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The Match 2014

This past Thursday was, for many, an excellent day and for others a terrible one. It was the Residency Match 2014. Most of us in podiatry have at least a basic understanding of the residency match process, so I'll avoid the boring explanations.

For those of you interested in numbers, here's what CASPR reports as released from the AACPM and COTH (accessed March 22, 2014):

"You will be interested in knowing that the 2014 CASPR computer match program included 621 applicants contending for 550 positions at 214 podiatric residency programs nationwide. This resulted in 504 applicants (81%) being successfully matched to 92% of the CASPR available residency positions."

Here's some additional reporting on this year's results:

2014 AACPM Residency Information

2014 Unfilled Positions - Entry Level

PMNews March 24, 2014 #5,020 reported that 117 applicants did not match this year. Forty-six programs reported no match for their selected candidates. Those 117 applicants now have the option of scrambling for a position. As of Sunday, 25 additional positions had been filled in the scramble, leaving 83 unmatched graduates for 22 available positions.

Tonight's Premier Lecture is
New Approaches to Tinea Pedis
Warren Joseph, DPM, FIDSA

As a new residency director, this was my first year participating in the match, and I found it an interesting, if not a somewhat stressful activity. A lot of work goes into this process, and it should be so considering the number of people whose futures depend on the results.

To Those Who Matched

For those of you who matched into a program, you have my congratulations. Enjoy the sigh of relief and satisfaction knowing you won't have to scramble for a position. Now that you're almost done with your podiatric undergraduate training and are looking to your next step, I'd like to give a little unsolicited advice.

	1.	Enjoy the moment and pat yourself on the back. You earned this success.
	2.	Don't get senioritis. School isn't over yet, and you still have a few months left to continue learning. If you think you have nothing left to learn in school, then you're sorely mistaken.
	3.	Start preparing for your residency. Besides figuring out where to live and all the moving arrangements, consider also that you're going to be a bit more independent as a resident, and you're going to have a greater chance to help – and hurt – your patients. Alter your studies with the aim of treating all of your patients as if they're your family.

To Those Who Didn't Match

	1.	Don't lose hope. It's not the end of the world. You're going to get through this unfortunate situation.
	2.	Figure out what you did wrong. Yes, YOU. Don't blame your school, residencies, the podiatry community, or anyone else. For those candidates I've met that didn't match the first time, there was something they did wrong. What that was varies. Perhaps you didn't interview with enough programs. Maybe your GPA was terrible. Maybe you didn't interview well. Did you put all your eggs in one geographic basket? Did you demonstrate with your curriculum vitae that you did more during your 4 years of school besides studying? It can be any number of things, and you'll need to look honestly at yourself, both your strong and weak points. Speak to your school professors, friends, and anyone who knows your work. They can provide valuable feedback if you listen with an open mind.
	3.	Pick yourself up and come up with a plan. If you're not lucky enough to find a program during the scramble, then you will plan to interview during the next cycle. In the next year, find a way to stay involved in podiatry to keep your skills and knowledge sharp. Work in someone's office. Do a preceptorship. Consider obtaining a postgraduate degree such as a master's program. Fill in whatever deficiencies you might have. If you're shy and interviewed poorly, then practice that until you're good. If it's a poor GPA, consider ways that would counterbalance that, such as demonstrating your strong clinical skills. Travel and see new programs. Show those programs why THEY need YOU to be their next resident.

Finally, don't give up hope. If this is the career you truly wanted, then you'll find a way to do it. Persistence really does pay in life. Understand that this is a tough time in your life, and you will learn and grow from this adversity.

For those of you in practice with resources to help our struggling colleagues, consider how you can help. Perhaps you can use an office assistant for a year. Maybe you're in a state that allows preceptorships. Help that individual learn and grow so they can be successful in the future.

As in all things in life, the Match is one thing to some and something else to others. For all, I hope this marks a time of personal growth, success, and the start of something great.

Best wishes,

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor
[email protected]