Who is running the match?
The orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship match is sponsored by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and will be
administered by SFMatch, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which has provided matching services for over
50,000 residents and fellows since 1977. The Society is establishing a 5 person Fellowship Match Committee, comprised mostly of leaders who are
not running a fellowship program, to administer and police the Match.
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, 2009 can participate
in the match. In addition, non-accredited programs that are AANA recognized fellowships or who have applied for recognition by August 15, 2009
can participate in the match.
There presently are 90 accredited programs with 224 fellowship positions that qualify for the match.
There are 6 non-accredited programs that are AANA recognized fellowships with 6 positions that also qualify for
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.
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 exceptions are for positions that by definition
do not qualify as a fellowship position under the match agreement: 1) research fellowships that exceed the one year
training period, and 2) international positions that are available only to non-US candidates and are so designated
upon signing the match agreement.
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.
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 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:
• 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.
Note: The AOSSM and AANA remain strongly committed to blinding abstracts during the grading process, so “policing” of this provision will not be integrated into the grading process.
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.
2009/10 Match Timeline:
For training beginning August 1, 2011
July 15 – August 15, 2009 - Programs to return signed Agreement and check $150 (payable to SF Match) to AOSSM without late fee.
Programs will register their program via Web link provided by AOSSM once their match agreement has been received and processed.
After August 15, 2009 - Late fee of $500 will be applied
September 1, 2009 – 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, 2009 – Advertisements with the programs in AJSM, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Update.
December 1, 2009 - Application Deadline. All applications must be received by SF Match to be distributed to fellowship programs.
January 1, 2010 – Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Interviews Begin
March 26, 2010 – Rank List Due to SF Match Offices from both programs and applicants
Monday, April 12, 2010 – Programs notified if they filled.
Applicants notified if they did/did not match
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Match Day
How can I make an informed decision about participating in the Match?
Given the uneven history under the former match program, the Society is taking several 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 attached Program Agreement outlines in detail the obligations and responsibilities that program directors
must sign before they can participate in the match. It is based on the Match that was sponsored by the American
Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and is comprehensive.
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. 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.