The Match

2008-12-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Access to graduate medical training programs such as residencies is a competitive process known as "the Match." Senior medical students usually begin the application process at the beginning of their (usually) fourth and final year in medical school. After they apply to programs, programs review applications and invite selected candidates for interviews held between October and February. After the interview period is over, students submit a "rank-order list" to a centralized matching service (currently the National Residency Matching Program, abbreviated NRMP) by February. Similarly, residency programs submit a list of their preferred applicants in rank order to this same service. The process is blinded, so neither applicant nor program will see each other's list. Aggregate program rankings can be found here, and are tabulated in real time based on applicants' anonymously submitted rank lists.

The two parties' lists are combined by an NRMP computer, which (theoretically) creates optimal matches of residents to programs using an algorithm. On the third Thursday of March each year ("Match Day") these results are announced in Match Day ceremonies at the nation's 155 U.S. medical schools. By entering the Match system, applicants are contractually obligated to go to the residency program at the institution to which they were matched. The same applies to the programs; they are obligated to take the applicants who matched into them.

On the Monday prior to Match Day, candidates find out from the NRMP if (not where) they matched. If they have matched, they must wait until the Match Day (Thursday) to find out where. If they have not secured a position through the Match, the locations of remaining unfilled residency positions are released to unmatched applicants the following day. These applicants are given the opportunity to contact the programs about the open positions. This is what is known as "The scramble." This frantic, loosely structured system forces soon-to-be medical school graduates to choose programs not on their original Match list. Occasionally and unfortunately, this sometimes requires students to choose entirely new specialties. The scramble is widely considered to be an unfavorable and highly stressful way of obtaining a residency position.

Inevitably, there will be discrepancies between the preferences of the student and programs. Students may be matched to programs very low on their rank list, especially in the competitive specialties like radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, radiation oncology, and urology.

Square One

2008-12-07T09:01:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone, I'm starting this blog for my trials and tribulations of residency searching, the (dreaded) Match, and life as a Family Medicine Resident.

Here is a quick update on my status:

I'm a 4th year medical student at UTMB (Galveston, TX) which was hit by Hurricane Ike September 2008. I am still set to graduate in May 2009, but as a 4th year, we have required rotations we must complete before graduation, and since we're scattered all over TX, vying for the few slots that are opened for us, it may not happen. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I picked Family Medicine because I want to do everything. If someone screams, Is there a doctor? I want to be able to say, "Yes" and handle any situation. I may not be able to fix them, but I can help or stabilize them until help arrives. I want to see adults, elderly, kids, babies, pregnant moms, deliver babies, etc. I want to do it all. Maybe I have a God complex.

I have applied to 10 places, gotten interview invitations to all (100%, yeah, beats my 75% for medical school applications), and I've interviewed at 6 with 1 more to go. I'm going to decline the last 3. Considering FM isn't too competitive (not a lot of applicants, tons of open spots, etc.) ranking 7 will be fine.

My rank list: (which changes with the weather, so ...)
1. LMEP
2. JPS
3. Conroe
4. Waco
5. UNMC
6. CC
7. UTMB

Trust Me, I'm a Doctor

The Match

Square One