Eligibility Considerations for Clinical Informatics Fellowship

• Residents currently in a General Surgery residency program are eligible to apply for and complete a Clinical Informatics Fellowship as a Mid-Residency Training Program (MRTP), in lieu of research years or other professional development activities.
   
• The MRTP will allow General Surgical residents to pursue both a Surgical residency and a fellowship in Clinical Informatics concurrently.
   
• To be eligible to participate in the MRTP, a surgical resident must:
  • have a guaranteed training slot to complete the requirements for primary certification in surgery and;
  • meet all other then-current ABPM eligibility requirements for certification in CI.

Supporting information

ABPM: The American Board of Preventive Medicine Has Obtained Approval from the American Board of Medical Specialties' (ABMS) to Offer Surgical Residents Mid-Residency Training Programs in Clinical Informatics (MRTP) – American Board of Preventive Medicine (theabpm.org)

ACGME: The new Common Program Requirements, effective July 2025, explicitly mention the ABPM allowance. The full document is here. Below is the specific section detailing the exception to the requirement.

Pathology residents need to consider a few specifics for CI fellowship that are unique to pathologists.

1. Unlike most pathology-based fellowships, which are typically 1 year in length, clinical informatics is a 2-year fellowship.
    
2. While there are "Pathology-housed" clinical informatics fellowships, all CI fellowships are open to pathologists and will provide excellent training in CI. Some of the pathology-housed programs are more focused on pathology informatics than others. Each applicant should explore the training options and choose the best one for their longer-term goals as a physician and pathologist. Do not limit yourself to Pathology-housed programs only!!
    
3. At the current time, many pathology subspecialties are moving towards a formal application and match process to bring better consistency to the process. However, pathology fellowships fill positions between 15-24 months before the fellowship, as opposed to the CI process, which begins in the final year of primary training. This can create complications in applying for multiple fellowships as a pathologist. There are options to apply outside the typical cycle for pathology applicants at many CI programs, so reach out to the programs in which you have an interest to inquire about this option.
    
4. One other distinct difference for pathologists is that we are awarded our CI boards from the American Board of Pathology (ABPath) instead of the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). Pathologists will apply to ABPath for CI boards, take the exact same CI board examination as other specialties, receive their board from ABPath, and need to go through continuing certification through ABPath.
    
5. Given that ABpath awards both pathology subspecialty and clinical informatics boards for pathologists, there are enhanced opportunities for an Integrated Training Experience (ITE - see below) for pathologists. Many pathology-housed CI fellowships can offer combined training in a pathology subspecialty and clinical informatics for qualified applicants. Other, non-pathology-based informatics fellowships can coordinate with pathology subspecialty training to provide a more seamless training experience, even without full integration.

Applicants interested in combining Clinical Informatics fellowship training with another subspecialty fellowship may consider an Integrated Training Experience (ITE). If you are interested, we encourage you to contact both program directors (for the informatics and clinical programs) as soon as possible.

Many programs have successfully integrated clinical fellowship with informatics training. This pathway requires significant planning, including petitions to the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) and the desired clinical board (e.g., American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics, etc). In some circumstances, combined training can decrease the total number of years of training (e.g, 2 years of informatics and 3 years of subspecialty training reduced to 4 years of combined training). However, this cannot be guaranteed.

Read Early experiences with combined fellowship training in clinical informatics in JAMIA for more information. 

See also American Board of Pediatrics Information.

Visa sponsorship

Check the individual program websites for Visa sponsorship information before applying, as this requirement varies by program.

ACGME or ACGME-I Residency Requirement

A core requirement for eligibility for the Clinical Informatics Fellowship is that the candidate has completed an ACGME- or ACGME-I-accredited residency.

For applicants who are graduates of an ACGME-I accredited residency program, the following requirements should be verified by the Program and the Applicant:

1. Citizenship or Visa sponsorship requirements of the Institution
2. Specialty Medical Board Certification requirements
3. State Licensing Requirements
4. Institutional Requirements for Independent Clinical Practice

In rare circumstances, a program may consider the exceptional candidate pathway described below for well-qualified candidates who have not completed residency training in an ACGME or ACGME-i program.

** Please contact the respective program directly to be considered for this pathway before submitting your application through ERAS.

** Before ranking, both the candidate and Program leadership must confirm that institution-specific hiring requirements are fulfilled. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, the necessity of a state medical license or specific clinical practice and billing mandates.

An exceptionally qualified international graduate applicant has:

1. completed a residency program in the core specialty outside the continental United States that was not accredited by the ACGME, AOA, ACGME-I, RCPSC, or CFPC, and
2. demonstrated clinical excellence in comparison to peers throughout training.

Additional evidence of exceptional qualifications is required, which may include one of the following:

1. participation in additional clinical or research training in the specialty or subspecialty;
2. demonstrated scholarship in the specialty or subspecialty; and/or
3. demonstrated leadership during or after residency.

Fellowship training in this pathway will not lead to certification by ABMS member boards or AOA certifying boards without completing a primary residency.