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November 2024 Illuminator

Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

NRMP® Explores Impact of Program Signaling on Program Director Residency Selection Behaviors

The NRMP announced a new research brief exploring the impact of program signaling on program director residency selection behaviors.

This research brief, The National Resident Matching Program 2024 Program Directory Survey: Analysis of New Items Relating to Program Signaling, examines a set of new, qualitative (open-ended) items that were administered for the first time as a part of NRMP’s 2024 Program Director Survey. This work is part of a larger NRMP initiative to provide applicants, advisors, and program directors with empirical evidence to evaluate the use of signaling in the resident selection process. 

Visit the Research webpage to view more online research briefs and published articles.

2025 Main Residency Match Reminders

Applicant Match History in the R3 system

The Applicant Match History available in the R3 system should be used to determine whether applicants have existing Match commitments or are eligible for appointment before offering them interviews. The Applicant Match History also indicates whether an applicant has a waiver or an active sanction.

Current medical students do not need to be screened since they have no prior Match history.

If you have any questions, assistance is available from the NRMP support staff Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET by emailing support@nrmp.org or calling 866-653-NRMP (6767).

Register for the Ranking Applicants in the 2025 Main Residency Match webinar

The NRMP is hosting a Ranking Applicants in the 2025 Main Residency Match webinar on Thursday, January 23, at 1 p.m. ET.

Chief of Match Operations Jeanette Calli and Director of Policy and Compliance Joy Gaabucayan will provide information on the ranking functionality in the R3 system, how the matching algorithm works, information about quota changes and withdrawals, setting SOAP participation status, creating and certifying a rank order list, Match policies, and more.

Advising Video about Interviewing

Have you seen our latest advising video about Interviewing Tips? The video is a must-watch for applicants as they prepare for interviews! Learn the best advice for interviewing from program directors and advisors and hear from previous Match applicants sharing what they wish they had known about the interview process. 

We encourage medical school advisors and faculty to share the video with their students and graduates as they move through interview season!

Fellowship Match Reminders

Important dates for the NRMP’s largest fellowship Match, the Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match, are coming up! This fellowship Match includes 40 internal medicine, pediatric, addiction, and multidisciplinary specialties.

  • November 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the Quota Change Deadline. This is the deadline for programs to change the number of positions available in the fellowship Match or withdraw from the Match.
  • November 20 at 9 p.m. ET is the Rank Order List Certification Deadline. This is the deadline for applicants and programs to certify their rank order list.
  • December 4 at 12 p.m. ET is Match Day. Results will be available in the R3 system and by courtesy email.

Register for the 2025 NRMP Policy Updates Webinar for SMS Fellowship Programs

The NRMP is hosting a 2025 NRMP Policy Updates Webinar for SMS Fellowship Programs on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. 

Chief Operating Officer Laurie Curtin and Director of Policy and Compliance Joy Gaabucayan will host a webinar to assist program staff and provide policy education on the SMS Match Participation Agreements for all fellowship Matches opening after January 1, 2025. 

Policy Corner: Communication Between Applicants and Programs

The NRMP recently convened its Transition to Residency conference in Louisville, and a question posed to NRMP leadership during the Town Hall focused on communication between Match applicants and programs. We thought it would be good to review communication-based policy with the broader community as interview season gains momentum. 

A cornerstone of the Match is that participants should be able to move through the process without undue burden and coercion. Section 6.5 of the Match Participation Agreement for Programs provides that right for programs but also dictates how programs should protect and provide those rights for applicants:

6.5 Restrictions on Persuasion

Programs have a right to make selection decisions that are free of undue or unwarranted pressure and should report to the NRMP any violations of these rights. 

Only the final preferences of programs and applicants as expressed on their final certified rank order list or by offers extended and accepted through SOAP, will determine the offering of positions and placement of applicants through the Match.

Programs are not authorized at any time during the interview, matching, or onboarding processes to:

1. Request that applicants reveal the names, specialties, geographic locations, or other identifying information about the program(s) to which they have or may apply;

2. Request that applicants reveal preference signal(s) if in a specialty participating in preference signaling;

3. Request that applicants reveal any information pertaining to the interviews they were offered, accepted, declined, or attended;

4. Request that applicants reveal ranking preferences;

5. Suggest or inform applicants that placement on a rank order list or a SOAP preference list is contingent upon submission of a verbal, electronic, or written statement indicating the applicant’s preference;

6. Make any written, electronic, or verbal offer or contract for appointment to a concurrent year residency or fellowship position before the release of the List of Unfilled Programs; and

7. Have any written, electronic, or verbal contact with a matched applicant not matched into their program for the purpose of offering an interview, offering placement in the program, or requesting the applicant apply to a program.

Applicant recruitment and selection are important components of the transition cycle; however, NRMP policy limits programs from asking questions about applicants’ application, interview and ranking intentions because such information does not inform an applicant’s alignment with program culture and mission. Communication between applicants and programs should not target whether an applicant or program may rank each other but rather should explore shared similarities, interests, experiences, and professional pursuits.

We also recommend review of the Match Code of Conduct for Programs as it encourages programs to limit post-interview communication to the essential information an applicant might request to make a fully informed decision about ranking.

Match participants should aim to conduct their affairs in an ethical and professionally responsible manner and we are here to support those efforts. As always, please reach out to policy@nrmp.org with questions or to seek help with any policies.

NRMP – DIO Call

NRMP President and CEO, Dr. Donna Lamb, and staff will host a NRMP-DIO Zoom call on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET.

The NRMP established these calls between NRMP leadership and the DIO community to create a forum in which to discuss NRMP policies, Match activities, and issues relevant to the transition to residency that affect institutions and programs. All DIOs registered with the NRMP should have received an email invitation to the meeting. Since these meetings are only for the DIOs invited, please do not forward the meeting invite to others.

Upcoming Deadlines

Psychiatry, Sports Medicine

  • November 6, 12:00 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Opens

Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match

  • November 6, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Rehabilitation Medicine

  • November 13, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match

  • November 20, 9:00 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline

Careers

NRMP is growing to meet the needs of the community. We currently have one position open:

  • Human Resources Manager

For more information, please visit our Careers page. NRMP is an equal opportunity employer.