Recruitment
Partners is fortunate to attract talented candidates to world-class residency and fellowship programs in nearly all specialties and subspecialties of medicine. Although recruitment is exciting, it is also one of the most complex tasks faced by program directors and coordinators.
To ensure a successful Match, programs should familiarize themselves with the following regulations and guidelines.
1. Recruitment Policies
In preparation for the recruitment season, Program Directors must review the Trainee Selection and Transfer policies available on the GME website under Policies and Resources section.
2. Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
Many programs utilize ERAS in their recruitment process. ERAS serves to streamline the application process by utilizing a standard application form and electronic submission of Dean's letters and other recommendations.
Program Directors Work Station (PDWS) is the ERAS software used by program staff to receive, sort, review, evaluate, and rank applications. Effective Fall 2014 Partners opted out to utilize a web-based PDWS, which requires program activation by the GME office. At the beginning of the season, the DIO will give program directors and/or coordinators access to the PDWS.
3. National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
The NRMP provides a national process to ensure consistency, fairness and a predictable schedule for the mutual selections that are made between resident/fellowship applicants and the training programs.
“All-In” Policy
Beginning with the 2013 Main Residency Match, the NRMP is enforcing an “All-In” Policy. With very few exceptions, any program that participates in the Match must register and attempt to fill all positions through the Match or another national matching organization. This policy does not apply to the Specialties Matching Service.
To read the full “All-In” Policy, click here: http://www.nrmp.org/policies/all-in-policy
Waiver Guidelines
There has been an increase in the number of applicants who change their mind about the program/specialty they want to pursue after the Match. Those who have applied to the NRMP for a waiver after the deadline listed on the NRMP website have been consistently denied. Programs are strongly urged to consider interviewees' stated interests in other specialties when ranking candidates.
Applicants who have matched to advanced programs may requests a waiver if they choose to change specialties. The waiver must be requested no later than January 15 prior to the start of the training.
For more information of the about the NRMP Waiver Guidelines, copy this URL into your browser: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Waiver-Policy.pdf
Programs have the opportunity to review an applicant’s match history to confirm their NRMP participation eligibility for matching through the NRMP. After programs log onto the NRMP website, click on “Current Match Applicants” from the left column to search.
4. Recruitment of IMGs and non-U.S. Citizens
Contact the Partners Office for International Staff, Scholars and Students (PIO) at 617-
643-0417 to discuss candidates who may need H1-B visa sponsorship.
For J-1 clinical visas, contact Dale Parechanian in the MGH MGPO/Medical Staff Office at
617-726-5316 or Joanna Hazell in BWH Physician Services at 857-307-0841.
5. Materials to be Provided to Interviewees
Please be sure to provide this link to applicants who interview with your program prior to or on interview day.
Additionally, you must provide relevant program-specific policies (e.g., drug testing, supervision, duty hours), as well as department- or program-specific information regarding meals, call rooms, laundry services, etc. It is recommended that you send your applicants links to the required documents in their interview confirmation email using a “read request” label. You can then keep an electronic copy of this “read confirmation” in a separate file, in lieu of having applicants sign a printed copy of an attestation on interview day.
This page was updated on 6/27/16