Our Program

The program will be participating in the ERAS as an ACGME-accredited program. Both osteopathic and allopathic residents are welcome to apply to the residency program.

Application Process

Riverside University Health System participates with ERAS and the NRMP Match. Please register with them if you wish to be matched with our program. Our NRMP program code is 1850040C0. Both osteopathic and allopathic residents are welcome to apply to the residency program. The residency program consists of a Clinical Base Year (12 months) and 36 months of Clinical Anesthesiology training. Eligible applicants will be considered on the basis of residency program-related criteria such as their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. Programs will not discriminate with regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected status.

All application material must be submitted through ERAS. Applicants with suitable qualifications will be invited to interview and visit with the department. The program recruits 10 PGY-1 (categorical) positions each year through the NRMP Match process. Any potential increase to the compliment will be communicated to applicants.

To request a rotation with our anesthesia department, please submit your application through Clinician Nexus. 

Application Requirements

Applicants are invited to check the status of their application by emailing through MyERAS. All correspondence regarding applications should be conducted through MyERAS to avoid delays.

  • Minimum application documentation: Prior to being placed on a rank list, applicants must have submitted the following documentation:
  • – Application/Curriculum Vita
  • – Medical School Transcript
  • – Dean’s Letter or Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
  • – Three letters of reference from physicians
  • – Photograph taken within the last six months
  • – COMLEX or USMLE transcripts, as applicable
  • – Personal Statement
  • – If any required documents are in a language other than English, then a translation of the document(s) must be provided

 

  • Graduates of medical schools outside the United States must also provide the following:
  • – Current ECFMG Certificate
  • – Current California Post-doctoral Training Approval Letter or California Medical License
  •  
All interviews will be virtual and scheduled for November, December and January. If you are granted an interview, you will be notified by the program coordinator.

For 2026-2027 Match cycle, please submit a signal statement on why RUHS.

Our Benefits

Health, Dental, and Vision

Up to $823 per month (as of 2022) for medical and dental insurance. Vision insurance for residents is paid for by the county.

Disability Insurance

Long-term and short-term disability insurance for residents.

Life Insurance

Life insurance coverage for residents.

Worker's Compensation

Worker’s Compensation Insurance provided for residents.

Vacation and Academic Days

Fifteen days of paid vacation per academic year and five days of paid conference time, as well as holiday pay for all county holidays.

Counseling Services

Counseling services are available through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for residents.

Lab coats and Scrubs

Lab coats and scrub suits are provided at no cost for residents.

Meal Vouchers

Meals at no cost are provided to the resident in the RUHS cafeteria while on 24-hour call with a limit of $5 per meal.

Housing

Housing for off-site rotations at Cedars-Sinai Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for residents.

CME Funding

Up to $2000 annually for books, licensing, and educational materials.

Free Parking

Parking is free for residents.

Medical Student Involvement

Work directly with local (LLU-SOM, CSUSM-SOM, UCR-SOM, WesternU-COMP) as well visiting medical students.

Frequently Asked Questions

We currently offer 10 categorial positions.

We strongly recommend all applicants to submit both USMLE Step 1 Pass score AND their USMLE Step 2 score before application submission.

Our program is participating in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) only.

No. We highly recommend that students schedule a rotation if possible, but it is not a requirement. To request a rotation in our program, please visit http://www.cliniciannexus.com/ to complete the rotation request form.

Intern year officially starts on July 1st of each year, but in-person orientation begins approximately two weeks earlier, and there are several other requirements (HR for badge/parking, Occupational Health for a physical) that will occur on campus.

To be considered a competitive applicant at our program we recommend applicants be out of medical school less than 5 years and have prior clinical experience within the United States healthcare system. Unused or unpracticed, clinical skills tend to decline over time.

Yes, in order to be eligible for our residency program, you need to be either a United States citizen or a permanent resident. We do not offer J-1 or H-1 visas at this time.

We do not offer observerships at this time. In the interest of fairness, we will not offer informal visits or interviews prior to our formal interviews. All complete applications will be reviewed after the application deadline. If you have been granted an interview, you will be notified after that date.

In addition to the documents required for ERAS, all California residency programs require two additional documents from foreign medical graduates: 1) the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) status report and 2) the Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL).

Please note that the Medical Board of California will require several months to issue the Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter, so please apply well in advance. You may be granted an interview at our program before you have received your Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL); however, we need to receive your PTAL before January 15th in order to rank you for the Match.

Chief Resident's Letter

On behalf of the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, welcome! We are thrilled that you are considering our program for your training in this evolving and dynamic specialty.

 

Located in Moreno Valley, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, RUHS offers the benefit of beautiful Southern California weather alongside unparalleled clinical training. As a Level 1 Trauma Center and the safety-net hospital for Riverside County, we serve a highly complex patient population.

We are a medium-sized categorical program of 10 residents per class. Around RUHS, our motto is “County-Strong.” To us, this means developing resilience and expertise in the face of challenging clinical scenarios. Our patients are frequently critically ill and unoptimized for surgery, but managing their anesthetic and perioperative care forges us into exceptionally capable anesthesiologists. Even as a CA-1, you will be placed in major, complex cases. You will graduate ready for anything, regardless of surgical or patient complexity.

 

A standout feature of our program is your early clinical exposure. During your intern year, you will complete three months of anesthesia rotations. Additionally, your Wednesday mornings are protected from off-service intern duties so you can start the first case of the day in the OR with CA1-CA3’s. Because of our size, we benefit from extensive one-on-one time with our attendings, fostering an environment where residents thrive through graduated autonomy.

Our curriculum is designed to provide a uniquely well-rounded education. While our county hospital setting prioritizes safety, efficiency, and clinical grit, we complement this with elite specialty rotations. We rotate at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC), ranked #4 in the U.S. for Cardiology and Heart Surgery for Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Cardiac Critical Care, and Chronic Pain. We also train in Pediatric Anesthesia at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), ranked #5 globally by U.S. News. Furthermore, we have expanded our clinical training to include Transplant and Advanced Anesthesia at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC). This combination creates a robust training environment that prepares our graduates for both demanding private practices and premier academic centers.

Education is a cornerstone of our residency. Our didactic curriculum includes daily resident lectures, monthly journal clubs, weekly faculty-led grand rounds, and regular sessions in our simulation lab. This dedication is reflected in our residents’ outstanding in-training exam scores and BASIC exam first-pass rates. We also strongly encourage and support research initiatives and presentations at national conferences.

Because of our rich clinical exposure and the strong work ethic cultivated here, our residents successfully match into highly competitive fellowships across the country. The prospective resident who thrives at RUHS is resilient, driven, eager to learn, and dedicated to making our program even better through camaraderie and leadership.

Thank you again for considering our program. We look forward to meeting you.

Michael Armaneous, DO

Mira Bishawi, DO

Jonathan Jones, DO

Chief Residents 2026-2027