Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Fellowship Match

AANA and AOSSM joined efforts to establish a Match beginning in 2008. AANA & AOSSM will again be utilizing the San Francisco Matching Services (SF Match) to administer the Match. Applicants interested in applying to the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Match should register with SF Match and obtain and complete the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Match Central Application Service (CAS). All applications must be submitted to SF Match to distribute to fellowship programs. Applications sent directly to fellowship programs will not be accepted.

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Programs are eligible to participate in the Match if they are ACGME Accredited, Accredited by the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA), AANA recognized fellowship or have submitted an application to the ACGME prior to August 15. Unaccredited programs are clearly designated in the Participating Programs listing and on the San Francisco Match Web site. Unaccredited programs DO NOT qualify for sub specialty certification in sports medicine through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Programs listed on the AOSSM website are the programs that have agreed to participate in the Match. Military programs are handled through the Military Match and are not listed on our site.

It is particularly important that resident applicants, program directors and faculty, as well as residency directors and faculty fully understand the match process and policies.

Program Directors will need to log into their AOSSM account to view the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Match Agreement.  

Interview dates by region  

Fellowship Match Programs for 2013 (Training Period 2014-2015) 

2013/14 Match Timeline
For training beginning August 1, 2015 (ending July 31, 2016) 

July 23 – August 16, 2013: Programs to complete online Match Agreement and submit payment of $150 (payable to AOSSM). 

After August 16, 2013: Late fee of $500 will be applied

September 3, 2013: Registration opens for applicants on SF Match Web site. Applicants can register for match and download a copy of the CAS application.  List of participating fellowship programs on SF Match Web site.

October 1, 2013: Advertisements with the programs in AJSM, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Update 

November 1, 2013: Application Deadline. All applications must be received by SF Match to be distributed to fellowship programs

December 2, 2013 – Interview invitations to be sent out by programs (no earlier than 12/2 though)

January 2, 2014: Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Interviews Begin

March 23, 2013: Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Interviews End

March 25, 2014: Rank lists due to SF Match from both programs and applicants

April 9, 2014: Programs notified if they filled

April 10, 2014: Match Day

Statement on Communication-Post Interview 

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Match 

• Who is running the Match?

  The orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship match is sponsored by AOSSM  and AANA and is administered by SFMatch, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. SFMatch has provided matching services for more than 50,000 residents and fellows since 1977. The Society established an eight person Fellowship Match Committee,LINK comprised mostly of leaders who are not running a fellowship program, to administer and police the Match.

• Are programs required to participate?

  No. Each year programs will have the option to participate. The AOSSM and AANA Boards strongly encourage participation and provide incentives for those who do participate. Once committed, however, programs are required to participate in the program for the duration of that term – 1 year.

• Who may participate in the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship Match?

  All orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) or who have formally applied to the ACGME for accreditation prior to August 15 can participate in the Match.

  Programs that are not accredited will be clearly identified to all match participants since their fellows will be ineligible for ABOS subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine.
  
  Applicants who wish to participate in the Match will register directly with the SF Match.

• Can a participating program commit only some of its positions to the Match?

  No. The leadership feels strongly that those who want to participate in a match must fully commit to the Match. It also feels strongly that candidates who commit to the match can only select their position through the Match. Exercising other options only undermines participation. The only exception is for positions that by definition do not qualify as a fellowship position under the Match agreement: 
   

  • International positions that are available only to non-US candidates and are so designated upon signing the Match agreement.

   

• What are the incentives and benefits of participating in the Match?

   

  The Society believes participation in the Match is important for a thorough and fair selection of candidates/programs, and wants to ensure its success. AOSSM and AANA are providing the following benefits to encourage a large number of applicants and programs to participate:

  • The Match will include a Centralized Application Service (CAS) that will allow candidates to complete one application and to distribute it to any programs participating in the Match, online. Non-participating programs and applicants will not be able to use the CAS.
  • AOSSM and AANA will publicize participating programs’ names, contact information and selected program information on the AOSSM and AANA websites, in advertisements in AJSM, Arthroscopy and in Sports Medicine Update so that applicants have ready knowledge of the number and quality of programs participating. This publicity – including listing on the AOSSM and AANA websites -- will not be available to programs that choose not to participate in the Match.
     
  • AOSSM will send a mailing to residents and residency directors further promoting the availability of the match, its benefits and the programs that are participating in the Match.
     
  • The Society will limit eligibility to the Young Investigator Grant to participants in the Match.
     
  • Other incentives will be considered and provided, as needed.

   

• Does the Match have disincentives (teeth)

  Yes. Before programs can participate in the Match, they must sign a detailed contract with the Society obligating them to select their positions only through the Match. Failure to adhere to the commitment incurs the following penalties:

  • A $7,500 fine
  • Exclusion from participating in the Match for 2 match cycles
  • Exclusion from presenting at the AOSSM and AANA Annual Meeting and Specialty Day by Program Directors for 2 years and by other program faculty for 1 year
  • Exclusion from serving on the AOSSM and AANA Board and committees by Program Directors for 2 years and by program faculty for 1 year

   
   

• Will applicants be penalized if they withdraw from the Match or if they fail to accept a matched position?

  Yes. An applicant who registers with the Match cannot withdraw from the program without violating their commitment to the program. Applicants who do not follow through on their commitment:
  
  • Forfeit their ability to become AOSSM Candidate Members or AANA Associate Members
  • Disqualify themselves from receiving certain AOSSM grants
  • Must reimburse AOSSM for each application submitted on their behalf through the CAS
   

• When will the Match occur?

  The Match timeframe has been consolidated from previous iterations to focus the interview and selection process and to limit the waiting period for applicants and programs. Following is the timeline that is being established for the Match.
  
  2013/14 Match Timeline
  For training beginning August 1, 2015 (ending July 31, 2016)
   

  July 23 – August 16, 2013: Programs to complete online Match Agreement and submit payment of $150 (payable to AOSSM) 

  After August 16, 2013: Late fee of $500 will be applied

  September 3, 2013: Registration opens for applicants on SF Match Web site. Applicants can register for match and download a copy of the CAS application.  List of participating fellowship programs on SF Match Web site.

  October 1, 2013: Advertisements with the programs in AJSM, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Update

  November 1, 2013: Application Deadline. All applications must be received by SF Match to be distributed to fellowship programs

  December 2, 2013 – Interview invitations to be sent out by programs (no earlier than 12/1 though)

  January 2, 2014: Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Interviews Begin

  March 23, 2014: Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Interviews End

  March 25, 2014: Rank lists due to SF Match from both programs and applicants

  April 9, 2014: Programs notified if they filled

  April 10, 2014: Match Day

• How can I make an informed decision about participating in the Match?

  The Match has enjoyed strong participation by both programs and applicants for the past three years, with 97 percent of all orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship programs and 97 percent of all fellowship positions offered through the Match.  In addition, the Society has implemented a number of steps to ensure the new program is fully developed and program directors are fully informed of how the program works and who intends to participate.
  
  The Program Agreement outlines in detail the obligations and responsibilities that program directors must sign before they can participate in the Match. Program directors can view and submit the Match Agreement by logging in to their AOSSM account.
   

• How much will it cost to participate in the Match?

  The cost of the Match is minimal. Each program must submit $150 to be enrolled in the program. If you have not recently participated, there is also a $350 set-up fee. Applicants must pay $100 to register with the SF Match and pay additional fees depending upon the number of programs they wish to distribute their application.