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November 2025 Illuminator Newsletter

Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

NRMP® Biannual DIO Call is November 10

NRMP President and CEO, Dr. Donna Lamb, and staff will host the biannual NRMP-DIO Zoom call on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET. The discussion will include updates on the 2026 Main Residency Match, NRMP’s updated mission and vision, research initiatives and new resources to support the DIO community, and information on the ongoing antitrust investigation. 

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. 

NRMP Satisfaction Survey: Sharing Community Insights

In early summer, the NRMP administered a satisfaction survey to Match participants. The primary goals of the survey included:  

  • Evaluate participants’ experiences with NRMP 
  • Assess the usefulness of NRMP’s resources and services 
  • Identify opportunities to enhance engagement with Match participants 

Respondents provided a wealth of information, and this executive summary provides a high-level overview of survey results while also identifying areas of opportunity for NRMP to continue providing smart, meaningful support, and materials to the UME and GME communities. We will be exploring ways to enhance existing resources and develop new ways of connecting to the community and look forward to sharing updates along the way.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback!

NRMP Joins the Coalition for Physician Accountability in Support of J-1 Visa Holders

As a member of the Coalition for Physician Accountability (COPA), the NRMP has joined COPA in support of J-1 visa holders and existing duration of status protocols. NRMP remains committed to working through and giving voice to critical issues affecting applicants, training programs, and match placements into communities across the country.

Read the full statement from COPA.

Watch and Share! Interviewing Tips Video

Our Interviewing Tips video features tips and advice for interview season from previous residency applicants, advisors, and program directors. Applicants reflect on the interview season and share what they wish they had known when going through the process.

Biggest takeaway from the video? If an applicant receives an interview invitation, the program is already interested in them and wants to see if they will be a good fit. During the interview, applicants are encouraged to explore if their priorities align with the program’s priorities. 

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

2026 Main Residency Match® Resources

Applicant Match History in the R3 system

The Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system includes an Applicant Match History feature that indicates whether an applicant has a binding commitment to another Match-participating program or any current Match violations. The Applicant Match History must be used by program staff to determine, prior to offering an applicant an interview, whether that applicant is eligible for appointment.

Programs and institutions – View a step-by-step support guide on how to use the Applicant Match History in the R3 system.

Current medical students do not need to be screened since they have no prior Match history. The Applicant Match History also indicates whether an applicant has a match commitment waiver or an active NRMP sanction.

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).

Upcoming Educational Webinars

Medical schools – The NRMP is hosting a Verifying Graduation Credentials for the Main Residency Match webinar on Thursday, January 22, at 1 p.m. ET. Geared toward NRMP medical school officials and administrators, the webinar will include how to verify the graduation credentials of your students and graduates to participate in the Match, including important deadlines, using the R3 system, and policy information. We’ll also cover important ranking reminders to provide your students. Registration is required.

Residency programs – We also are hosting a Ranking in the 2026 Main Residency Match for Programs webinar on Tuesday, January 27, at 1 p.m. ET. Learn how the ranking process and matching algorithm work, and understand the roles and responsibilities of program staff in ranking applicants using the R3 system. We’ll also cover key topics including the upcoming Quota Change Deadline, setting your SOAP participation status, and important Match policies to help you navigate the process successfully. Registration is required.

Advising Videos

Share with your colleagues and students! The NRMP is highlighting a series of advising videos, featuring previous Match applicants, medical school advisors, and program directors, to assist applicants in navigating the application, interview, and matching process. We encourage you to share the advising video with your applicants!

Fellowship Match Reminders and Resources

Important Dates for the Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Fellowship Match

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 19 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. A step-by-step support guide is available for fellowship programs to enter and certify their rank order list.
  • December 3 at 12 p.m. ET is Match Day. Results will be available in the R3 system and by courtesy email. Remember to tag the NRMP in your celebratory social media posts – we want to help you celebrate Match Day!

Upcoming Educational Webinar

Fellowship programs – The NRMP is hosting an Introduction to the Fellowship Match webinar on Thursday, January 15, at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide information about program staff roles and responsibilities, managing your program’s participation in the Match, and important policy information. Whether your program is new to the NRMP or you are a veteran program director or coordinator who needs a refresher, this webinar covers all the basics to prepare you for your upcoming fellowship Match. Registration is required.

NRMP’s YouTube Channel

NRMP’s YouTube channel has a variety of advising and instructional video tutorials along with user-type specific playlists for institutions, programs, and applicants. We encourage you to view the videos as you prepare and move through the Match process.

Policy Corner – Match Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Current NRMP policy includes a statement regarding the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). We share that language below and also some FAQs to help Match participants understand why it has been codified in Match policy. 

Section 1.0 Introduction to the Main Residency Match and SOAP 

No part of the data provided by NRMP may be used as an input to or otherwise in connection with any machine learning or artificial intelligence models, algorithms or other tools without the express written consent of the NRMP. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Doesn’t the NRMP rely on AI through the use of its mathematical algorithm? 

No, the NRMP’s algorithm does not rely on or interact with AI. The NRMP matching algorithm is a proprietary, set of instructions for Match processing that scales to more than 60,000 applicant and program rank order lists in the Main Residency Match and SMS, but also accommodates the unique needs of the community (e.g., couples matching for applicants; reversions for programs). The matching algorithm never “learns” or applies patterns to the data and in no way generates predictive outputs from the data, nor does it recommend different ranking models. The algorithm solely works to place applicants into the most preferred programs that also prefer them.  

Why did NRMP add a restriction of using AI on Match data to its policies? 

NRMP data is proprietary, and while we disseminate it widely in reports and presentations that are free to users, effective protection and stewardship of that data remains a top priority of NRMP. We work at all times to ensure our technology maintains the highest standards of integrity and security. Allowing any data to be processed through AI is a substantial security risk. Exposure could lead to fraud, identity theft, use of data by malicious actors, or be mis-interpreted by AI. 

Are there concerns that using AI on Match data would lead to negative outcomes? 

NRMP does have concern that processing its data through an AI model could have unintended consequences including misinterpretation of Match outcomes and potentially marginalizing Match participants. When AI is trained with biased, subjective, un-diverse information, the results can include the same biases and possibly return stereotypical or unfair results. 

Does NRMP have any rules or policies regarding participant use of AI as part of the residency application and interview process? 

NRMP does not have a role in the application or interview processes, so we do not have specific policies with respect to how or whether Match participants or the application service providers utilize AI platforms as part of application and interview. We encourage all participants to read the consent forms or terms of use notification provided by the application and interview platform providers to understand whether and how your data could be incorporated into AI and subsequently used – for example, for research, marketing, or building new technology. We also encourage all participants to read NRMP’s Codes of Conduct, which establish the expectation that applicants, program leadership, and other relevant parties approach recruitment with the intent of maintaining transparency and wellness, to interview and rank with integrity, and to minimize harmful bias. We want to ensure all participants in the Match engage ethically with each other and foster an environment of openness and opportunity.   

We hope you find these responses helpful. Please reach out to policy@nrmp.org with questions or for any assistance.

Upcoming Deadlines

Psychiatry, Sports Medicine

  • November 5, 12 p.m. ET: Ranking Opens

Emergency Medicine

  • November 5, 9 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline

Rehabilitation Medicine

  • November 12, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Emergency Medicine

  • November 19, 12 p.m. ET: Match Day

Medicine and Pediatric Specialties

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

Careers

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

  • Data Analyst
  • Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

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