Strolling Through the Match

1. Strolling Through the Match The Beginning of the End …or the end of the beginning Presented by Owen P. Phillips, M.D. and Debbey Hester

2. Preparing for your Future • Career Connections: • Part 1: AAMC Careers in Medicine (CiM) • Appraising The Challenge • Self Assessment • Surveying Alternatives • Evaluating Alternatives • Achieving Commitment • Part 2: Residency Exploration Day (January) • Part 3: Post Match 2013 w/M4 Panel • Part 4: Strolling Through the Match (STTM)

3. STTM Overview • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) • Letters of Recommendation • RECAP: Preparing Your Credentials • Curriculum Vitae • Personal Statement • Applying for Residency • Nat’l Resident Matching Program (NRMP) • Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) • Military, Urological, & San Francisco Match

4. The Application Team • Letter Writers • Owen Phillips, M.D. • Gerald Presbury, M.D. • Renate Rosenthal, Ph.D. • David Stockton, M.D. (Knoxville) • Robert C. Fore, M.D. (Chattanooga) • The Faculty (excluding the MSPE) • Application Coordinator • Debbey Hester

5. Our Contact Information 910 Madison Avenue, Suite 1043 Memphis, TN 38163 Tel: 448-5684 | Fax: 448-7085 http://www.uthsc.edu/medicine/students

6. Getting Ready for the Match Preparation for Success • Be certain about career choice • Narrow it down- or come see me • Talk with Clerkship Director (and others) to answer nagging worries about career choice(s) • Once certain about career choice, talk with department chair • competitiveness of specialty, where to apply, outside rotations, etc. • Get CV together

7. Getting Ready for the Match Preparation for Success • Write your personal statement • Consider who should write you letters of recommendation • contacting his/her secretary to schedule an appointment • provide copy of cv, personal statement & ERAS cover letter (download from SA web page) • Debbey Hester schedules ALL MSPE appointments • Scheduling begins July 8th; Appointments begin July 15th • Instructions for scheduling MSPE appointments will be sent via UTHSC email late June

8. Curriculum Vitae Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

9. One page • Good quality paper • White or near white • Ordered and structured

10. Personal Statement Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

11. PersonalStatement A Personal Statement tells… • Why I chose medicine • How I chose my specialty • Where I see myself • Insight into family and very special interests

12. CV & Personal Statement Summary • CV & PS quality will not make or break you • May induce a great deal of interest and augment ‘the numbers and grades’ • Poor grammar or sloppiness may hurt • Bring a good copy of CV and personal statement with you when you meet with faculty about writing a reference letter

13. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

14. The MSPE… • The MSPE is a comprehensive assessment regarding comparative performance. • It should describe, in sequential manner, the student’s performance, as compared to peers, through 4 full years of school. • It should be an assessment of both academic performance and professional attributes. • It should be 2-3 pages in length and appropriately formatted with appendices. Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

15. The MSPE… • Is neither a letter of recommendation nor a prediction of future performance in residency Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

16. The MSPE… • Format • Identifying Information • Identifies you as a fourth year medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center • AOA distinction with Class Rank automatically included if applicable • Personal Comments / Noteworthy Achievements • demonstrated leadership • research abilities • community service • significant challenges/hardships Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

17. The MSPE… • Format • Academic History • graduation and matriculation dates • breaks, gaps, LOA • transfer school and dual degreed program information, if applicable • explanation of remediated coursework • explanation of adverse actions Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

18. The MSPE… • Format • Academic Progress • basic sciences & introduction to clinical medicine (PCC/DRS) • required clinical core clerkships and electives reported thru mid-October Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

19. The MSPE… • Format • Summary • summative assessment of comparative performance relative to peers • reference to unique characteristics / accomplishments • overall performance in basic medical sciences & clinical clerkships with emphasis on professional attributes Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

20. The MSPE… • Format • Overall Medical Student Performance Rating • GPAs taken from GPA/Class Rank report (available early September) OVERALL MEDICAL SCHOOL PERFORMANCE Very Good(0.00-0.00) Satisfactory(0.00-0.00) Outstanding(0.00-0.00) Excellent (0.00-0.00) 15% 25% 50% 10% Indicates percentage of class in each category; not an indication of class rank. Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

21. The MSPE… • Format • Appendices • A – bar graph of performance relative to peers in each preclinical course • B – bar graph of performance relative to peers in each core clinical clerkship • C – assessment of professional attributes relative to peers ** • D – bar graph showing overall performances relative to peers • E – medical school information page ** Not currently included in the MSPE Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

22. Letters of Recommendations For instructions visit https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/ Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

23. Letters of Recommendation • Generally 3 - 4 are required; recommend 4 • department chair of your chosen specialty • senior faculty member usually in specialty of choice (i.e., faculty with whom you did JI) • other faculty member(s), not necessarily in specialty, who knows you well • schedule appointment EARLY to review your professional goals and answer questions • LOR appointments schedule through faculty member’s office, not Student Affairs • provide a CV, personal statement, transcript, and list of programs; download and attach Cover Sheet from MyERAS! • don’t be shy about discussing your strengths or extenuating circumstances

24. Chair’s letter • Call the department to set up an appointment - do not email • The chair is expecting you - even if you have never met • The interview as well as your performance on the rotation will be enough for him to write you a letter • Bring a list of programs you are applying to • Ask about your competitiveness for specialty and/or programs and listen to the feedback

25. Questions so far? • Knowing career choice- now or very soon • Uncertain? Talk to folks now! • Look at evaluations from clerkships- now • Are you in an early Match? Know the deadlines • Personal statement and CV– now • LORs- should have an idea on who should write • Chair’s letter- probably beginning July or August • MSPE- we will send out a notice about scheduling • More questions– call me! • Worried- call me!

26. The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) ~ an electronic application delivery service

27. ERAS What is ERAS ? Electronic “application delivery service ” used to transmit applications, letters of recommendation, MSPEs, transcripts, and other supporting credentials from applicants and medical schools to residency program directors using the Internet. • Tokens will be distributed via UT email to applicants in late June • MyERAS available (but not live) for applicants mid July • ERAS Post Office opens September 1st; available for transmission of documents to programs • Required for NRMP, Urology and Military matches. Visit http://www.sfmatch.org for application requirements for San Francisco Match.

28. ERAS • ERAS is comprised of four main components: • MyERAS is the Web site where applicants (YOU) complete the MyERAS Application • select programs, assign documents to be received by programs (i.e., personal statement, request USMLE, etc.) • DWS is the software used by the designated dean's office. • scan and attach supporting documents to the application (i.e., photo, medical school transcript, MSPE, and LoRs.) • PDWS is the ERAS software used by program staff to receive, sort, review, evaluate, and rank applications. • ERAS Post Office is the central bank of computers that transfer the application materials from USMLE, applicants and their designated dean's office to residency programs.

29. Students should NOT for a completed application before submitting application; evolving process. • No supporting documents can be transmitted through ERAS UNTIL THE STUDENT SUBMITS HIS/HER APPLICATION! • Set target date to have as much of your application ready to transmit by September 15th; including photo

30. ERAS How Does ERAS work? • Applicants receive electronic token in late June to register with MyERAS; begin completing online ERAS application. • Worksheet from ERAS applicant resource page • Copy of AMCAS application from Registrar’s Office; allow 2 days • Applicants certify/submit ERAS applications to programs beginning September 1st • USMLE receives requests to upload USMLE scores to ERAS Post Office • Transcript includes scores posted at time applicant submits ERAS application • School begins uploading support documents July 1st • School begins transmitting support documents September 1st • Programs begin downloading applications September 1st; make interview offers early September • Applicants should set a target date of September 1st for completing entire application and should track applications using ERAS ADTS!!!

31. ERAS ERAS is NOTthe same as NRMP… • You must register for ERAS separately from NRMP • ERAS – Late June/Early July • NRMP – September 1st • ERAS is required to transmit supporting documents for applicants enrolled in the NRMP, the Urology match and for some branches within the military match.

32. ERAS How much does ERAS cost? • ERAS processing fees are based on the number of programs to which you apply per specialty • Check ERAS website for pricing Is there a deadline for submitting ERAS applications to Student Affairs? • No. However, SA recommends your ERAS application be completed and ready to transmit by September 1st • Programs set their own deadlines; check web sites

33. Applying for Residency ~ the mechanics of the application process Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

34. Applying for Residency PATHS of Residency Application • Advanced specialties with own Match • US Armed Forces • National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

35. Applying for Residency Advanced specialties with own Match • Early Match | Results faxed to our office • San Francisco Matching Program • http://www.sfmatch.org • Neurology, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery • Must register for the NRMP for preliminary year • Uses ERAS for prelim year only • American Urological Association Residency Matching Program • www.auanet.org/content/residency/residency-match.cfm • Register for NRMP as a backup • Uses ERAS • Registration early June

36. Applying for Residency US Armed Forces (Military Match) • Should also enroll in the NRMP • Automatically withdrawn by NRMP if matched by military • Results faxed to our office in January

37. The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) ~ a coordinated matching service Strolling Through the Match April 29, 2013

38. Applying for Residency National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) • http://www.nrmp.org • The Match - service for matching applicants to programs • Provides uniform date of MSPE • Absolutely NOMSPE will be released prior to 1 October • Registration for NRMP begins September 1st

39. The NRMP Categories/Tracks of Internships • Preliminary (P) • Serves as prerequisite for additional post graduate medical education in other disciplines • Ex. Prelim medicine, Prelim Surgery • Transitional Year (P) • May/ may not serve as preliminary year • Undecided about specialty • Advanced (A) • Begins PGY 2 and requires 1-2 years of preliminary training • Ex. Radiology (A), Anesthesiology (A), Dermatology (A) • Categorical (C) • Offer positions for PGY1 with no preliminary training required • Ex. Family Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Medicine-Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics , Psychiatry

40. The NRMP - Matching as a Couple Participating as a Couple When two individuals are registered for the same specialties matching service (e.g., NRMP), they may participate in that Match as a couple • Couple’s match is not a separate match from the NRMP! • Each partner of a couple enrolls individually in the match • The NRMP allows couples to form pairs of choices on their rank order lists, which then are considered in rank order in the Match • Partners can be matched into positions in the same institution or in different institutions • Couples are encouraged to talk to us for assistance with preparing their rank order lists for the Match or for questions

41. Matching as a Couple IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER! Partners listed as a couple are treated by the Match solely as a couple. If one partner does not match, neither partnerwillmatch. If one partner wishes to withdraw, both partners must uncouple before either can withdraw.

42. Questions about the application Process? • Know whether your specialty needs you to apply to a preliminary year • Couples matching? Come see Deb Hester • Should you have a parallel plan or backup specialty choice? We will talk about that next – but the answer for almost everyone should be YES

43. MATCH TRENDS~ Total positions vs. Total Applicants (including IMGs, previous grads, etc.) Over the past several years, the competition for residency positions has heightened.

44. Percent of Matches by Choice in 2012For 2013- Unmatched rate nation-wide was 6.7%

45. Ratio: Applicants Ranking Specialty First/Available positionsby Preferred Specialty-- 2011 last year we have data Chart 2 shows the ratios of U.S. seniors and independent applicants to available positions in each specialty. All specialties except Dermatology, Neurological Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, and Radiation Oncology have enough positions to accommodate all U.S. seniors who prefer that specialty. As the number of applicants has increased in recent years, fewer specialties have offered enough positions for all applicants who prefer that specialty. NRMP: Charting the Outcome of the Match 2011

47. USMLE Step Scores of Matched Applicantsby preferred Specialty and Applicant Type (2011) NRMP: http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html

48. What to do!! • Right- size • Consider parallel plan- a preliminary year or alternate career choice • Meet with the experts • Me or specialty advisors • We had 17 students who did not match into either a PGY1 or PGY2 or both in 2013

49. NRMP IMPLEMENTED IN 2012 S.O.A.P. The NRMP Board of Directors implemented changes to Match Week 2012 with a new Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program for unmatched applicants and unfilled programs.

50. S.O.A.P. • Designed to help streamline, equalize, and automate the process for students who are not matched initially; Under SOAP, the NRMP makes available the locations of unfilled positions so that unmatched students can submit applications for these positions through the AAMC’s Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®). After receiving applications through ERAS, residency program directors create a list of candidates in order of preference and the NRMP offers positions in that order in a series of up to eight rounds. Applicants are able to receive multiple offers in a single round; if an offer is accepted, it is binding.