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Match FAQs for Match 2010
The NRMP Match was developed years ago with the principal goal being to provide fair and
orderly conditions in which applicants and programs can operate.
The NRMP has recently made some very important changes. Full information is available
at http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/policies/map_institution.html#io_respons. Illustrative
case summaries are at http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/policies/case.html.
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Q: What is different from last year’s rules?
A. There are several things that are new and potentially challenging:
1 All applicants who are not current medical school seniors must be looked up on the
NRMP Applicant Match History – on the NRMP site – to ensure that they are eligible
to contacted, to be interviewed, and/or listed on your match list.
i. Applicants may be reluctant to share prior match issues, such as unapproved
withdrawal from a matched position the prior year, or the fact that they are
matched into a position that would be concurrent with the position for which
you are considering them. (Apparently a prior, active match commitment
does not preclude an applicant from enrolling in the match.)
ii. To access the NRMP Applicant Match History requires logging in or calling
the NRMP.
2 If a program initiates contact (invites for interview, etc) a non-eligible applicant the
program is subject to NRMP penalties.
3 For a resident matched into your PGY-2 position but who doesn’t do or doesn’t
complete the prerequisite PGY-1 year - a waiver must be requested in order for the
program to fill that now-vacant PGY-2 position and for the applicant to seek another
position.
4 Even programs that do not participate in the NRMP match (e.g., Urology, Plastic
Surgery, Ophthalmology) or who participate in the NRMP Fellowship Matches, must
confirm applicant eligibility prior to initiating a contact with the applicant. Failure to
do so can endanger the institution’s other programs’ ability to participate in the
match.
5 A program’s not being aware of an applicant’s ineligible status is not considered an
extenuating circumstance.
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Q: My program interviewed an applicant who looks terrific – he’s 2 years out of medical
school. How can I be sure he’s eligible to rank on the Match list?
A: Programs must use the NRMP Applicant Match History to determine the match status of
any applicant considered for appointment to the program. Not knowing that an applicant had a
concurrent match obligation (see below for new NRMP-supplied definition) is not considered
relevant by NRMP – thus, penalties would likely incur to the program. An applicant for whom
the response “No Record Found” has not participated in the Match before, and is eligible from
the NRMP’s perspective.
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Q: Our program matched an applicant, a graduating senior from a prestigious U.S.
medical school. She wants to withdraw from her position for personal reasons. It’s ok
with my program, and we’d like to fill the position with someone local. Any concerns with
that?
A. Applicants and programs are not authorized to release each other from their binding
match commitment. Once a party has matched, a waiver of the binding match
commitment may be obtained only from the NRMP. You need to request a waiver from
NRMP immediately.
If you discuss, interview for, or offer the matched position to another candidate prior to the
NRMP issuing its decision as to whether to grant the requested waiver, the program is
subject to NRMP penalties.
The matched applicant may not discuss, interview for, or accept another position prior to the
NRMP issuing its decision as to whether to grant the requested waiver; if s/he does, the
applicant is subject to NRMP penalties and will acquire an NRMP Applicant Match History.
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Q: A Program Director asks, “My program matched a candidate, and subsequently
learned that he really was not qualified for our fellowship. We withdrew the position offer,
both by phone and by certified letter, and told him not to come to San Antonio. Should I
notify my lawyer?”
A: Your action is a violation of the Match agreement – per 4.5 Waiver of the Match Results:
Programs
Programs and applicants are not authorized to release each other from their
binding match commitment. Once a party has matched, a waiver of the
binding match commitment may be obtained only from the NRMP. The
NRMP's decision to grant or deny the waiver is at the sole discretion of the
NRMP and is not subject to arbitration. The NRMP recommends that each
program director, institutional official, and applicant read carefully the Policies
and Procedures for Waiver Requests ("Waiver Policy") that shall govern the
NRMP's handling of waivers and which are incorporated by reference in and
are an integral part of this Agreement.
This action could very well result in:
1. Your program being barred from participating in the Match (ranging from 1-3 years to
permanent), and/or
2. The institution being barred from participating in the Match (again, for a variable period
of time). If an institution is barred, its programs are barred, as well.
Further, if you discuss, interview for, or offer the matched position to another candidate prior to
the NRMP issuing its decision as to whether to grant the requested waiver, the program is
subject to NRMP penalties.
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Q: My fellowship program doesn’t participate in the match. My understanding is that I
can offer a position to any qualified applicant – is this correct?
A. No. You must first verify that the applicant is eligible (before you even discuss a
position with him/her). If any of the programs sponsored by the institution, regardless of
Matching Program participation status, discusses or offers a position to an applicant who
matched to a concurrent year position in another program or who is ineligible as a result of a
denied waiver or a confirmed violation, the institution will be in breach of this Agreement
and may be subject to penalties. Programs shall not interview or discuss with an applicant
any potential position unless the program has first determined that the applicant is eligible for
appointment. Programs shall determine the applicant's eligibility by verifying the applicant's
match status in the Applicant Match History that is available in the Match Site and/or by calling
the NRMP to obtain that information.
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Q. Please explain "concurrent" -- ". . .or the fact that they are matched into a position
that would be concurrent with the position for which you are considering them."
For example, if someone matched into orthopaedics and started in July 2009, and now wants to
switch to anesthesiology and plans to enter that match to start in July 2010, is that considered
concurrent and will both parties need a match release? Or if the person completed his/her one
year commitment to orthopaedics and resigns to begin anesthesiology is this acceptable?
The main question is does the orthopaedics match count as a 5 year commitment and if so,
would the individual and the program need a match release for any of the 5 years of the
program or does the orthopaedics commitment last for only the one year of the signed contract?
A. (quoting from NRMP’s email):
Concurrent means starting at the same time as the position in the program that is considering
them. So if the program is for example family medicine and they saw that the person matched
last year for an appointment to start in 2010 (i.e. an advanced program specialty), then they
could not consider them unless the Match history also indicated that the applicant requested
and was granted a waiver of the 2010 position.
Unless the applicant requested and was granted a waiver, they are expected to attend any
positions that they matched to in order to meet the NRMP Agreement requirements. Once they
attend that position and decide that they wish to leave several months or a year later, they are
under contract to and subject to that programs/institutions contract requirements and it is strictly
between the applicant and the program/institution if the applicant decides to leave. The NRMP
would not be involved.
While categorical programs are usually negotiated from year to year, starting/attending one is
considered for match purposes starting the program, not just the first year of the program. So if
they are currently in the categorical program and wish to leave to do another specialty, then
they have met our requirements and are free to do so as far as the NRMP is concerned.
However, the terms of their contract with their current program would always supersede that.
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Q. Any caveats about illegal questions or behaviors during interview season?
A. Some possibilities (others are detailed on the NRMP site):
A program accepts and signs an agreement with a senior student in a U.S. allopathic
medical school before Match Day.
An applicant requests a contract before the announcement of Match results
An applicant commits to a concurrent year training position outside the NRMP Match and
does not withdraw from the NRMP Match. (This includes an applicant who matches to a
concurrent year PGY-1 position in another match that precedes the NRMP Match.)
A program director "guarantees" an applicant that he/she will rank the applicant within the
program's quota, but only if the applicant will rank the program first on his/her rank order list.
An applicant "guarantees" a program director that he/she will rank the program first on their
rank order list, but only if the program director will rank the applicant within the program's
quota.
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There is more information at http://www.nrmp.org/qapost.pdf and a number of NRMP FAQs at
http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/faq/io_pd_faq.html. Additional information is to be posted within
the next couple of weeks.
Things for programs to ensure/do immediately:
1 Check every graduated MD applicant’s NRMP Applicant Match History prior to further
communication
2 Print a copy of the findings for that applicant’s file
3 Contact the GME Office regarding any concerns about resident eligibility, resident leaving a
position, filling a vacated position, or other questions or concerns.
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