Apply to the Omak Program

Ready to Apply?

We favor applications which craft a strong personal statement: Write us a paragraph explaining how your future practice desires match our mission and training at the end of your personal statement in ERAS. Tacoma Family Medicine Omak Rural Training Program uses Thalamus. We only accept applications submitted through the ERAS system. Residency applicants may begin submitting MyERAS^® applications to programs on September 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET. Our deadline for receipt of completed applications is October 14, 2024. You can read a description of the ERAS system on-line. If you have any questions regarding ERAS or Thalamus, please contact the Dean’s Office of your medical school for clarification.

We are looking for residents who embrace rural living and want to be colleagues in improving the health of the Okanogan and Tacoma communities. The Omak Rural Training Program (ORTP) is looking for residents who want to train to be “omni-potential” with a full spectrum of clinical knowledge and skills, to be a valuable community contributor as a “Country Family Doctor”. We are looking for residents who work well in teams, respecting all colleagues, who help weave the best tapestry of health for the community. Our three-year training begins with the first year in Tacoma with traditional strong intern year experiences from a well-established Tacoma Family Medicine whose graduates chose rural practice 25% of the time. The subsequent two years of training are in Omak with a longitudinal curriculum and a daily schedule that mirrors real life for a practicing rural family physician. Stationed at Family Health Centers, an FQHC, residents are valued colleagues in a team working with a community perspective. Residents can thrive in the rootedness of rural life, the connectedness of a community, and the life-giving outdoor and wilderness opportunities, and also remember that the ORTP is part of the WWAMI network.

WWAMI Network (uw.edu)

Requirements:

• Completion of undergraduate medical education within the last two years or for US accredited schools of medicine to be in good standing and on track to graduate in June.
• Clinical work experience with primary responsibility for patients in the last one year. This can be accredited school of medicine clinical rotations, or experience in an ACGME accredited transitional program or residency in medicine, pediatrics, OB/Gyn or surgery. Observer-ships to not qualify as clinical work experiences.
• Completed Standardized Testing: USMLE or COMLEX step 1, with a passing score.  We encourage applicants to complete and pass USMLE or COMLEX step 2 with results available before your interview. We do not rank those who have not passed USMLE or COMLEX step 2, by the end of interview season. For those applying from transitional programs we require a passing USMLE 3 score.
• For International Medical Graduates: MultiCare Omak Rural Training Program does not sponsor visas. International Medical Graduates must have graduated from medical school, have recent primary patient responsibility, have successful standardized testing and have verification of certification by the ECFMG by the end of interview season. We do not rank those that do not have ECFMG verification of certification by the end of interview season. We will consider graduates from medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California Schools Recognized | MBC (ca.gov).
• A completed ERAS/Thalamus Application and supporting documents (Below)

How to apply

NRMP (National Residency Matching Program)

MultiCare is the institutional sponsor of three Family Medicine Programs. We are the newest program: the MultiCare Health System (Omak) Program (1574120C1).  Please be careful to differentiate our program from our collaborative and cooperative sister programs of MultiCare Tacoma Family Medicine (308620) and MultiCare East Pierce Family Medicine. You must apply to the NRMP which is separate from the organization ERAS that distributes your portfolio (ERAS).

We are also in the online AMA Frieda directory under MultiCare Medical Center. Our Mailing address is:

MultiCare Health System (Omak) Rural Training Program
Address: MS: 315-3C-TFM; 315 MLK Jr. Way; Tacoma, Washington 98405

ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service)/Thalamus

MultiCare Health System (Omak) Program (rural training program) only accepts applications through ERAS/Thalamus. The Thalamus system for the 2024 season will start to accept applications for upload on September 4, 2024. The Omak Rural Training Program will be able to view your applications beginning September 25, 2024, and will be offering interviews through the email function in Thalamus soon thereafter. The last date to submit a completed application is October 14, 2024.

A completed application includes:

1. Very important – At the end of your personal statement in ERAS, please include a paragraph explaining how your future practice desires match our Omak mission and training. 
2. Please provide a short autobiographical sketch including a description of the community in which you grew up. Please comment on life and work experiences that have shaped your plans for the future.
   • Give us an example of your ability to function as team leader and another example where you have functioned as supporting team member where your support was crucial to team success.
   • Please highlight special gifts you may bring to residency such as fluency in Spanish, or public health training.
   • Please provide your objectives for residency training, including: Your career goals and the kind of community in which you plan to serve, the educational choices you have made to support your goals, and the knowledge and skills you which to acquire in Family Medicine residency that you feel are particularly important for your future plans.
3. Results of standardized testing of USMLE or COMLEX step 1 and 2
4. At least two letters of reference: One of these references should be from a Family Physician you have worked with. Letters of recommendation from rural rotations, Sub-Internships, and Family Medicine rotations are helpful.
5. MSPE or “Dean’s Letter” of recommendation from your medical school
6. Medical School Transcript
7. ECFMG certificate if applicable

What to expect

Files ready for review on September 25, 2023, are personally reviewed by the program faculty and coordinators. When you are selected to interview, the Residency Coordinators (Emma Ruhl & Debbie Miller) will reach out through ERAS/Thalamus email function to offer you an interview date.

The Omak Rural Training Program (RTP) team decided to conduct recruitment interviews 100% virtually this season by use of Thalamus video. In addition, if you can, please plan on attending one of the three on-site visits that are voluntary and not mandatory. See details below:

• If applicant decides to attend in-person site visit in Omak, they can receive a $300 travel stipend.
• Site visits do not have an effect on ranking.
• Feel free to invite your spouse or significant other to join with you at one of our virtual resident or faculty social hours, or to one of our three (3) site visits.
• 2024 Site visits for Omak are offered on these dates:
  • Nov 1
  • Nov 15
  • Dec 13
• Please contact Debbie Miller at [email protected] if you would like to schedule a site visit.

Who should I contact for questions about the application?

Please contact our Residency Coordinator Emma Ruhl at [email protected]. You can leave a detailed message for Emma at 253-403-6958.

Strolling Through the Match 2024 – 2025 (aafp.org)

With practical tips and expert advice to lean on every step of the way, Strolling Through the Match has been helping students for decades in the dash to match.