We will discuss the NRMP and ERAS process and we will define the relevant terms as well as review the underlying rules. So let's begin with the NRMP. This stands for the National Residency Matching Program. This is the match that we think of. There are more than 60 specialties that participate in the match and this organization is responsible for running the selection process between fellowships and the applicants. This serves to take the rank list from the applicants and the rank list from programs and create the match from the two, providing each program with a binding list of fellows that will begin in the next academic year and for the applicants, providing them with a name of the program that they will attend for the cardiovascular disease fellowship. The match has several goals. It allows participants and program directors to consider each other without pressures. It creates an impartial venue for matching applicants and program directors' preferences. It establishes a uniform date for appointments to programs and it fosters fairness in the selection process. This is probably the most important element of the match. There are several policies related to the match and these get updated routinely. Therefore, it is important to review these policies on the NRMP website and be familiar with them. The NRMP PD is responsible for his or her institution's performance and applications of the match guidelines. The first issue is that of professionalism. All programs and applicants must observe practices that protect the rights of applicants and programs to determine their selections in the absence of unwarranted pressure and by respecting the binding nature of the match commitment. The match is binding on both parties and a binding match commitment is deemed to be honored if the applicant remains in the training program through the first 45 days after the start date specified in the appointment contract, meaning once the fellow begins the fellowship, they must go to the fellowship they matched in and be there through at least the first 45 days of the fellowship. A second policy highlight is that of communications. A program may not ask an applicant about ranking preferences, information about other programs where the applicant has applied or interviewed, including the name, specialties, geographic location, or other identifying information about the programs to which the applicant has or may apply. Although applicants may volunteer such information, it is a violation of the agreement if the program staff requests that information and programs may not ask the applicant about age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and family status. The match discourages requiring a second visit date. This places an undue burden on the applicant and an added financial consideration for them. It discourages unnecessary post-interview communications. Program directors should not solicit nor require post-interview communication, nor should programs engage in misleading or disingenuous communication. As noted in the beginning, the goals of the match are to create a list that represents a good fit between programs and applicants and to do this in a manner that allows both parties to communicate honestly and without pressure and to foster a fair system to achieve these goals both to applicants and to programs. In order to achieve these, the program director has several duties. They begin with ensuring the accuracy of the program information, executing the match participation agreement which is found on the NRMP website and a reminder email is sent out to program directors at the beginning of the match season, submitting and certifying a rank order list, this is again performed on the NRMP website, and to ensure that a position is not discussed or offered to a match applicant between the applicable rank order list certification deadline and the match day, and ensuring that a position is not discussed or offered to an applicant who is ineligible. Going over the rank order list, at the end of the interview process, the program director is responsible for creating the rank order list that will be used by the NRMP to create the final match list. This is performed on the NRMP website and that list must be certified. The designated institutional official or DIO is responsible for activating the institutions and programs in the match. Programs cannot participate until this has been done. So, a program director goes on the website and begins the process, but it is not considered formal until the DIO has signed off on it. Cardiovascular disease programs do not participate in the all-in option provided by the NRMP at this point in time. Therefore, positions can be offered outside the match. However, those positions cannot be offered within the match at the same time, and the NRMP program director's annual participation agreement commits active participation of at least 75% of the group's eligible programs and a minimum of 75% of all available positions in the specialty for that year, meaning that no more than a quarter of positions in cardiovascular disease can be offered globally by programs outside the match. The other main part of the process is the ERAS system. The next organization we will discuss is ERAS. This is the Electronic Residency Application Service, and it is administered by the AAMC. This is a centralized application service, and all applicants place their application and documentation here and then can choose to which program to forward these applications and documents. It is important to note that it is separate from the NRMP in the match. It is separate and unlinked registration process exists for both ERAS and for the NRMP, and having completed one does not mean that the second one has been completed. They must both be performed separately. As far as the basics of the ERAS system, it is a service that allows for applicants to upload all their documents and information once. This is stored in a central location. This application then may be viewed by all programs that the applicant designates and allows for an apply one strategy for applicants, eliminating duplication of work. It allows for a uniform repository of applications for programs to access. To summarize, the NRMP, that is the match process, is a system for creating a fair process for programs and applicants to evaluate each other and decide on the best fit. Program directors are responsible for reviewing the NRMP agreement and ensuring that all faculty abide by it, including adherence to the match communication code of contact. It is highly advised for all program directors to get on the NRMP website and review their policies carefully. ERAS is a central repository of applications for fellowships and is administered by the AAMC separately from the NRMP. It serves as an apply once structure for all applicants, allowing them to send their materials to multiple programs at once. Resources are on this page and program directors are encouraged to review them as they begin the application cycle.

National Residency Matching Program

NRMP

matching process

fellowship

communication guidelines