OPT Internist Jobs
Internist jobs on OPT require employer sponsorship for cap-exempt H-1B visa or J-1 visa waiver positions, and most hospital systems and academic medical centers actively recruit international medical graduates. Your OPT clock starts on your program end date, so timing your residency completion and job search is critical.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Clinical Physician - General Internist
Requisition Number: FE04977
Working Title: MedPeds Ambulatory
Department Name: 7H359:INTERNAL MEDICINE & DIVISIONS - GENERAL
Work Location: Frankfort, KY
Type of Position: Faculty
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Tenure Track Status: Non-Tenure Track
Required Education
MD or equivalent
Required Related Experience
Completion of residency program and board certification
Required License/Registration/Certification
Kentucky Medical License
Job Summary
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, is seeking a qualified Med-Peds trained physician to join our Frankfort-based offsite clinic. UK HealthCare is working to provide primary care services to faculty, staff and patients closer to home. This clinic will serve as an extension of our General Internal Medicine clinic.
Care will be provided in a team-based model with APPs and a physicians collaborating to care for a panel of patients. Additional responsibilities can include participation in community outreach programs and health education initiatives and participation in our mission of educating healthcare professionals for the state of Kentucky.
Qualified applicants must be board eligible or board certified in Internal Medicine/Med-Peds, capable of fulfilling the requirements of a primary care physician, and committed to upholding the values and standards of the University of Kentucky and the Department of Internal Medicine.
We offer competitive compensation based on rank and experience and an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental and life insurance; disability and malpractice insurance; a generous retirement plan; continuing education; paid time off and more.
The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest in the College of Medicine and at the University of Kentucky with approximately 367 faculty, 171 staff, 222 residents and fellows, and 212 advanced practice providers. The department has 14 clinical divisions and 2 non-clinical divisions within its scope. The department of internal medicine is led by Darwin Conwell, MD and departmental leaders including Vice Chairs, Associate Vice Chairs, and the Office of the Chair Administration team.
Internal Medicine faculty secure over $35 million in grant funding annually to pursue cutting-edge research and discoveries, supporting projects in all internal medicine subspecialties. The department has published 287 peer-reviewed articles in the past year and maintains more than 50 active clinical trials and 240 active grants and contracts. The Department of Internal Medicine has 211 faculty who are actively involved in research activities and supervise biomedical learners, including Ph.D. and master’s students, to gain in-depth experience in high-impact research labs.
Please include cover letter and CV along with application. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience
Deadline to Apply
Open Until Filled: Yes
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Clinical Physician - General Internist
Requisition Number: FE04977
Working Title: MedPeds Ambulatory
Department Name: 7H359:INTERNAL MEDICINE & DIVISIONS - GENERAL
Work Location: Frankfort, KY
Type of Position: Faculty
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Tenure Track Status: Non-Tenure Track
Required Education
MD or equivalent
Required Related Experience
Completion of residency program and board certification
Required License/Registration/Certification
Kentucky Medical License
Job Summary
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, is seeking a qualified Med-Peds trained physician to join our Frankfort-based offsite clinic. UK HealthCare is working to provide primary care services to faculty, staff and patients closer to home. This clinic will serve as an extension of our General Internal Medicine clinic.
Care will be provided in a team-based model with APPs and a physicians collaborating to care for a panel of patients. Additional responsibilities can include participation in community outreach programs and health education initiatives and participation in our mission of educating healthcare professionals for the state of Kentucky.
Qualified applicants must be board eligible or board certified in Internal Medicine/Med-Peds, capable of fulfilling the requirements of a primary care physician, and committed to upholding the values and standards of the University of Kentucky and the Department of Internal Medicine.
We offer competitive compensation based on rank and experience and an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental and life insurance; disability and malpractice insurance; a generous retirement plan; continuing education; paid time off and more.
The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest in the College of Medicine and at the University of Kentucky with approximately 367 faculty, 171 staff, 222 residents and fellows, and 212 advanced practice providers. The department has 14 clinical divisions and 2 non-clinical divisions within its scope. The department of internal medicine is led by Darwin Conwell, MD and departmental leaders including Vice Chairs, Associate Vice Chairs, and the Office of the Chair Administration team.
Internal Medicine faculty secure over $35 million in grant funding annually to pursue cutting-edge research and discoveries, supporting projects in all internal medicine subspecialties. The department has published 287 peer-reviewed articles in the past year and maintains more than 50 active clinical trials and 240 active grants and contracts. The Department of Internal Medicine has 211 faculty who are actively involved in research activities and supervise biomedical learners, including Ph.D. and master’s students, to gain in-depth experience in high-impact research labs.
Please include cover letter and CV along with application. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience
Deadline to Apply
Open Until Filled: Yes
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Internist
Target teaching hospitals and academic medical centers
Academic medical centers and VA hospitals regularly sponsor international physicians through cap-exempt H-1B visa and J-1 visa waiver programs. These institutions have established immigration processes and in-house legal teams that make sponsorship smoother than private practices.
Understand the J-1 waiver pathways available to you
If you completed residency on a J-1 visa, you likely need a waiver before an employer can sponsor you. Conrad 30, VA, and federal agency waivers are the most common routes. Each has different service requirements and timelines, so research early.
Apply before your OPT authorization expires
Most hospital credentialing processes take 90 to 120 days. Start your applications at least six months before OPT expires to allow time for credentialing, contract negotiations, and H-1B cap-exempt filing before your work authorization lapses.
Ask explicitly about cap-exempt H-1B eligibility
Hospitals affiliated with universities or nonprofit research institutions often qualify as cap-exempt H-1B sponsors, letting them file year-round without lottery risk. Confirm this status with the employer's HR or immigration counsel before accepting any offer.
Get your USMLE and board certifications in order first
Sponsoring employers will not file immigration paperwork until you clear all licensure hurdles. Prioritize completing USMLE Steps, obtaining your state medical license, and passing internal medicine boards to remove delays from the sponsorship timeline.
Negotiate immigration support into your employment contract
Not all employers cover attorney fees or premium processing. Before signing, confirm the contract specifies who pays filing fees, whether premium processing is offered, and whether the employer will support future green card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-1B.
Internist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an internist in the U.S. on OPT?
Yes, but OPT alone only covers the training period immediately after your medical degree. Most internist positions require a residency-trained physician, so you will typically be finishing residency, completing fellowship, or transitioning off a J-1 or H-1B training visa when you enter the job market. Your employer must then sponsor a new work authorization before your current status expires.
Do internist employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Internal medicine is consistently among the highest-volume specialties for H-1B sponsorship because the U.S. faces a persistent shortage of primary care and hospitalist physicians. Hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and VA facilities file cap-exempt H-1B petitions year-round, meaning you are not subject to the annual lottery. Browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate to identify which hospital systems are actively hiring.
What is the Conrad 30 waiver and does it apply to internists on OPT?
The Conrad 30 program allows J-1 physicians to obtain a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement in exchange for three years of service in a Health Professional Shortage Area. If you completed U.S. residency on a J-1 visa, you will need this waiver before any employer can sponsor your H-1B. Each state allocates up to 30 Conrad slots per year, and competitive states fill quickly, so apply as early as your program permits.
How long does H-1B sponsorship take for a physician starting after OPT?
For cap-exempt positions, expect four to eight weeks for standard USCIS processing or two to three weeks with premium processing. However, total time from offer to start date is typically four to six months when you factor in hospital credentialing, state licensure verification, and contract finalization. Start the process well before your OPT expiration date to avoid a gap in work authorization.
Are there internist roles that do not require employer sponsorship?
Very few. Independent practice requires a state medical license and stable immigration status that OPT alone cannot guarantee long-term. Locum tenens positions through staffing agencies rarely offer visa sponsorship. The most reliable path for OPT students transitioning into internal medicine is securing a full-time employed position with a hospital or health system that has an established immigration sponsorship process.