1. Residency 100: ERAS Primer Career Center December 14, 2018

2. The Match Process: A Visual

3. Career Center Roles
In collaboration with TCOM, the UNTHSC Career Center (Student Affairs), administers the following residency application processes:
Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
MODS – Military Residency Application
SF Match/CAS – Ophthalmology
Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(aka, MSPE, or “Dean’s Letter”)

4. What IS ERAS?
Electronic Residency Application Service The online common application for most AOA and ACGME and dual-accredited internship and residency programs.

5. ERAS Fees Be Prepared to Pay (based on 2019 fees):
$99 for first 10 programs, 1) per accreditation Match (AOA, ACGME), 2) per specialty.
Goes up incrementally per each 10 programs after first 10 applied ($ /each application)
Board Transcripts: $80/ea. (one time fee per transcript)
ERAS fees page (credit card only)
Consider all travel expenses!

6. ERAS Overview Student/Applicant:
Input: MyERAS (main) application fields
Upload: Personal Statement (can have multiple)
Send: COMLEX and/or USMLE (via request through respective Boards)
Request: Your LOR Authors to upload letters through ‘LOR Portal’
Attach: Photo (optional—but the programs will expect one)
Search/Select /Apply: Programs and assign documents
Career Center = “Designated Dean’s Office”:
Upload: UNTHSC/TCOM Transcript
Upload: Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE, aka, “Dean’s Letter”)
Provide: Training/Advising
Maintain: Applicant data and reports

7. Letters of Recommendation
Career Center/Designated Dean’s Office cannot upload into ERAS (universal policy)
If received for other purposes (VSAS, scholarships, etc.) maintains for 5 years as an academic record
Shoot for 4-6, specialty-specific (3 minimum for “complete” application)
Clinical Faculty!
“Confidential” status = Program perception

8. ERAS Letter Request Form
Automatically generated in your ERAS application as the applicant creates the LOR slot (place-holder) and “Confirms for Upload.”

11. LOR Portal (for letter-writers)

12. Alternatives to Author Upload
TCOM Specialty Departments can upload on behalf of LOR author only if author is unwilling to do so.
If Career Center has LOR on file, can send to Specialty Department on student’s behalf for upload.
Do NOT have LOR author send you a copy of the letter!

13. Personal Statements
One page (appx words). ERAS formatting allows for closer to 900-1,000 words to fit onto a single page
Specific to your chosen specialty / career goals
Components:
Explain your specialty choice and how you arrived at it, including a discussion of medical school rotations, clerkships, and other experiences that helped you formulate your decision. Also, why medicine as a career?
Describe what you are seeking in a residency program, i.e. research opportunities, specialized training/procedures, geographic location, etc.
Discuss your career goals; what do you plan to do in your chosen field? How can the residency program help you achieve your goals?
Send to Career Center or TCOM Career Development for review

14. MSPE, aka, “Dean’s Letter”
Also known as:
Medical Student Performance Evaluation
Three Phases:
1. Student Profile Form (submitted electronically)
Due May 1, 2019
2. Advisory College Faculty Interview
3. Writing/Editing (4th Year summer months)

15. Purpose of the MSPE
The purpose of the MSPE is not to advocate for the student, but rather to provide an honest and objective summary of the student’s personal attributes, experiences, and academic accomplishments based, to the greatest degree possible, on verifiable information and summative evaluations. When possible, comparative assessments of the student’s attributes, experiences, and accomplishments relative to their institutional peers should be provided. The MSPE is a summary letter of evaluation, not a letter of recommendation.

16. Anatomy of an MSPE Identifying Information
Noteworthy Characteristics (Three)
Academic History/Academic Progress (from transcript data and curriculum description)
Clinical Evaluation Comments – Final rotation evaluations
“Summative” rather than “Formative” comments
Summary (from Advisor)
Graphs: Comparative academic performance

17. Other Considerations
Standardized, clear, concise, easy to compare to other candidates
Highlight Six ACGME (and AACOM Osteopathic) Core Competencies
Information regarding any documented professionalism deficiencies
Holistic understanding of applicant
Information regarding medical school, curriculum, how grades are derived.

18. A Note on “Noteworthy Characteristics”
Provide information intended to help a residency program selection committee review applicants holistically to achieve a residency class that brings a diverse set of background experiences, characteristics and perspectives.
Lengthy biographical descriptions are not recommended (two sentences or less).
Include objective markers for success or other measurables (e.g., “Secured a $500,000 grant...”)

19. Noteworthy Characteristics (cont’d)
Themes to consider:
Activities that address healthcare disparities, superlatives in community service, explanations of any difficulties or overcoming of obstacles, interesting hobbies, notable honors/awards/achievements, leadership positions, unique work and life experiences, achievements in research and publications, peer educating and mentorship (including tutoring).

20. Noteworthy Characteristics (cont’d)
Examples:
Student A has shown a dedication to maintaining her health by competing in multiple triathlons during her time in medical school. Her commitment to regimented training began during her years of collegiate soccer and continues to this day.
Student B has been conducting research with Ima Doctor, DO, PhD, on the subject of epigenetic factors influencing childhood obesity since the end of his first year of medical school. This research has resulted in a series of publications including one with him as first author in the journal Lancet.
Student C is the first member of his family to graduate from college.

21. AAMC Guide/Samples

22. ERAS Timeline Anticipated 2020 ERAS Timeline:
June 2019 (projected) – AAMC/ERAS will open remaining components of the 2020 main application, called the ‘MyERAS Application.’
September 6, 2019 (projected) – Applicants may begin applying to ACGME programs
September 15, 2019 (projected) – ACGME programs begin receiving online applications

23. ERAS Timeline (cont’d)
October 1, 2019 – MSPE (Dean’s Letters) are released for all accredited programs and application systems **
** This is a national release date established by the AAMC that applies
to all medical schools and all residency programs without exception

24. What Now? Now Spring-Summer
Develop CV and Personal Statement (due by MSPE interview)
Letters of Rec: Request/follow-up (Need By: 9/1/19)
Stay active in OrgSync: Join TCOM 2020
FREE Professional photo head shot! (“Heads Up”: 1/9, 1/14)
Spring-Summer
Student Profile Form: Due by May 1, 2019
MSPE Interview with College Advisor (traditionally June-August, arranged by each Advisory College)
Attend ERAS and Residency Interviewing Workshops!

25. Other Activities and Services
Residency 101: Friday, March 1 following COMAT
ERAS Tutorial/Dean’s Letter Workshops (summer)
CV/Personal Statement Reviews
Interviewing Skills Workshops (summer-fall)
Peer Advisers (March-May)
Specialty “Class Chats” (March-April)
Internship & Residency Fair
March 1, 2019 | 1:00-4:00
MET

26. Program Suggestions for IR Fair
Send to by 1/11/19

27. JCPenney “Suit Up”:

28. https://unthsc.biginterview.com/

29. Resources and Contact Info
Career Center
Elko/Everett Luibel/Richards Beyer/Zachary
Nancy Eanes Lydia Negron Jimmy Renfro
(817) (817) (817)
SSC 200 / (817)
Appointments
(Grades First)
ERAS Questions

30. On the Web / Social Media

31. https://unthscconnect.com/
HSC Connect