A Retrospective Analysis of Contemporary Trends from the NRMP Program Director Surveys : A Call to Action

Abstract

A Retrospective Analysis of Contemporary Trends from the NRMP Program Director Surveys: A Call to Action. Every year, thousands of medical students around the world embark on the next step of their medical journey as they transition from medical school to residency. While Match Day can be an exciting time of year for many soon-to-graduate medical students, not all applicants share this sentiment as they discover they were left without a training position. In 2012, to help facilitate the matching of candidates who found themselves without a training position, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) launched the Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®)replacing what was once colloquially known as, the “scramble.” Using SOAP, eligible unmatched candidates may then apply to any remaining unfilled positions using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®). However, every year, still a portion of graduates go unmatched and are left with their future in medicine uncertain.