ABOUT THE MATCH
The National Resident Matching Program (“The Match”) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1952 to provide a systematic way of placing medical school students into graduate medical education (GME) positions in United States teaching hospitals. In 67 years, The Match has grown to include international medical school students and graduates among its applicants in the Main Residency Match® and the more than sixty-five Fellowship Matches managed through its Specialties Matching Service®. National Resident Matching Program International® (NRMPI®), a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers matching services to private and governmental agencies located outside the U.S. and Canada.
The Match is the largest health care matching service in the world, meeting the needs of more than 50,000 medical students and graduates annually who compete for more than 40,000 residency and fellowship positions. The Match also offers unparalleled data resources and is committed to research that benefits the GME community.
MISSION
Match healthcare professionals to training programs through a process that is fair, efficient, and reliable, and provide meaningful Match data and analyses to stakeholders.
VISION
A trusted global provider of matching services for healthcare professionals and the premier Match data resource.
MESSAGE FROM CHAIR AND PRESIDENT/CEO
2019 was a watershed year for the NRMP. The organization oversaw the passing of the baton from Mona Signer, who led the organization effectively for 17 years, to Donna Lamb, the new NRMP President and CEO. After conducting a year-long national search, the NRMP Board of Directors found in Dr. Lamb an individual with a wealth of leadership experience and someone who would bring a fresh perspective to the NRMP. She will be at the helm when NRMP conducts the first single Match in 2020 with the full implementation of unified accreditation under ACGME. This is a great step forward for the profession and a benefit to residency applicants. The Board has full confidence in Dr. Lamb and looks forward with excitement to the future of the Match, maintaining always our obligation to assure the integrity and effectiveness of the Match on behalf of applicants, programs, and the profession.
Steven J. Scheinman, MD
Chair
I am so pleased to share with you the NRMP Annual Report highlighting the efforts and accomplishments of The Match during the prior year. 2019 was an important year. The Main Match served more than 44,000 registrants vying for more than 35,000 total positions and realized a 29% growth among osteopathic students and graduates. The Specialties Matching Service (SMS) also saw record-high participation with services provided for 67 subspecialties in 22 separate Matches serving more than 12,000 applicants and 11,000 positions.
2019 also witnessed a change in leadership with the retirement of long-standing President/CEO, Mona Signer, and a change in leadership of the Board, with Dr. Steven J. Scheinman, Dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, now serving as Chair. This transition has afforded NRMP the opportunity not only to look back at other successes like hosting the 3rd Transition to Residency stakeholder conference and expanding relationships within the osteopathic community, but also the chance to leap forward and consider how The Match can adapt to ensure it fully meets the needs of the UME/GME community. The organization is committed in 2020 to engaging in exhaustive strategic planning, forging new partnerships with national organizations to provide more research that will better inform decisions, and engaging in more analysis of outcomes to help constituents better understand trends in the transition to residency.
On a more personal note, I am honored to have been chosen to succeed Ms. Signer as President/CEO of the NRMP. The Match is a vital and valuable component of the transition to residency, and it is my hope that I am able to bring my background in healthcare, leadership, and accreditation to bear in a way that adds value to the UME/GME community and Match process. The leadership of the NRMP and I will engage in partner and stakeholder forums that allow us to better understand stressors, needs, and benefits of NRMP’s current processes, and we also will engage in discussions around innovation in the transition to residency. Through these discussions, we hope to routinely engage and build stronger connections with members of the UME and GME communities and to bolster the strong ties we enjoy while improving the understanding and value of the Matching Program.
We hope you will join NRMP in celebrating a successful 2019 and that you also will stay tuned to enhancements that will come in the years ahead. NRMP remains committed not only to ensuring its Matching Program delivers accurate results but also to building innovation and value in all it does for applicants, programs, and medical schools. As always, your input about NRMP’s current initiatives and your suggestions for future programs and resources are welcome.
Donna L. Lamb, DHSc, MBA, BSN
YEAR IN REVIEW
In 2019, NRMP continued doing what it does best: executing record-setting Matches, publishing valuable research and reports, and building engagement overseas.
Main Residency Match
NRMP remains a trusted partner in the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education. The 2019 Main Residency Match was the largest on record when measured by the numbers of applicants and positions offered and filled. Participation by students and graduates of osteopathic medical schools grew by 29 percent, and the number of available PGY-1 [...]
Specialties Matching Service
The Specialties Matching Service saw record-high participation in 2019 with services provided for 67 subspecialties in 22 separate Matches. The Medical Specialties Matching Program (MSMP) for Internal Medicine remains the largest with 18 subspecialties while the Pediatric Specialties Match is second largest with 16 subspecialties. Numbers of Applicants and Programs in the SMS by Appointment Year, 1993-2020 HIGHLIGHTS [...]
Reports and Publications
In February 2019, NRMP published an article in the Journal of Graduate Medical Education that highlighted the investigative process when programs potentially breach NRMP Matching policy. This paper served as a compliment to the piece published in JAMA in 2017 that examined Matching Program noncompliance among applicants. In addition to scholarly journal publications, NRMP [...]
NRMP International
NRMP remains committed to offering high-quality matching services to countries around the world and to partnering with global organizations that promote excellence in medicine and medical education. NRMPI successfully completed its ninth Match for the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi: 109 United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals participated in the Match; 100 (92%) obtained [...]
2019 HIGHLIGHTS
In 2019, NRMP advanced its commitment to innovation and delivery of value-based services through the convening of its national stakeholder conference and development of new community-based experiences and resources. It also witnessed a change in leadership with the appointment of Dr. Donna L. Lamb as the new President and CEO.
TRANSITION TO RESIDENCY
NRMP hosted its third Transition to Residency conference in 2019. The 375 attendees who journeyed to the Windy City spent two days discussing research and practices targeting curricula innovation, residency preparation, and success in training.
Three outstanding speakers shared their thoughts on changes to med ed curriculum, candidate selection for training, and humanism in practice.
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Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, former Special Adviser on Health Policy for the Obama Administration, spoke about transforming the healthcare system and ways to prepare medical students for providing patient-focused, lower-cost health care.
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Dr. Helen Fisher, Chief Science Officer at Match.com, spoke about the Fisher Inventory, a personalty measure based on neuroscience, and how it can help strengthen team buiding and innovation.
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Dr. Lawrence Smith, Dean of Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell spoke about teaching medical students the importance of empathetic and compassionate care for patients.
The conference showcased a range of topics dedicated to the transition to residency including
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how and when to communicate pertinent information to residency programs
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assessing EPAs during the transition to residency
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“blinding” program directors to USMLE Step 1 exam scores before inviting applicants for interviews
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Residency Explorer: a new resource for medical students
Attendees were surveyed at the conclusion of the meeting for their feedback and suggestions for future conferences
96% reported the meeting ‘Met’ or ‘Exceeded’ expectations
84% reported they would ‘Very Likely’ recommend a colleague attend a future meeting
65% rated the meeting as ‘Excellent’
Diversity of breakout themes is what drove many respondents to the meeting, and several hoped to see more presentations from and about the osteopathic community as well as an increased focus on trends in innovation at UME and GME level.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
NRMP launched an intensive workshop for new program staff in 2019. It also continued to sponsor webinars, namely for the osteopathic community, and built new policy videos for institutions and programs, medical schools, and applicants.
NRMP launched a workshop in 2019 for program staff and administrators new to the Matching Program. Anchored to the Transition to Residency conference, the workshop provided attendees the opportunity to
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explore the functionality of the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system
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learn how the matching algorithm works and manually run a Match
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review Match policies and form teams to review and scenarios based on real-life cases
The deep dive into the Main Residency Match helped participants learn about and better navigate the Matching Program. It was overwhelmingly successful, so NRMP has planned for it to be a standing feature accompanying the national meeting.
NRMP partnered in 2019 with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) to deliver a webinar for osteopathic school faculty and administrators. The webinar was deigned to help attendees better understand NRMP Match policies related to senior students and how to perform school-based functions in the R3® system. Among the topics covered:
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school official’s role in student verification for Match Participation
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reporting obligations on the Medical Student Performance Evaluation
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SOAP verification for Match Week
Of the 60 who registered, 43 attended (72%), and all osteopathic medical schools were represented.
Policy staff build new policy videos in 2019 for institutions, programs, schools, and applicants.
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Applicant SOAP Policy: Pittfalls – 3,333 views
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Program SOAP Policy: Pittfalls – 1,605 views
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Policy Highlights: Schools – 63 views
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Policy Highlights: Institutions – 222 views
Micro-learning videos provide targeted information about key features of the Matching Program. They are among the wealth of resources NRMP makes available annually to help constituents through the Match.
TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP
In October 2019, Dr. Donna L Lamb assumed leadership of the NRMP. Her appointment was the conclusion of a year-long national search by the Board of Directors to replace the long-serving President and CEO.
Dr. Lamb comes to NRMP with strong background in healthcare and accreditation. Career highlights include
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Executive Director, ACGME Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery Review Committees
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Division Vice President and Designated Institutional Official: Hospital Corporation of America (East Florida Division)
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Director of GME: Advent Health Systems (Central Florida Division)
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!0 years as a Trauma, Neonatal and Cardiothoracic ICU Nurse
In her short tenure at NRMP, Dr. Lamb already has launched several new initiatives:
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Evaluation of organizational infrastructure, including governance, to ensure NRMP is optimized to meet the current and future needs of constituents
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Launch of strategic planning to define and enhance NRMP strengths to align with future opportunities for community engagement and service delivery
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Expansion of partnerships to ensure NRMP is actively engaged in and contributing to the conversations shaping the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education
Dr. Lamb is committed to ensuring NRMP holds fast to the traditions on which its strong reputation is built while also approaching the future with an open perspective for new directions and growth.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
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Phone call handle response rates averaged 94 percent
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Chat satisfaction rating averaged 96 percent
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Email ticket satisfaction rating was 95 percent
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH NRMP SUPPORT AVERAGED 96 PERCENT
NRMP LEADERSHIP
The NRMP is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors that includes medical school deans, GME program directors, resident physicians, and medical students. The Board prioritizes diversity and breadth of experience to ensure thorough and thoughtful deliberation of issues.
Steven J. Scheinman, M.D.
Chair
Donna D. Elliott, MD, EdD
Chair-Elect
Deborah S. Clements, MD
Secretary/Treasurer
Donna L. Lamb, D.HSc., M.B.A., B.S.N.
President and CEO-
Keith B. Armitage, MD
University Hospital Case Medical Center
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Carol Berkowitz, MD
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
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E. Sander Connolly, Jr., MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
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Susan Guralnick, MD
University of California, Davis
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Holly J. Humphrey, MD
The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation
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Michael G. Kavan, PhD
Creighton University School of Medicine
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Cathy Lazarus, MD
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
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Daniel W. Morrissey, OP
Public Member
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Edward S. Salsberg, MPA
George Washington University
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Kenneth B. Simons MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
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Zaid I. Almarzooq, MBBCh
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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Jessica G. Fried, MD
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
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Heather A. Lillemoe, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Eriny Hanna
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
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Ebony White-Manigault, MPH
Wayne State University School of Medicine
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Thomas Wickhan
Univ of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
MESSAGE FROM MONA SIGNER
In 2019, I retired from my position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Resident Matching Program. I am grateful to NRMP’s volunteer Board of Directors for their support and guidance during my 17-year tenure as we transformed The Match from a single-service organization to a nationally recognized partner that plays a vital role in the medical education continuum. Working together, we brought about many improvements including the All In Policy, the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, and new research reports that enhance the matching process for constitutents. Community outreach now includes not only social media, but also the annual Transition to Residency conference. NRMP International, established in 2010, provides matching services outside the United States. I am most proud, however, that the U.S.-based Matching Program has grown by more than 60 percent, enabling us to advance the careers of hundred of thousands of young physicians. I know NRMP will continue to thrive and innovate under the Board’s leadership, supported by its dedicated staff.
FINANCIALS*
NRMP fees are among the lowest charged by medical education service organizations.
