Albany Med Health System Program
Albany, NYLast Updated: 8/20/2026
About This Program
Program Length
3 Years
First Year Positions
3 Positions
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Avg Work Hours
55 Hours/Week
Program Setting
Community/University
Application Service
SF Match Central App
Program Statistics
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Contact Information
Program Director
Michael Pokabla, DO
Lions Eye Inst
Primary Program Contact
Mallory Laffer
Albany Med Ctr
Survey Received: 7/8/2026
Program ID: 2403521087
Locations
Lions Eye Inst
Ophthalmology Pgm MC 77
391 Myrtle Ave
Albany, NY 12208
Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Albany)
113 Holland Ave
Albany, NY 12208
Lion's Eye Institute
1220 New Scotland Rd
Slingerlands, NY 12159
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
Virtual
Interviews Conducted Last Year
40 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
13.4:1
Participates In
San Francisco Match
--
Doesn't Participate In
- NRMP Main Match
- Military Match (i.e., Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, Military Selection Board)
- SAU/AU Match (i.e., Urology Match)
- None
Open House
U.S. MD Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
Yes
IMG Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
Yes
DO Applicants
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1
Yes
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2
Yes
Requires the USMLE Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK
Yes
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 2 CK
Yes
Specialty-specific standardized letter requirements
Yes
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Deans letter)
Minimum
3 Letters
Maximum
--
Required Letter Writers
- Letter from a department chair
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
- Program Director
- Physician preceptor at an away rotation (e.g., program director, faculty)
Requires Previous GME
Yes
Number of previous GME years required
1 year(s)
Required Supplemental Information
Yes
NON-CAS Supplemental Materials that must be received by Oct. 14th: Your application will be reviewed only if you have submitted a document briefly answering the following two questions.-1. What particular interests do you have in our program?-2. Please share a life lesson that you have learned on t
--
Osteopathic Recognition
No
Medical School Graduation Timeline
No cap on the number of years.
Gap Experience Requirement
Data not provided by program
Resident / Fellow Characteristics
Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Program Faculty
Faculty/Resident Ratio
0:1
Program Faculty
--
Female Faculty
--
Faculty Distribution
Physicians (--)
Non-Physicians (--)
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
55 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
16 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
2.00
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
Yes
Night Float System
No
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - N/A
NGO
Year 2 - N/A
NGO
Year 3 - N/A
17
NA = Not Applicable
NGO = Negotiable
OTH = Other
Visa Status
This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.
J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG
Yes
H-1B visa
No
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
Yes
Program Size
9
Current Residents
Year 13
Year 23
Year 33
PGY-1 Positions Not Offered
PGY-2 Positions Not Offered
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Interview Offer Dates
Specialty Universal Dates
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
6 Hours
Hospital Outpatient
100%
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
0%
Employment Policies & Benefits
On-site child care
Free parking
On-call meal allowance
iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance
Educational Benefits
Debt management/financial counseling
Yes
Resident/fellow retreats
Yes
Off-campus electives
Yes
Research rotation
Not available
Integrative medicine curriculum
No
Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)
No
Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork
No
Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language
No
Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum
No
Economics of health care systems curriculum
No
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
International experience/global health
No
Hospice/home care experience
No
MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training
No
Tracks & Educational Features
Data not provided by program
Evaluations
Aggregate resident Milestone achievements
No
Graduates board certification pass rates
No
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
Yes
Patient surveys
Yes
Portfolio system
No
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
No
Medical Insurance Coverage
- Major medical for residents
- Major medical for dependents
- Outpatient mental health
- Inpatient mental health
--
Salary Compensation
$62K-$63K
Year 2 through Year 4
Year 2
$62,110
Year 3
$62,690
Year 4
$63,270
Salary paid by a non-profit institution.
Vacation & Sick Days
Residents receive 15 Vacation Days and 15 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
Vacation Days15
Sick Days15
Maximum # of paid days
15 days
Maximum # of unpaid days
84 days
Quality of Life Information*
Albany, NY
Purchasing Power Index --
Safety Index --
Health Care Index --
Climate Index --
Cost of Living Index --
Property Price to Income Ratio --
Traffic Commute Time Index --
Pollution Index --
Estimated Monthly Costs
Estimated cost does not include rent.Family of 4
--
Single Person
--
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