Joining the National Resident Matching Program Fellowship Match: the hematopathology experience

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology Subspecialties

Background:

• Hematopathology fellowship interviews were occurring earlier each year.
• This created challenges for program directors and applicants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of integrating hematopathology into the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match.
• To assess the benefits of a centralized matching system for hematopathology fellowships.

Main Methods:

• The Society for Hematopathology Education Committee surveyed program directors regarding participation.
• Informational webinars, social media, and email campaigns were used to recruit programs.
• Program and applicant data from the 2025 Match were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 83% of hematopathology fellowships participated in the 2025 Match.
• 85% of fellowship positions were filled, and 94.7% of applicants were matched.
• A follow-up survey indicated 98% of program directors planned to participate in 2026.

Conclusions:

• The Pathology Fellowship Match demonstrated mutual benefits for hematopathology programs and applicants.
• The Match successfully streamlined the application and placement process.
• High satisfaction rates suggest continued success for future matches.