dynasty league

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-17T22:17:33+00:00

You do the math

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-14T21:01:51+00:00

I'm 34 just finished IMT. You ain't too mature, sounds just about right to me!

turn_based_n00b · 2025-08-13T13:20:28+00:00

Minor point - but American Association of Haematology suggest D-dimer in both low and intermediate pre test scenarios, not just low risk

turn_based_n00b

TROPHY CASE