Class of 2019 and the Merger

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Yoda DO

Grand Master of the Jedi Order
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I will be graduating in 2019 and wondered how the merger will specifically effect how my class will match. Will we still have both the AOA and ACGME at that point?
 
I'm hoping as class of 2019 we can receive some sort of benefits from the merger even if it is not fully complete by then. Would be nice to not have to chose between AOA or ACGME residencies and be able to apply to both and rank accordingly instead.
 
I'm hoping as class of 2019 we can receive some sort of benefits from the merger even if it is not fully complete by then. Would be nice to not have to chose between AOA or ACGME residencies and be able to apply to both and rank accordingly instead.

Yeah buy 2019 there should be but a few AOA programs not accredited. Am also hoping that by that point we can just put all our eggs into the NRMP basket and not have to stress about matching into an AOA program and risking dropping it for an ACGME one since their match is later on in the cycle. @meliora27 always has good insight about this.
 
Nope. All AOA residencies have to 2020 (can't remember when in 2020) to achieve full ACGME accreditation. After that, the AOA ceases to be an accrediting body. Nothing has been said for sure about the match, however.

June 30th, 2020. Programs can transition from July 1st, 2015 to June 30th, 2020.
 
@AlteredScale, my understanding of it, as @hallowmann noted, from July 1, 2015 until June 30, 2020, AOA programs will have to transition from AOA to ACGME standards.

Some programs will probably take that long, while other programs will achieve ACGME status earlier (there are some surgical programs I have heard of that should be ACGME accredited by 2017 for example.)

So, between now and then (6/30/20), each year there should presumably be more programs in the NRMP match and less programs in the AOA match.

*Wild Speculation Time* - There may be some caveat due to contractual obligations with NMS (the AOA match administrator) that may bind programs for a few years to still use the NMS even though they have ACGME status. When you get lot of dollars on the line, and lawyers and contracts, crazy things could happen. However, my sense of the matter is that once programs are ACGME accredited, they will be part of the NRMP match.
 
Just thought I would add this...interesting.

"Multiple agencies conduct residency and fellowship matches. None of these matches is administered by the ACGME, nor are the agencies administering the matches affiliated with the ACGME. The process of matching individuals to residency and fellowship programs is not part of the agreement among the ACGME, the AOA, and AACOM."

http://www.acgme.org/acgmeweb/Portals/0/PDFs/Nasca-Community/FAQs.pdf

"The MD Match is administered by the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), not the ACGME, and the osteopathic Match by the National Matching Services (NMS). Consequently, this is an issue that can be resolved only when the NRMP and NMS join our discussions. However, if all programs are considered ACGME-accredited after the transition to a single GME system is complete, it is likely there ultimately will be one Match. During the transition, as AOA programs get approved by the ACGME, we expect to begin conversations with the NRMP and the NMS to see the best way to administer the match during the transition process."

http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/single-gme-accreditation-system/Pages/faq-students.aspx
 
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