Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM)?
- How is the program set up?
- Is this residency a general preventive medicine residency?
- What is Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM)?
- How do I apply to the program?
- What is the deadline for applications?
- The Harvard School of Public Health Application is for the MPH program. Where is the application for the Residency program?
- What are the transcript and exam requirements for admission?
- What PGY (post-graduate year) levels do you accept?
- What clinical experience is required for admission to the residency program?
- Will the program lead to board eligibility in Occupational Medicine?
- What do the graduates of the HSPH Residency Program do after completion of the program?
- What are salary and benefits?
1. What is Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM)?
“OEM is the prevention and treatment of occupational and environmental injury, illness, and disability of workers and their families, including through individual patient care. OEM physicians champion the health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments” (American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, or ACOEM).
2. How is the program set up?
The OEMR is a two-year program consisting of one year of academic training leading to an MPH or MOH degree, and one year split evenly between clinical rotations and research. The usual start date is July 1, and first year residents usually begin their academic training in the summer as participants in the Program for Clinical Effectiveness.
3. Is this residency a general preventive medicine residency?
No, our residency is not a straight general preventive medicine/public health residency. It is an occupational and environmental residency, which is a subspecialty of preventive medicine. Our program leads to board eligibility in occupational and environmental medicine.
4. How do I apply to the program?
Please visit https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/oemr/applying-to-the-oemr/. Please note that we do not accept ERAS (the Electronic Residency Application Service).
5. What is the deadline for applications?
For admission to the residency: October 15 for the following year’s matriculation.
6. The Harvard School of Public Health Application is for the MPH program. Where is the application for the Residency program?
For application instructions, please click here.
7. What are the transcript and exam requirements for admission?
All US and foreign medical school graduates must provide official transcripts from all schools they have attended. We recognize that it may be difficult for foreign medical graduates to obtain transcripts. Please see the instructions provided with the HSPH Admissions Application for managing this process.
All US and foreign medical school graduates must provide scores for the MCAT or GRE exams. Only those holding an MD degree can submit MCAT exam scores. To request that your MCAT score be sent to HSPH, please call Medical Admission Test at (202) 828-0635. Those without MCAT scores must submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Foreign medical graduates who have not taken the GREs must take them in order to be eligible for admission. If you took GRE exams after 1985, the scores will only be kept for five years, and you may have to retake the GRE exam.
Please contact:
Graduate Record Examination
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 USA
Tel: (609) 771-7670
Fax: (609) 771-7906
Email: gre-info@ets.org
Website: http://www.gre.org/
HSPH does not publish the minimum scores required for admission to HSPH.
8. What PGY (post-graduate year) levels do you accept?
For this program, those who have completed their residency training and are board certified or board eligible in their specialty are especially encouraged to apply. However, we also accept outstanding applicants who have not finished a residency or who have only completed a PGY-1 year. Usually, such applicants have an outstanding record and have already demonstrated a record of practical experience or research related to Occupational and/or Environmental Medicine.
9. What clinical experience is required for admission to the residency program?
For US/Canada graduates and for foreign medical graduates, the minimum requirement for admission is one clinical year of internship or a transitional clinical year in an ACGME accredited hospital in the US or Canada.
10. Do you provide tuition and stipend support for residents?
Our goal is to provide all applicants with total or substantial financial support. The financial support we have available does not always cover tuition and stipend for all applicants.
11. Will the program lead to board eligibility in Occupational Medicine?
Yes. It is expected that all who complete the program will take the Board Examination in Preventive Medicine (Occupational Medicine track) and become board certified in this specialty.
12. What do the graduates of the HSPH Residency Program do after completion of the program?
Some graduates pursue clinical practice as staff physicians or as directors of occupational health clinics; others choose an academic path, follow their research interests, and become tenure-track faculty in leading Universities around the world. Some become staff in advocacy organizations that specialize in environmental health issues. Many are in positions of influence in government and academic settings.
13. What benefits are provided to residents?
- Health Insurance: For non-military first-year residents, health insurance is provided through the Harvard Student Health Plan. For non-military second-year residents, health insurance is provided via the Massachusetts State Health Connector Bronze or Gold plan.
- Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance: For non-military residents, term life insurance and long-term disability insurance are provided for both years of residency.
- Education Fund: For non-military residents, the program provides $1900 over the two years to reimburse programmatic expenditures, including conference travel and research-related expenses.
- Massachusetts Medical Society membership
For additional information please contact Annie Rodriguez crodriguez@hsph.harvard.edu.