Rob ChisholmRob ChisholmMSU/KCMSMSU/KCMS

Kalamazoo, MIKalamazoo, MI““S” DayS” Day

March 18, 2003March 18, 2003

Our Interview SeasonOur Interview Season NRMP Quota: 10NRMP Quota: 10~450 applications/~125 ~450 applications/~125

invitedinvited97 Interviews/95 Ranked97 Interviews/95 RankedNo history of scramblingNo history of scramblingNo worries……right?No worries……right?

March 18March 18PD – Day shift in the EDPD – Day shift in the EDPC – 4PC – 4thth Match Day and Match Day and

anxiously awaiting the email anxiously awaiting the email from the NRMPfrom the NRMP

11:29am…….11:29am…….

………….11:30am.11:30am““The” email is openedThe” email is opened

Holy #!@!Holy #!@!

What do I do?What do I do?6/10 spots filled6/10 spots filledSeriously, what do I do?Seriously, what do I do?From whom do I seek advice? From whom do I seek advice?

-Ask primary care -Ask primary care programsprograms

The game planThe game planEstablished a mode of Established a mode of contactcontact

a. Phone, email, faxa. Phone, email, faxHave PD get someone to Have PD get someone to cover his shift (priority!!)cover his shift (priority!!)

Wrote a verbal acceptance Wrote a verbal acceptance form adapted for EMform adapted for EM

By 12:00pmishBy 12:00pmishPD now in the officePD now in the officeNo lunch hours today (order No lunch hours today (order

something for delivery)something for delivery)The bombardment begins The bombardment begins One phone line, two fax One phone line, two fax

machines available (why?)machines available (why?)

By 1:00pmishBy 1:00pmishApplicant list narrowed down Applicant list narrowed down

to four candidates. Verbal to four candidates. Verbal acceptance letters faxed. All acceptance letters faxed. All accepted offer.accepted offer.

So, who did we get?So, who did we get?2 with prior GME2 with prior GME2 that we no-ranked…ouch2 that we no-ranked…ouchNo academic or clinical issues No academic or clinical issues

with any of these and one with any of these and one was a chief residentwas a chief resident

What did we learn?What did we learn?Never Never EVEREVER let your PD be let your PD be

scheduled to work a day shift scheduled to work a day shift on the day we find out if your on the day we find out if your program filledprogram filled

Be prepared even if your Be prepared even if your program has never scrambled program has never scrambled (it could happen to you)!!(it could happen to you)!!

Continued…..Continued…..10-12:1 ratio of interviews to spots 10-12:1 ratio of interviews to spots

2001 – 9.28, 2010 – 11.11 2001 – 9.28, 2010 – 11.11 Prepare commitment letter in advancePrepare commitment letter in advanceSet up method of communication – Set up method of communication –

indicated on NRMP: fax, email, ERASindicated on NRMP: fax, email, ERASERAS>Tools>Filter/Sort>Scramble ERAS>Tools>Filter/Sort>Scramble

Applications Applications

Continued…..againContinued…..againHave an applicant filtering Have an applicant filtering

questionnaire readyquestionnaire readyGet help answering phones/prepare Get help answering phones/prepare

message when phone is busymessage when phone is busyUtilize NRMP web site when positions Utilize NRMP web site when positions

are filledare filledTry to rank everyone you interviewedTry to rank everyone you interviewed