TY - JOUR
T1 - The radiology class of 2005
T2 - The fellowship application process and perceptions of the NRMP fellowship match
AU - Shetty, Sanjay K.
AU - Venkatesan, Aradhana M.
AU - Foster, Kelly M.
AU - Galdino, Greg M.
AU - Lawrimore, Tara M.
AU - Davila, Jesse A.
N1 - Funding Information:
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Radiology Fellowship Match was created to address numerous perceived problems in the radiology subspecialty fellowship application process [ 1,2 ]. Organized by fellowship program directors and department chairs, with increasing support from residents, the NRMP Fellowship Match was created to address numerous perceived problems in the fellowship application process, including variable application calendars and a schedule that forced residents to select subspecialties and commit to fellowships very early in training. Previous studies of the NRMP Fellowship Match have focused on fellowship directors [ 1,3,4 ] or match participants within particular subspecialties [ 1,3 ] and have documented an overall positive response to the match process. Residents’ response to the NRMP Fellowship Match, however, has been more difficult to gauge [ 5 ], and many residents participating in the ACR Resident and Fellow Section annual meeting in 2004 expressed concerns about perceived inequities in the match process. The 2005 NRMP Radiology Fellowship Match was conducted in the spring of 2004 for residents in the third year of radiology residency training, for positions to begin in July 2005. The purpose of this study was to evaluate experiences with and perceptions of the fellowship application process among all members of the radiology residency class of 2005 to determine how the match is perceived by current residents, how the existence of a match influences residents’ behavior, and how the match might be improved in the future.
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Purpose: To assess experiences and perceptions of the fellowship application process of the radiology residency class of 2005, including the 2005 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Radiology Fellowship Match. Methods: An electronic survey composed by the ACR Resident and Fellow Section was completed by 416 senior residents (a 46.9% response rate) enrolled in allopathic radiology residency programs from across the United States. Results: Residents generally agree with the timing of the current fellowship application calendar in the spring of the third year of residency. Respondents were divided over the issue of permitting internal candidates to fill positions outside of the match, although the majority felt that the process influences both applicants and programs to favor their own institutions to avoid the match process. Residents support requiring fellowship programs to declare the number of positions being filled through the match before applications are due (72.6%) or before rank lists are due (79.8%). Residents noted match rule violations, which threaten to undermine residents' confidence in the process. Residents were split over the future of the match: 23.1% favored continuing the match in its current form, 28.8% favored continuing the match with modifications, and 34.4% favored discontinuing the match entirely. Conclusion: Although the NRMP Fellowship Match was created to improve and standardize the fellowship application process, and although a majority of residents support continuing the match in some form, there are areas of concern, including adherence to the letter and spirit of the match rules, which must be addressed to galvanize support among residents in the future and ensure a fair process for fellowship applicants.
AB - Purpose: To assess experiences and perceptions of the fellowship application process of the radiology residency class of 2005, including the 2005 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Radiology Fellowship Match. Methods: An electronic survey composed by the ACR Resident and Fellow Section was completed by 416 senior residents (a 46.9% response rate) enrolled in allopathic radiology residency programs from across the United States. Results: Residents generally agree with the timing of the current fellowship application calendar in the spring of the third year of residency. Respondents were divided over the issue of permitting internal candidates to fill positions outside of the match, although the majority felt that the process influences both applicants and programs to favor their own institutions to avoid the match process. Residents support requiring fellowship programs to declare the number of positions being filled through the match before applications are due (72.6%) or before rank lists are due (79.8%). Residents noted match rule violations, which threaten to undermine residents' confidence in the process. Residents were split over the future of the match: 23.1% favored continuing the match in its current form, 28.8% favored continuing the match with modifications, and 34.4% favored discontinuing the match entirely. Conclusion: Although the NRMP Fellowship Match was created to improve and standardize the fellowship application process, and although a majority of residents support continuing the match in some form, there are areas of concern, including adherence to the letter and spirit of the match rules, which must be addressed to galvanize support among residents in the future and ensure a fair process for fellowship applicants.
KW - Fellowship training
KW - NRMP match
KW - Radiology fellowships
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jacr.2005.03.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jacr.2005.03.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 17411969
AN - SCOPUS:84928096032
SN - 1546-1440
VL - 2
SP - 939
EP - 951
JO - Journal of the American College of Radiology
JF - Journal of the American College of Radiology
IS - 11
ER -