Frequently Asked Questions

We look for applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to learning and professionalism, value teamwork, and have strong academic potential. We hope to recruit residents who have an intrinsic curiosity and desire to learn, value innovation, and who will become excellent teachers and can contribute positively to our program.

We do not have a minimum score requirement. Passing the USMLE/COMLEX examinations on the first attempt is desirable. You may consider applying to the program as all applications will be evaluated on individual merit.

Our program accepts 12 first-year internal medicine residents each year through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

The Valley Hospital in Paramus is the main inpatient campus. Outpatient clinics include Valley's Ridgewood campus as well as several secondary primary care and specialty outpatient sites across Bergen County.

Our Internal Medicine Residency program provides trainees with a strong foundation in clinical medicine balanced with a supportive and collegial atmosphere. Our residents will receive outstanding clinical training, working with approachable faculty who love to teach. We offer a balanced approach to clinical education, training, and mentorship in an atmosphere that allows residents to achieve their best. As a new program, our residents will have the opportunity to participate in continuous innovations and further development of graduate medical education training and experiences that will shape clinical care as well as the training for the future.

The weekly didactics will collaborate with the OB/GYN Residency Program and Surgery Residency Program to allow for interprofessional development. The program offers a wide variety and complexity of clinical experiences in a brand-new hospital and outpatient continuity clinic under the supervision of a diverse faculty in a great location with amazing schools!

We have no call. There is a night float system in the ICU, CCU, and medical wards, which allows us to not have any call. 

Residents will get four weeks of vacation per academic year. In addition, residents will get five personal days per academic year that are not counted towards vacation time.

Intern orientation is a highly structured experience that will teach you the fundamental skills needed to become a successful resident. Orientation is filled with social activities as well as important onboarding tools such as pre-rounding, presentations, ordering labs/diagnostic studies, handover skills, medication reconciliation, and note-writing, as well as how to utilize our EHR and order sets. Conferences and controlled patient volume enhance the experience and opportunities for learning. 

Yes. There is a night float system on Wards, ICU, and CCU.

We have designed retreats at every transition to build camaraderie, teamwork, and the skills necessary to transition to the next stage of your training. 

Residents have weekly board review sessions to go over high-yield topics and questions throughout the academic year starting in the intern year. In May, an intense board review for seniors is held three days per week for one hour, including questions and high-yield topics. Every resident is provided with MKSAP and U-World Question bank access.

As a health system, we pride ourselves on our wellness efforts for all of our employees and staff, which all of our residents will be able to participate in. Specifically, the residency program will have an integrated wellness program that will provide residents with the resources and time they need to stay well and take care of themselves, their colleagues, and their patients. While our program emphasizes academic and clinical training, there is an equal emphasis on well-being. Wellness days are integrated into the academic curriculum. In addition, the residents will have a wellness committee that will work closely with the leadership team to advise on the best ways to meet residents' wellness needs.

You will be the first point of contact for all the patients on your team and provide the entirety of their care with progressive responsibility. There will always be supervision, which will start with direct supervision and transition to indirect supervision, to allow you much more autonomy.  Your patient and nurses will identify you as the main physician and point of contact on all patient-related issues.

YES! Our mentorship program pairs all interns (mentees) with various faculty within the Internal Medicine Residency Program. 

For information on the benefits and salary, please click here.

Our program director has extensive years of experience in medical education and residency leadership. Dr. Shaaban has the expertise to create a vigorous program while providing a collegial, friendly training environment. 

Unlike other newly developed programs, our program’s sponsoring institution, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country. With resources and support from Mount Sinai, Valley's program is well positioned to succeed.

No, we do not offer observerships or medical student rotations at this time.

Yes, ECFMG certification is required to apply for our program.

Yes, we do offer visa sponsorship, but only for J visas.