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August 2025 Illuminator

Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

NRMP® President and CEO Dr. Donna Lamb Delivers Annual Message

Each year, NRMP’s President and CEO Dr. Donna Lamb reflects on the organization’s initiatives, accomplishments, and ways it continues to serve the UME and GME communities.

The 2024 – 2025 CEO Message highlights key efforts, partnerships, and innovations in Match data and research that shaped the past year, while outlining priorities for the year ahead. 

Read the CEO Message to learn how NRMP is advancing its mission and strengthening the transition to residency. 

Have questions? Please reach out at admin@nrmp.org.

The NRMP Conference Program Agenda is Live!

We are pleased to share that the full program agenda for NRMP’s 2025 Transition to Residency Conference is now available! Taking place October 11-12 in Washington, DC, this year’s conference will feature sessions on the future of medical education, physician well-being, innovations in residency selection, and solutions to workforce challenges. Attendees will hear from national experts, including plenary speakers Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Abraham Nussbaum, who will share insights on ways to reform medical education and build the next generation of physician leaders. Both will host book signings following their presentations.

Start planning your experience by exploring the engaging plenaries, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and more! View full program agenda on the conference website.

Early Bird pricing ends August 4! Register Now!

New Data Report and Research Brief

New Charting Outcomes™: Applicant Survey Results, 2025 Main Residency Match®

The NRMP has released the updated Charting Outcomes™: Applicant Survey Results, Main Residency Match® featuring data from the 2025 Applicant Survey.

This interactive report features dynamic visualizations and provides valuable insights into the factors applicants consider when ranking residency programs. Findings from the report can inform advising strategies and program recruitment efforts.

We encourage you to explore this resource as part of your preparation for the 2026 Main Residency Match.

NRMP Investigates Placement Rates Since the Introduction of SOAP®

Building off of a previous white paper establishing standardized placement rate metrics, the NRMP has released a new research brief examining placement rates from the introduction of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP) in 2012 through the 2025 Main Residency Match.

As an index of applicants who receive a PGY-1 position through either the matching algorithm or SOAP, placement rate provides a more comprehensive view of the percentage of applicants who receive a PGY-1 position by the end of Match Week. While the NRMP began assessing placement rates in 2023 and reporting them in the Results and Data: 2024 Main Residency Match, this research brief is the first longitudinal examination of the placement rate for all registered applicants.

Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match Opens for Registration on August 27

NRMP’s largest fellowship Match with 40 subspecialties participating

The 2025 Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match for the 2026 appointment year opens for registration on August 27. This is NRMP’s largest fellowship Match and includes 40 medicine, pediatric, addiction, and multidisciplinary subspecialties. 

The Match will have the following schedule:

August 27 at 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens for Registration

October 1 at 12 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Entry Begins

October 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET: Program Quota Change and Withdrawal Deadline

November 19 at 9 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline

December 3 at 12 p.m. ET: Match Day!

Reminder – programs can update program staff prior to the Match opening by emailing support@nrmp.org. Please provide the program information, names of the program staff who are changing, and the email address and date of birth of the new staff. Information about adding a new program track can be found on the Programs & Institutions webpage.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the NRMP support staff between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET at 866-653-NRMP (6767), or by email at support@nrmp.org. 

Educational Webinars

Introduction to the Fellowship Match Webinar Recording

The NRMP hosted an Introduction to the Fellowship Match webinar and the recording is posted on the website.

The webinar provides an overview of Match processes and policies. It covers specific topics such as program staff roles and responsibilities, managing the program’s participation in the Match, ranking applicants, and policy information.

This is a biannual webinar. Another session will be provided this winter for programs associated with a Fellowship Match that opens for registration the first half of 2026. 

Save the Date! Introduction to the 2026 Main Residency Match for Medical Schools Webinar

The NRMP is hosting an Introduction to the 2026 Main Residency Match for Medical Schools webinar on Tuesday, September 9, at 3 p.m. ET.

NRMP Chief of Match Operations, Jeanette Calli, and Director of Policy and Compliance, Joy Gaabucayan, will host a webinar designed to assist medical school staff in the Main Residency Match. The webinar will cover introductory information about the Match, Match fees, relevant policies, and support resources.

Advising Video – Choosing Residency Programs

NRMP is highlighting a series of videos to assist applicants in navigating the application, interview, and matching process.

Our How to Choose Residency Programs video features program directors and medical school advisors giving advice to applicants on how to choose programs to apply to as well as what criteria and qualities previous Match applicants looked for in programs.

Biggest takeaway for applicants when choosing programs? Take time to reflect on your future goals as well as your personal mission and values. Make a list of what is important to you – whether that is geographic location, your support system, research opportunities, mentorship, or something else.

Share the video with your 2026 Match applicants and stay tuned as we highlight additional videos throughout the Match season! 

Reminder – Register for the Voluntary Rank Order List (ROL) Lock Pilot

Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery programs can choose to participate in the pilot for the 2026 Main Residency Match

Registration is open in the Registration, Ranking, and Results®(R3®) system for Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery residency programs wishing to participate in the Voluntary ROL Lock Pilot.

Program directors can sign up at the program track level by logging into the R3 system, selecting Program Details in R3 and clicking the “Voluntary ROL LOCK Participation” section.

Each specialty has a deadline for programs to declare their intent to participate in the pilot:

  • Friday, September 5, 2025: Internal Medicine, Vascular Surgery
  • Friday, October 3, 2025: Pediatrics

To learn more, visit the Voluntary Program Rank Order List Lock Pilot page.

Questions? Contact pilot@nrmp.org.

Policy Corner: Medical School and Applicant Match Participation Agreements Available for the 2026 Main Residency Match

The NRMP has posted the Match Participation Agreements (MPAs) for Medical Schools and Applicants for the 2026 Main Residency Match. Updates include:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Given the rapid expansion of AI in the transition to residency space, NRMP has incorporated language into the MPAs restricting utilization of any NRMP data as an input to or in connection with any machine learning or artificial intelligence models, algorithms, or other tools without express, written NRMP consent. 
  • Data Sharing: NRMP receives numerous requests from individuals seeking access to Match data, and the MPAs have been updated to make clear that NRMP releases anonymized and aggregated program and applicant information to third-party researchers whose requests for NRMP data comply with NRMP-established data policies and principles.
  • Primary Source Data Acquisition: NRMP has executed data usage agreements with the NBME and the NBOME to receive primary source licensure exam data for purposes of NRMP research and reporting. Accordingly, the MPA for Applicants has been updated to remove language authorizing medical schools to release, verify, and transmit certain test score data to NRMP.

Please visit NRMP’s Policies page to review the Match Participation Agreements. If you have questions, please reach out to policy@nrmp.org. We look forward to supporting you through the 2026 matching process.

Upcoming Deadlines

Colon & Rectal Surgery, Forensic Psychiatry, Medical Genetics, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine

  • August 6, 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens

Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Headache Medicine

  • August 6, 12 p.m. ET: Match Day

Surgical Critical Care

  • August 13, 9 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline

Emergency Medicine

  • August 20, 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens

Medicine and Pediatric Specialties

  • August 27, 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens

Surgical Critical Care

  • August 27, 12 p.m. ET: Match Day

Careers

NRMP is growing to meet the needs of the community. We currently have two positions open:

  • Quantitative Research Analyst
  • Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

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