Application & Interview Information

Kern Medical Family Medicine is excited to welcome our inaugural class of
residents for the 2027–2028 academic year!

As a founding resident, you will have a unique opportunity to help shape the
culture, traditions, and future of a brand-new Family Medicine residency
program. You won't simply be joining an established program - you'll be among
the physicians who help build it.

Our inaugural residents will work closely with experienced faculty and leadership
to establish a strong foundation for the program while benefiting from the
resources, clinical experiences, and diverse patient population of Kern Medical.

We are looking for applicants who are excited by the opportunity to build,
contribute, lead, and grow together. If you are looking for a residency where
your voice can make a meaningful impact from day one, we invite you to
consider becoming part of our founding class.

We’re Glad You’re Interested in Kern Medical Family Medicine

Choosing a residency program is an important decision, and we want the application process to be straightforward and transparent. At Kern Medical Family Medicine, we are looking for residents who are curious, compassionate, adaptable, and committed to caring for patients across every stage of life.

Our goal is to build a diverse, supportive, and collegial residency community where residents can grow as physicians, develop meaningful relationships with their patients and colleagues, and prepare for a rewarding career in Family Medicine.

Application Timeline

Our interview season runs from October through January.

All applications must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). PGY-1 positions are offered exclusively through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

To ensure your application is reviewed appropriately, please do not email
application materials directly to the Program Director or Program Coordinator.
Applications are reviewed only through ERAS.

What We Look For

We take a holistic approach to applicant selection. While academic achievement is important, we recognize that a strong resident brings much more to a program than test scores and grades.

When reviewing applications, we consider an applicant's:

Academic preparation and clinical performance
Commitment to Family Medicine and comprehensive patient care
Communication and interpersonal skills
Professionalism, integrity, and reliability
Leadership, service, and involvement in their community
Life experiences and perspectives that will contribute to our residency
community
Overall potential to thrive in a collaborative learning environment

General Application Requirements

Applicants considered for interview should meet the following requirements:

Graduation from an accredited U.S. or international medical school within the standard curriculum timeframe.
Graduation within two years of the anticipated residency start date.
Applicants who graduated more than two years ago may be considered on an individual, case-by-case basis.
Successful completion of:
- USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 for applicants following the USMLE pathway, or
- COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2 for osteopathic applicants.
Submission of at least three letters of recommendation, including a Program Director letter and Dean's Letter/MSPE.
International medical graduates must hold a valid ECFMG Certificate.
Our program sponsors J-1 visas only.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. Each
application is reviewed in its entirety as part of our holistic selection process.

The Interview Experience

We view the interview as atwo-way conversation.

While our team is getting to know you, we also want you to have the opportunity to learn what makes Kern Medical Family Medicine unique. Our interview process allows applicants to meet members of our residency leadership team, learn more about our training environment, and get a sense of our culture and the people who make our program what it is.

As a new program, we are especially interested in applicants who are excited about the opportunity to help build something meaningful. We value residents who are collaborative, adaptable, engaged, and willing to contribute ideas as our program grows.

During the interview process, we look for applicants who demonstrate:

Strong communication skills
Professionalism and maturity
Genuine interest in Family Medicine
Compassion and commitment to patient-centered care
Collegiality and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
A willingness to learn, grow, and contribute to the residency community

Following the interview, our faculty conduct a comprehensive review of each
applicant's complete file, including academic history, clinical experiences,
letters of recommendation, personal statement, and interview performance. This
holistic review guides our decisions for the program's rank order list.

Interested in Being Part of Our Founding Class?

We know that applying to residency programs is a significant undertaking, and we appreciate the time and thought you put into the process.

If Kern Medical Family Medicine is a program where you can see yourself learning, contributing, and helping shape the future of a new residency, we encourage you to let us know through the ERAS program signaling feature.

Program signaling is our primary way of assessing applicant interest. To keep the process equitable and consistent for everyone, we ask applicants not to send individual letters of interest by email.

The 2027–2028 academic year will be the beginning of our residency journey. We hope you'll consider being part of the class that starts it all.

We look forward to learning more about you.

Program Information

Inaugural Class: 2027–2028 Academic Year

ACGME Institution Code: 1200500020

NRMP Categorical Program (3 Years): 1921120C0

International Medical Graduates

We value the perspectives and experiences that physicians from diverse backgrounds bring to Family Medicine. Qualified international medical graduates are welcome to apply.

Because residency training in California has specific licensing requirements, IMGs must be eligible for postgraduate medical training and eventual medical licensure in the state.

IMG Requirements

Applicants who attended medical school outside the United States must have:

A valid ECFMG Certificate
Successful completion of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2
Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of California
An Evaluation Status Letter from the Medical Board of California without restrictions or stipulations that would prevent participation in residency training
Eligibility for J-1 visa sponsorship

Kern Medical Family Medicine sponsors J-1 visas only.

We encourage international applicants to review ECFMG and California Medical Board requirements early in the application process to ensure they will be eligible for residency training by the anticipated start date.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

We appreciate your interest in Kern Medical Family Medicine and look forward
to getting to know you throughout the application and interview season.