Student Research of Residency Programs

Grace Bunemann, OMSIV - Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
EMRA MSC Osteopathic Coordinator, 2021-2023

Researching residency programs can be quite a task. According to ACGME, there are 279 EM residency programs including newly accredited programs with future effective dates. As a specialty, we are fortunate to have a residency database specifically for emergency medicine programs called EMRA Match. It is incredibly helpful for researching, collecting, and organizing information about residency programs.

EMRA Match includes numerous categories including location, program length, number of intern positions, primary training site, ED volume, and many more. Programs can also attach additional links to websites, social media platforms, etc. These additional links vary greatly from across institutions. The continued rise in popularity of social media in conjunction with the pandemic have pushed more programs to create an online presence and it is critical that programs continue to enter the digital space to connect with applicants.

Today, most medical students have had regular access to the internet for a majority of our lives. We like accessing information in order to make informed decisions. Through online spaces, it is possible for applicants to get a feel for programs and decide whether or not they are a good fit or not. The NRMP MATCH process is about both students showcasing themselves to prospective residency programs and programs highlighting themselves & their attributes to applicants. Maintaining up to date websites and social media channels allows for applicants to learn the basics & more about your program leaving more time for you to connect with them at meet & greets, virtual residency fairs, etc.

Complementary to EMRA MATCH are tools like Residency Explorer and FREIDA. Each resource provides information about residency programs in a slightly different manner. Residency Explorer allows applicants to enter their stats and view how they compare to current residents at each program. While FREIDA features information about the programs compensation and leave policies, employment policies and benefits, major medical benefits, etc.

EMRA Match will continue to be updated and improved as the 2023 application cycle approaches!

TIPS:
1. Be organized: Use a spreadsheet or notebook to track information!
2. Follow programs on social media: Attend meet & greets or other public events they sponsor!
3. Attend the EMRA Virtual Residency Fair: Mark your calendars for August 13 - 18, 2022!