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July 2026 Illuminator Newsletter

Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

NRMP Welcomes New Board Members

The NRMP® is pleased to introduce five new members to its 20-member Board of Directors. Please welcome:

  • Humza Ahmed, DO Candidate at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Jason Collins, MD Candidate at Northeast Ohio Medical University
  • Nicholas Leighton, MD, General Surgery resident at the University of Southern California
  • Steven D. Pletcher, MD, Director of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency program and Vice Chair for Education at the University of California, San Francisco
  • Marcy L. Verduin, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Learn more about NRMP’s newly appointed Board members. Their terms commence on July 1.

The NRMP gratefully acknowledges the service and support of Dr. E. Sander Connolly, Dr. Kathy Lazarus, Dr. Dakota Marshall, Mr. Sujay Ratna, and Dr. Acacia Williams, whose terms on the Board expired June 30. We appreciate your commitment and dedication to the NRMP!

Multi-Factor Authentication for All Users – Begins July 13

Starting July 13, the NRMP will implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system, including institution, program, and medical school staff as well as residency and fellowship applicants.

Why is NRMP implementing MFA? MFA strengthens account security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to a password, helping prevent unauthorized access even if login credentials are compromised. It also enhances protection of sensitive Match data including rank order lists, results, and reports for all users.

What does this mean? When a user registers for a Match or logs into the R3 system for the first time after July 13, they will be prompted to enroll in MFA by entering their U.S. mobile phone number or an email address. The user will receive a 6-digit verification code by text or email, and they will enter that verification code to prevent unauthorized users accessing their account.

Stay tuned for additional information and resources about MFA setup and enrollment.

Voluntary Rank Order List (ROL) Lock Pilot for Internal Medicine, Pediatric, and Vascular Surgery programs

Programs in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery will again have the opportunity to participate in the Voluntary Rank Order List (ROL) Lock pilot for the 2027 Main Residency Match®. This pilot allows NRMP and participating programs to explore a voluntary feature that lets programs “lock” their certified rank order lists in the R3 system so no additional changes can be made. The goal is to create a “no pressure” environment for applicants to make post-interview visits and learn more about programs before finalizing their rankings. 

For residency applicants and medical school staff, here are some important items to keep in mind:

  • Once Match registration for applicants opens on September 15, applicants can R3’s program directory to identify which programs are participating in the pilot. Program directors have until October 16 to decide whether their program will participate.
  • The purpose of the pilot is to empower applicants to choose whether to visit—or not visit—a program knowing that it will have no impact on the program’s ROL.
  •  Programs are expected to lock their rank order list (ROL) by February 8. At that time, applicants can confirm that ROLs are locked in the R3 system and make post-interview visits.

For more information, please view the Voluntary ROL Lock page or email pilot@nrmp.orgwith any questions.

Educational Webinars: Stay Informed with our Webinar Offerings

Upcoming Webinars for Fellowship Match Programs

The NRMP is hosting an Introduction to the Fellowship Match webinar on Tuesday, July 28, at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide information about fellowship program staff roles and responsibilities, managing your program’s participation in the Fellowship Match, and policy reminders. Registration is required.

We are also hosting a Fellowship Match Ranking and Results: What Program Staff Need to Know webinar on Thursday, August 6, at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will cover key topics, including the institutional user roles for entering and certifying the rank order list, how the matching algorithm works, what to expect on Match Day, and important Match policies to help you navigate the process successfully. Registration is required.

Policy Corner: NRMP’s Commitment to Data Usage and Privacy

The NRMP takes very seriously the privacy and security of the information entrusted to us by all Match participants as well as the information collected about Match participants from other organizations.

Section 14.0 of the MPA outlines the NRMP’s use of Match information – below are some highlights to consider. 

  • The NRMP requests, obtains, transmits, and receives identifying information about Match participants from other medical education organizations involved in the transition to residency primarily to ensure successful, accurate execution of a Match or for research purposes.
  • Joint research conducted by the NRMP that may examine individual ranking and outcomes data is done sparingly and only under strict binding terms of a confidential data sharing agreement. At no time does the NRMP allow identifiable ranking and/or Match outcomes information to be disclosed in publications, presentations, and reports. 
  • NRMP shares data with independent third-party researchers whose requests for said data comply with NRMP policy, but only in anonymized or aggregated form.
  • Match information contained in the NRMP’s Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) system cannot be copied, distributed, posted or made publicly available. Unauthorized disclosure of information contained in the R3 system is prohibited under Match policy. 

The NRMP is committed to handling your data with integrity, discretion, and care and to ensuring all parties to a Match recognize the confidentiality of information submitted to and stored in the R3 system. 

Questions regarding NRMP policies should be sent to policy@nrmp.org. 

Research Roundup: New Comprehensive Report on Program Signaling Coming This Summer

We are excited to announce that later this summer, NRMP will be releasing a comprehensive report on program signaling and how it relates to ranking and Match outcomes. This report will examine outcomes between 2023 and 2026 for all specialties participating in signaling within the AAMC’s ERAS system.

Need something to hold you over until this report is released? Visit our Research Insights page on the NRMP website, where we have publications and presentations on program signaling available.

Publications/Research Briefs

Presentations

Upcoming Deadlines

Surgical Critical Care

  • July 1, 12 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Opens

Headache Medicine, Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

  • July 8, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Pain Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology

  • July 15, 12 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Opens

Headache Medicine, Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

  • July 22, 9 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Deadline

Surgical Critical Care

  • July 29, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Careers

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

  • Client Support Specialist
  • Data Engineer
  • Senior Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Senior Public Relations Specialist

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