Application Process & Dates
2025
Obesity Medicine does not participate in a formal Match; however, over the years, the OMFC has implemented a standardized process to help applicants and program directors be on the same page with the interview and offer process.
The OMFC has provided a standard application in the online portal. https://omfellowship.org/application/. Each program has been sent a unique log-in to view its applicants.
The official application window is August 4-November 7, 2025; however, programs may continue to accept applicants after November 7. This deadline provides program directors with an idea of how many applications they can expect for the year, although you may see more come in especially after other specialties’ Match days.
The OMFC does not have a set window for interviews; interviews can take place at any time. We’ve provided some guidance below for the interview process.
- November 7: Priority application window closes (applications can be submitted after 11/7 but may not get priority from programs and will not be included in the OM Match pilot)
- November 14: Confirm the number of fellowship positions available for your program
- November 17-Dec 4 You may receive a signal from applicants, which indicates that you are one of the applicants’ top 2 choices (You will see a check next to their application).
- December 3: Match day for GI and other medicine specialties. Will request that applicants who've matched with another fellowship withdraw their OM fellowship application.
- December 5: Submit your rank list so that we can pilot an OM Match (an email reminder will be sent).
- December 8 at 10am-12pm ET: Send offer to top applicant (via email + text/call)
Request a response within 24 hours; encourage sooner but allow 24hrs at least (e.g., do not require a response within 4hrs). If your offer is declined, you may send out another offer immediately
Once you have confirmed a fellow, please email Stacy Schmidt (stacy@omfellowship.org) as soon as possible so that she can update other Program Directors and the OMFC website. It is helpful for PD’s to see who has been ‘taken’ and for applicants to know which institutions have filled their positions. Continue through your rank list until you confirm a fellow.
Throughout the process of offering positions, we recommend against asking candidates how many programs offered them positions, sending multiple emails and/or phone calls.
To foster a process of inclusion and respect, we propose a set of guidelines that we recommend programs follow during the interview process:
- It is illegal to ask applicants questions about age, gender, religion, family status, race, pregnancy, veteran status, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation.
- While the recruitment team may freely express their interest in a candidate, programs should also avoid making requests regarding disclosure of ranking preference, ranking intentions, and specialty and location of other programs to which the applicant has applied or may apply.
- For fairness and transparency, we encourage programs to conduct interviews in-person or virtually, but not both; set a universal interview release date or small number of dates; and establish a deadline by which all applicants will be notified of their interview status.
- To limit the logistical burden for applicants, programs should make every effort to consolidate interviews to one or multiple consecutive days. Furthermore, programs should not require or imply that second interview dates or visits are used in determining applicant placement on a rank order list.
- Aside from exchanging clarifying information with applicants following the interview, programs should avoid post-interview and post-offer communication for the purposes of influencing applicants’ ranking preferences.
- Although the obesity medicine fellowship does not participate in the formal match process, many current, incoming, and former fellows have expressed that they would appreciate similar protective guidelines like the Match to avoid situations in which the applicant finds coercive or uncomfortable.
Below we have provided questions to consider asking and to avoid throughout the interview process.
Possible questions to ask during the interview process:
- How have you handled conflicts in the workplace? What did you learn moving forward from that experience?
- Describe a time when you received constructive criticism. How did you respond and what changes did you make?
- What drew you to our fellowship program?
- What opportunities are you looking for in an obesity medicine fellowship?
- What are your 5-10 year goals?
Questions to avoid asking during the interview process:
- How many programs did you apply to?
- How many programs are you interviewing with? Or other identifying information for other programs to which you are applying or interviewing.
- Are you wanting to stay in (state/specific region in the US)?
- If we offered you a position, would you accept it?
- How high would you rank our program?
We also recommend against saying the following:
- We plan to offer you a position.
- You are our first choice for this position
These guidelines were taken from the below resources:
- National Resident Match Program (NRMP): Match Code of Conduct for Programs
- AAMC: “Best Practices for Conducting Residency Program Interviews.” https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/medical-education/best-practices-conducting-residency-program-interviews#dos
Below is sample language you may use in your fellowship offer letters. Using consistent wording helps signal our shared commitment to a more standardized process, which can provide reassurance to applicants. Please feel free to adapt this language as needed for your program. In addition to sending an email, we encourage you to also call or text the applicant when extending an offer.
Dear [Applicant Name],
We are pleased to offer you a position as an Obesity Medicine Fellow at the [Program Name], beginning on [Start Date]. We would be delighted to have you join our program and contribute to our commitment to advancing the field of Obesity Medicine.
As a courtesy to other applicants, we ask that you please accept or decline this offer within 24 hours or sooner, if possible. If you anticipate needing additional time to decide, please contact us directly so we can discuss an appropriate extension.
In alignment with the standardized timeline adopted across Obesity Medicine fellowship programs, if we do not hear from you by [Decision Deadline], we will assume you are no longer interested and may extend the offer to another applicant.
We truly hope you will choose to join us and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]
[Program Name]

