Medical Education | Aug 2, 2023

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Residency Application Platform for Obstetrics and Gynecology

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ACOG, in collaboration with the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, recently announced a new dedicated obstetrics and gynecology residency application, to be available starting in the 2024/25 residency application cycle.

This new specialty-specific process for residency application, review and selection will be available for adoption by all obstetrics and gynecology residency programs and applicants in lieu of the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Emerging from ACOG, CREOG, and APGO’s Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One initiative, which is funded by the AMA’s Reimagining Residency grant program, this new application platform will improve the ability of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs to evaluate candidates holistically and better ensure that our obstetrics and gynecology trainees are able to meet the needs of the communities for whom they provide care. The new application will be more user friendly and efficient, less expensive for applicants, and will directly decrease the burdens faced by program directors, program managers, and applicants alike.

Below are answers to questions that applicants and residency program staff may have about this new application. ACOG, CREOG, and APGO look forward to incorporating feedback from program directors, program managers, and applicants as they move forward with the building, testing, and implementation of this application. If you have any questions or input to share, reach out to [email protected].

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How will the new application platform improve the application experience for applicants?

  The new platform will allow applicants to receive a more holistic review by the residency programs to which they apply. The platform is mobile-friendly and will support streamlined collection of recommendations and credentials, making the application process seamless and user friendly. It will incorporate the full suite of interview season functions, including application submission, review, offer and interview, and rank list submission.

• Q: How will the new application platform improve the way that obstetrics and gynecology residency programs process applications?

  The new platform will allow programs to apply data science to better align programs and applicants and improve staff efficiency at no cost to programs. Residency programs will be able to undertake a more holistic review of applicants. It will provide critical tools and support services to drive an effective selection process and provide better applicant support at a time when resources and staffing are limited.

• Q: How will the new application platform affect applicants financially?

  The platform will include immediate fee reductions that will help counter the skyrocketing application costs faced by obstetrics and gynecology residency applicants.

• Q: Has the new application platform been used by any other specialties?

  The new application platform capitalizes on similar centralized application service technology platforms offered by Liaison (the platform’s host company) and used by numerous health professions training and education programs, including dental education, osteopathic medical schools, physical therapy programs, pharmacy and veterinary schools, and many large-scale state systems and graduate education institutions. With over 30 years of experience, Liaison has successfully onboarded more than 40,000 programs to the platform and processes approximately 3.5 million applications annually using its centralized education service technology.

• Q: What motivated the move to the new application platform?

  The decision to launch a new application platform for obstetrics and gynecology residency program applications was inspired by the Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One initiative, which is funded by the AMA’s Reimagining Residency grant program. Among other goals, the grant program is dedicated to improving the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education.

• Q: Will multispecialty applicants still have to use ERAS for other applications?

  Yes. The new application platform will only support applications to obstetrics and gynecology residency programs.

• Q: Will partner match still be available for obstetrics and gynecology applicants?

  Obstetrics and gynecology applicants will use the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) for the Match. This new application does not change how the applicant or programs interact with the NRMP Match system.

• Q: Will the new application platform work with the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP)?

  The platform will allow applicants to upload all the materials they need to enter SOAP.

• Q: How can applicants and residency program staff find out more information about how to use the new application platform?

  ACOG, APGO, and CREOG will be developing a series of webinars to help prepare all end users to successfully adopt the new application platform from day one. Stay tuned for information from ACOG about when those webinars will be available.

• Q: How will the new application platform impact 2023/24 cycle applicants?

  The platform will have no impact on the 2023/24 cycle applicants, who will continue to use the Electronic Residency Application Service.

• Q: Will this new application apply to obstetrics and gynecology subspecialty fellowship applications?

  No; at this time, the new application will only support obstetrics and gynecology residency programs.