cfms match book 2011

The

MATCHBOOK

An annual review of the CaRMS match by the Canadian Federation

of Medical Students2011–2012

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©Canadian Federation of Medical Students, 2011

Contact information and links

For additional information pertaining to the CaRMS match, please visit thefollowing websites:

www.carms.cawww.cfms.org

Please direct inquiries about CaRMS to [email protected] and inquiries aboutthis publication and the CFMS’s role to [email protected]

For details regarding the 2011 match results, please visit www.carms.ca,consult the operations menu and then access the statistics menu.

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Table of Contents

Acronyms ............................................................................................................iv

Executive Summary..............................................................................................v

Tips from Residents.............................................................................................vi

The 2011 Match: Messages from the CFMS and AFMC ....................................1

The CaRMS Match: Roles and Responsibilities ...................................................4

Important Dates for Medical Students .................................................................7

The Match Algorithm: How it Works ..................................................................8

Applicant Success Rates By Discipline................................................................11

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Acronyms

AFMC Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada

AWS Applicant Webstation

CAIR Canadian Association of Internes and Residents

CaRMS Canadian Resident Matching Service

CFMS Canadian Federation of Medical Students

CMG Canadian Medical Graduate

IMG International Medical Graduate

MSPR Medical Student Performance Record

PGY Post-Graduate Year

PWS Program Webstation

R (#) Resident (year of residency)

ROL Rank Order List

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Executive Summary

The Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) is the national organization representing medical students in Canada. We represent over7500 students attending 14 medical schools from coast-to-coast. Our mandate is to provide representation, services and communication withinour membership, to our membership and to the world at large. One of themany services we offer our members includes the Matchbook.

This annual publication, produced by the CFMS in association with theCanadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), is designed for Canadianmedical students of all years. The information herein is intended to helpstudents plan their career, increase their understanding of the CaRMSmatch and help them prepare for the different stages of the match.

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Tips from Residents

“Inform yourself as to the expectations of the program and location towhich you'd like to match; you need to know what they prefer in terms ofthe quantity of electives in their specialty and the need for doing electives intheir location in order to be considered.”

“Choose your referees judiciously; ask them if they're willing to write a‘strong’ reference letter for you, which will increase your chances of havinggood letters written on your behalf.”

— Meghan Cusack, NOSM

“Throughout medical school, keep your CV up to date. The fall of yourfinal year of clerkship can be extremely busy with CaRMS applications andthis is the one thing you can get out of the way before the whole processbegins.”

— Jonathan Dellavedova, McMaster

“Don't think that you need to do all your electives in a specific discipline tomake yourself a strong candidate. Doing different electives provides breadthand frequently makes candidates more informed about what's out there.”

— Ivan Cacic, McMaster

“When choosing a career, don't choose based on the most interestingaspects of a specialty because everything, to some extent, is interesting.Choose based on your ability to tolerate the most trying aspects of a specialty.”

— Anonymous Resident

“Speak to recent grads but make sure you also speak to those with grey hairor dyed hair. Make sure they're happy with their career choice and find outwhy or why not.”

— Anonymous Resident

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The 2011 Match

A message from the Canadian Federation of Medical Students

In 2011, 98.4% of CMGs were matched in either the first iteration or second iteration of the CaRMS Match and 83.8% matched to one of theirtop three program choices (both discipline and location). These figures aresimilar to previous years (98.4% and 86% in 2010) and indicate a successfuloverall match for CMGs. 87% of CMGs matched to their first choice discipline in the first iteration. In addition, 34% of CMGs chose FamilyMedicine as their first choice discipline. This marks a slight increase com-pared to the two previous matches (31.8% in 2009 and 2010). As a strongsupporter of Family Medicine Student Interest Groups, the CFMS ispleased to witness this trend.

An ever-increasing number of IMGs are applying to Canadian residencyprogrammes via CaRMS. In 2011, 1955 IMGs (including USA) participatedin the match. The total number of IMGs matched this year (298 first roundand 82 second round — total 380) is very similar to the rates from 2010.

Historically, IMGs have matched to dedicated IMG spots at each universi-ty in each postgraduate program. Over the last years, some Canadian MedicalFaculties have been opening all positions in the match (first and second round)to both Canadian and International graduates. Open matches such as these arebeing conducted in Manitoba and Quebec. Alberta has a separate and distinctprovincial program (Alberta International Medical Graduate Program ie:AIMG) that operates outside CaRMS. For this reason, data on first iterationmatch results in Alberta are not available through CaRMS.

As for the second iteration through CaRMS, the remaining positions(including unfilled positions in Alberta) are open to all eligible CMG andIMG applicants. In 2011, 79.8% of CMGs applying in the second iterationwere successful compared to a 94.5% success rate in the first iteration forCMGs. Note that the 2011 match rate for CMGs in the second iteration issignificantly higher than the previous year (56% in 2010) and is more consis-tent with the 2008 and 2009 rates (75% and 80%, respectively). Overall, itcan be concluded that CMG performance in the second iteration match isvariable from year-to-year whereas success rates in the first iteration are con-sistently high. Therefore, CMGs’ matching strategies should not depend tooheavily on the second round match.

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Also in 2007, a large number of residency positions were added acrossthe country. Unfortunately, addition of new residency positions proceededat rates that did not parallel increases in medical school enrollment in 2008,2009 and 2010. The ratio of available residency positions to CMGs in2011 was 1.10:1 compared to 1.12:1 in 2010 and 2009 (1.08:1 in 2008,1.14:1 in 2007). As more and more students graduate from Canadian medical schools, it will be important that there is a corresponding increasein available residency positions to facilitate match success. The CFMS continues to advocate for additional residency positions and will continueto monitor match rates to ensure that any changes in the system do not negatively affect CMG match rates.

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A message from the Association of Faculties of Medicine ofCanada

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) continues tobe pleased with the CaRMS match for Canadian Medical Graduates(CMGs) and International Medical Graduates (IMGs). The 2011 matchwas very successful for CMGs — 95% matched in the first iteration andalmost 87% to their first choice discipline.1 Adding to this success, 380IMGs entered postgraduate training through the 2011 CaRMS match.2

These positive results speak to the strength of our medical education systemin meeting the needs of CMGs while, at the same time, accommodating theIMGs’ need to undertake full or partial postgraduate medical training inCanada.

AFMC continues to support the goal of maintaining a steady and equi-table number of residency positions offered per graduating CMG. We areencouraged to see that the 2011 match continues to demonstrate this prin-ciple.

Looking beyond the numbers, program directors in all of our facultiescontinue to work diligently to determine the eligibility of candidates forentry into postgraduate training and to ensure a good match. In addition tomaintaining the postgraduate residency quota for CMGs, faculties ofMedicine continue the effort to expand training options both within andoutside of the traditional teaching hospitals.

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1. http://www.carms.ca/pdfs/2011R1_MatchResults/29_Match%20Results%20by%20Year_en.pdf

2. http://www.carms.ca/pdfs/2011R1_MatchResults/30_IMG%20Match%20Results%20by%20Medical%20School_en.pdf ANDhttp://www.carms.ca/pdfs/2011R1_MatchResults/45_IMG%20Match%20Results%20by%20Medical%20School_2nd%20Iteration_en.pdf


The Match: Roles and Responsibilities

The Canadian Resident Matching Service

CaRMS is an independent not-for-profit corporation serving as the gatewayfrom undergraduate to post-graduate medical education in Canada. AllCanadian medical schools participate in the Match. CaRMS is governed bya Board of Directors that includes the CFMS, CAIR, AFMC, and otherpartners in medical education. The CEO, Executive and staff are responsi-ble for the ongoing operations of the organization.

CaRMS does:1. Provide a central, secure electronic interface for application to post-

graduate education2 Provide a computer-based match algorithm to facilitate this process3. Administer the matching process for R-1 entry, in addition to three

subspecialty matches: the R-3 Family Medicine/Emergency MedicineMatch, the Internal Medicine Subspecialty Match and the PediatricSubspecialty Match. CaRMS also administers Canadian access to theUS application system for PGME.

CaRMS does not:1. Determine a candidate’s eligibility for entry into post-graduate training2. Have any role in determining the number of residency positions avail-

able in any particular discipline or in any particular location3. Have any role in determining the level of participation of IMGs in the

match or which residency positions are eligible for IMGs

The match algorithm ensures that all eligible applicants are matchedaccording to the merits of their applications in addition to the rank lists ofthe candidates and the post-graduate programs.

Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs)

Graduating medical students are responsible for submitting all necessarydocumentation to CaRMS and meeting appropriate deadlines. The elec-

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tronic Applicant Webstation (AWS) becomes available at www.carms.ca inearly September for candidates expected to graduate the following spring.Tailored applications, program selections, and supporting documentation(personal letters, reference letters, curriculum vitae and abstracts) are sub-mitted via AWS and direct mailing to CaRMS. Students determine whichdocuments to submit based on the requirements of the programs, and thesedocuments are assigned to programs accordingly. AWS users’ applicationsbecome available for review by PG programs as of early December.

Following an application review by the post-graduate programs, inter-views are granted in January and February, and these are scheduled by appli-cants and programs independently of CaRMS. After interviews, applicantscreate rank-order-lists (ROLs) of their preferred post-graduate programs tobe entered into the match algorithm. Likewise, programs rank applicants.The match is then conducted in a “first iteration” followed by a “second iter-ation” for applicants who remain unmatched after the first. Once matched,applicants are legally obligated/bound to attend the residency program.

Medical schools

Undergraduate Medical Education programs are responsible for registeringtheir graduating students with CaRMS prior to the student application pro-cess. They provide CaRMS with proof of good standing and proof of acqui-sition of the MD Degree. They also provide MSPRs, formerly known as“Dean’s Letters”.

Provincial ministries of health and education

Government ministries are primarily responsible for the determination ofthe number of positions available in each entry discipline within their juris-diction. These are determined and funded based on a number of factorsincluding societal need, budgetary concerns and capacity in the medicaleducation system. Typically, there are more PGY-1 entry positions availablethan the number of CMGs each year in order to accommodate re-trainingand IMGs.

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Post-graduate programs

The term “post-graduate program” is synonymous with “residency program”in Canada. Every discipline at each school has a Program Director who isresponsible for the selection of successful applicants. Following student sub-missions, Directors and Program Administrators use the CaRMS ProgramWebstation (PWS) to review applications and grant interviews to candi-dates. Interview dates and times are arranged by the post-graduate programsand typically take place in late January and early February. Post-GraduateDirectors then create rank-order-lists (ROLs) of applicants that are enteredinto the match algorithm along with the student ROLs for their choice ofprograms.

International medical graduates (IMGs)

In 2007, IMGs were included in the first iteration of the CaRMS Match forthe first time. This decision was made by provincial governments inresponse to a shortage of health human resources. In most provinces, thereis a set number of positions for IMGs such that they do not compete direct-ly with CMGs. CaRMS administers this as a separate “parallel” match. InManitoba and Quebec, IMGs compete directly with CMGs for the samepositions. In the second iteration, there is no parallel match; all remainingpositions are made available to IMGs and CMGs who compete in an openmatch.

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Important Dates For Medical Students

2011 match

Please check these dates at www.carms.ca — Operations — Future Matches

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September 7, 2011 The Applicant Webstation opens at www.carms.ca for2011 graduates.

October 12, 2011 Program selection opens

October 28, 2011 Milestone* 1: Extra documents/transcripts (certificates,abstracts, publications NOT submitted online) expected atCaRMS

November 10, 2011 Milestone 2: Application submission

November 16, 2011 Milestone 3: Program submission

November 16, 2011 Milestone 4: MSPR arrival. Please contact your undergrad-uate office if your MSPR is not submitted within 1 week ofthis date

November 18, 2011 Milestone 5: Letters of reference due

November 23, 2011 Milestone 6: Document assignment

November 23, 2011 Milestone 7: Document Assignment

November 25, 2011 The Applicant Webstation closes. All program selectionsand supporting documentation are due in advance of thisdeadline.

December 1, 2011 The Program Webstation opens for review of applications.Interviews are granted and scheduled by the programs inthe weeks following.

January 21, 2012–February 12, 2012

National interview period. Candidates travel to the variousprograms where they have accepted interviews.

February 2, 2011 Rank-Order-List (ROL) period begins

February 21, 2012 Deadline: Applicants’ ROL are due. This is also the dead-line for withdrawal from the Match.

March 6, 2012 Match Day. Applicants log-in to the Applicant Webstation todiscover which single program they have been matched to.

*Milestones are NOT deadlines. They are merely guidelines offered by CaRMS to help you man-age your time and keep you on track throughout the process.


The Match Algorithm: How It Works

The computer-based match algorithm is executed following the submissionof applicant rank-order-lists and program rank-order-lists. These two sets oflists are the only data input. These lists are independent of each other,meaning that the order in which applicants rank their programs has nobearing whatsoever on the order in which programs rank their applicants.

So how does the algorithm actually work? In the simplest terms, anindividual applicant is matched to his or her highest ranked program, pro-vided that program is not already fully occupied by applicants who rankedhigher on the program rank-order-list. If the applicant’s first ranked pro-gram is full, the same process is applied to the applicant’s second rankedprogram, and so on, until the applicant’s rank-order-list is exhausted. In thismanner, the vast majority of applicants (94.5% in 2011!) are matched to aprogram in the first iteration of the match.

Following the first iteration, unmatched applicants can reassess theirstanding and apply to programs with unfilled positions in a separate “seconditeration”. The same algorithm is applied in this smaller match. In this man-ner, nearly all CMG applicants are matched and nearly all programs arefilled.

Applicants who remain unmatched are then able to arrange interviewsand placements into remaining programs independently of CaRMS in a“post-match process”.

What this means for medical students

• The sequence of your rank-order-list should reflect your true personalpreferences

• Rank all those programs which are acceptable to you, and do not rankany of those programs which you find unacceptable

• Post-graduate programs are not permitted to ask you questions aboutyour rank intentions and you are able to decline answering such questions

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Mini-match

To illustrate how the match works, let’s take a look at a smaller version withapplicants who have diverse career interests. This will require you to imaginethat there are only 4 residency programs in the country, each with only oneposition available.

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Colleen Esterase

1. UBC – Peds

2. McMaster – Orthopedics

3. Dalhousie – Family Med

4. NOSM – Internal Med

Mal Ignant-Hyperthermia



3. UBC – Peds

4.

Cory Za

1. UBC – Peds


3.

4.

Barb Orygmi


2. Dalhousie – Family Med

3. UBC – Peds

4. McMaster — Orthopedics

UBC – Peds

1. Colleen Esterase

2. Cory Za

3. Barb Orygmi

4.

McMaster – Orthopedics

1. Colleen Esterase

2. Cory Za

3. Barb Orygmi

4. Mal Ignant-Hyperthermia

Dalhousie – Family Med

1. Barb Orygmi

2. Colleen Esterase

3.

4.

NOSM – Internal Med

1. Colleen Esterase

2.

3.

4.

UBC – Peds

Colleen Esterase

McMaster – Orthopedics

Cory Za

Dalhousie – Family Med

Barb Orygmi

NOSM – Internal Med

Unfilled

Match

Applicant rank order list Program rank order list Results


Play-by-play

Colleen is a strong candidate and is confident about her applications andinterviews. She chooses to rank UBC Peds first as this is her preferred pro-gram but she also ranks the others, which she also finds acceptable, just incase. This is a wise strategy.

Mel also prefers UBC Peds but does not think she has much chance ofgetting in to this competitive program so she ranks it last. She leavesDalhousie Family Medicine off her list because she thinks her interviewwent terribly, even though she would like this program. These are both poorstrategies.

Cory decides after his interviews that he no longer wants to pursue aresidency in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine so he leaves them off hislist. This is a wise strategy.

Barb Orygmi really wants to go to NOSM for Internal Medicine butdoes not think her application is competitive enough. She ranks it first any-way because this is her preferred program and the other programs will neverknow she ranked them lower. This is a wise strategy.

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Discipline 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Anatomical Pathology 82% 84% 73% 100% 100%

Anesthesia 79 89 77 87 87

Cardiac Surgery 100 70 83 100 100

Community Medicine 80 81 71 70 70

Dermatology 60 56 54 59 59

Diagnostic Radiology 80 74 83 73 73

Emergency Medicine 68 75 73 69 69

Family Medicine 98 99 97 97 97

General Surgery 81 80 86 83 83

General Pathology 100 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Hem. Pathology 100 100 100 n/a n/a

Internal Medicine 91 95 94 93 93

Laboratory Medicine 88 80 83 91 94

Medical Biochemistry 100 100 100 n/a n/a

Medical Genetics 100 100 100 100 100

Medical Microbiology 75 80 57 63 63

Neurology 83 81 94 88 88

Neurology — Pediatric 83 71 75 100 67

Neuropathology n/a 100 n/a n/a n/a

Neurosurgery 80 94 83 76 76

Nuclear Medicine 100 67 62 100 100

Obstetrics/Gynecology 86 75 74 83 83

Ophthalmology 58 65 59 65 65

Orthopedic Surgery 85 86 92 82 82

Otolaryngology 67 78 66 80 80

Pediatrics 81 86 83 79 77

Physical Med & Rehab 88 100 90 80 80

Plastic Surgery 59 53 56 51 49

Psychiatry 94 92 92 97 97

Radiation Oncology 78 85 80 70 70

Urology 67 60 88 74 74

Applicant Success Rates By Discipline(% matched to first choice discipline in first iteration)


cfms match book 2011

Documents

carms match

medical schools

match results

match algorithm

pm page vtips

canadianmedical students

over7500 students

contact information