Match Ready

2️⃣ Waiver 📜 Policy Reference: Section 4(d)(i) “A waiver will be granted by the NRMP if: The applicant is confirmed to be ineligible to begin training in the matched position(s) by the start date.” (This includes visa denial.) 🔹 You’re officially released from the Match contract. 🔹 Can reapply next cycle. 🔹 Keeps your Match record clean and avoids penalties. ✅ Necessary if deferral isn’t offered or possible.

1. Deferral ✅ If You Want to Keep the Same Program Spot for Next Year: You and the Program Must Mutually Agree to a Deferral The policy does allow for a 1-year deferral if both the applicant and the program agree. 🔑 See Section 4(g) and Section 7: "A deferral will be considered by the NRMP only if both parties agree to delay the start of training." Steps: Program and applicant agree in writing to defer the start by one year. Submit a deferral request to NRMP (not a waiver). If NRMP approves, the program can hold the spot. The applicant cannot re-enter the Match for that same year. Program can recruit a replacement for this year But still agree to honor the deferred applicant next year. 🛑 Key Caveats: Deferrals are not common and completely depend on the program's willingness. Programs are under no obligation to offer a deferred spot. The NRMP won’t force a program to hold your position for next year.

🚨 J1 Visa Denied After Match? Read This 🚨 If your visa is denied and you can’t start residency, you have 2 official options under NRMP: 1️⃣ Deferral – If your program agrees to hold your spot for next year, both of you can request a 1-year deferral from NRMP. 2️⃣ Waiver – If deferral isn’t possible, you must request a waiver from NRMP to be officially released from your Match contract so you can reapply next cycle without penalty. ❗️Never ghost the program — use these formal paths to protect your career and stay in good standing.

I thought this was worth sharing for those interested: If you are a health care facility or a health care professional looking to make patient appointment management streamlined, we recommend checking out Hakime: a medical appointment management platform designed to bring ease and efficiency to your practice. Hakime offers you: * 24/7 Patient Booking: Empower your patients to book appointments with you anytime, anywhere, reducing phone calls and administrative burden. * Real-time Availability: Clearly display your open time slots, ensuring patients can easily find and book appointments that work for both of you. * Intuitive Calendar View: Gain a complete overview of all your patient appointments at a glance with our user-friendly calendar interface. * Hospital Integration (Add-on): For hospitals, our specialized add-on provides a centralized overview of all doctor and patient appointments, streamlining operations and improving coordination. Onboarding to Hakime platform. * You can sign up to hakime as a health care professional of facility by visiting pro.hakime.et * The team is offering to help with onboarding from the beginning and they have 6 months completely free service. 👉More information about the platform can be found at hakime.et 👉Checkout their FAQ (hakime.et/faqs) page for questions and you can also contact the team directly at contact@hakime.et 👉Book a slot for an introductory call about the platform here: https://calendly.com/contact-hakime/hakime-on-boarding-meeting?month=2025-06

In a remarkable stride, six Ethiopian applicants matched at Cook County this year equaling the total number who matched there over the past decade. This moment is more than just numbers; it’s a reflection of the growing recognition of the talent, resilience, and commitment that applicants from our community bring to the field. As our network expands, so will our collective impact. To those who matched, congratulations on a well-earned milestone. And to those still on the journey, this is one of the strongest moments to be in the cycle. You’ve already overcome some of the hardest challenges. Stay persistent. The door will open.

To the #Match2025 Applicants – we know how intense this journey can be, but trust me—you are stronger than you think. You’ve put in the work, navigated the challenges, and shown resilience every step of the way. But let me tell you, being on the other side as a mentor is just as nerve-wracking. Guiding some of you through each step to the best of our abilities and now waiting to see where you match feels like waiting for our own results. The pride, excitement, and anticipation are real. No matter what happens, know that you’ve already succeeded— irrespective of the result you have proved your dedication to medicine. Can't wait to see where your journey takes you! Wishing you all the best! 💙 Good luck everyone Match Ready Team

How can Ethiopian medical schools gain accreditation recognized by WFME? To ensure that Ethiopian medical schools are recognized under the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) standards, Ethiopia must establish or designate a national accrediting agency that meets WFME’s recognition criteria. This process involves several key steps: 1. Establish or Designate an Accrediting Agency: • Identify or create a governmental or independent professional body authorized to accredit medical schools in Ethiopia. This agency should be recognized by relevant national authorities, such as the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education. 2. Develop Accreditation Standards: • Formulate accreditation standards tailored to the local context, ensuring they align with international benchmarks for medical education quality. These standards may be based on WFME’s Global Standards for Quality Improvement in Basic Medical Education or other comparable frameworks. 3. Apply for WFME Recognition: • Eligibility Application: Submit an initial application to WFME to assess the agency’s eligibility for the recognition process. This step includes a non-refundable assessment fee of $1,000 USD. • Self-Evaluation and Site Visit: Upon eligibility confirmation, conduct a comprehensive self-evaluation and prepare for a site visit by WFME representatives. The agency is responsible for covering the travel and accommodation expenses of the WFME recognition team during this visit. • Recognition Decision: After the evaluation, WFME will provide a report detailing the extent to which the agency meets recognition criteria, along with quality improvement recommendations. The final decision on recognition will be made by the WFME Recognition Committee. 4. Financial Considerations: • Recognition Process Fee: The total fee for the full recognition process is $60,000 USD, which includes the initial $1,000 assessment fee. This fee covers administrative support, evaluation procedures, and the preparation of the final recognition report. • Annual Monitoring Fee: Starting January 1, 2025, WFME will implement an annual monitoring fee of $2,000 USD to support the ongoing evaluation of recognized agencies. This fee will be applied to each annual monitoring report to maintain the quality and efficiency of the review processes. By following these steps and meeting WFME’s criteria, Ethiopia can establish a recognized accrediting agency, thereby ensuring that its medical schools are accredited to international standards.

To answer your questions about this once and for all What is Intealth’s Recognized Accreditation Policy? Starting in late 2024, Intealth’s Recognized Accreditation Policy aims to promote high, consistent standards for medical education worldwide by ensuring medical schools are accredited by agencies that have been reviewed and recognized by trusted, external quality assurance organizations. The goal is to support quality in global health care education, improving standards for evaluating medical schools. What Does “Recognized Accreditation” Mean? Recognized Accreditation is when a medical school’s accrediting agency has been reviewed and endorsed by a quality assurance organization. Intealth approves these quality assurance organizations, and medical schools accredited by agencies recognized by an Intealth-approved organization meet the policy’s standards. Approved Quality Assurance Organizations As of now, Intealth has approved two organizations to recognize accrediting agencies: 1. World Federation for Medical Education (WFME): WFME evaluates accrediting agencies to ensure they meet high, international standards. 2. National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA): NCFMEA, authorized by the U.S. Department of Education, compares the accreditation standards of foreign medical schools to those in the U.S. What Will Change in Late 2024? Once implemented, the Recognized Accreditation Policy will add a notation to a medical school’s listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools if the school meets the policy’s requirements. This information will also be noted in ECFMG Status Reports for students and graduates applying for U.S. medical residencies, providing useful background on their education. What Will Not Change: 1. ECFMG Certification Eligibility: Even if a medical school does not meet the new Recognized Accreditation Policy, students and graduates are still eligible for ECFMG Certification as long as their school meets existing requirements. 2. ECFMG Sponsor Note Eligibility: This policy does not impact a school’s eligibility for an ECFMG Sponsor Note. 3. Other ECFMG Services: Services like EPIC remain unaffected. In summary, the Recognized Accreditation Policy adds reporting about a medical school’s accreditation status but does not affect individuals’ eligibility for ECFMG Certification.

https://youtu.be/gT0AMSBUiTA?si=kjZOlmIhOAArvLMU

Contrary to what you believe; internal medicine is far from being the least competitive specialty. In fact, specialties like - Family medicine - Emergency medicine - Preliminary medicine or surgery - Pathology - Neurology - Pediatrics - And list goes on generally have lower competitiveness. The bottom line? If you’re finding it challenging to secure interviews in categorical internal medicine, consider broadening your strategy. Diversify your applications to include preliminary programs and related specialties, such as family medicine, neurology, and emergency medicine. Expanding your options can increase your chances and open pathways you might not have considered.

As we stand in the eve of another record breaking #Match2025 season that is shaping up to be the biggest and largest number of 🇪🇹 applicants—we are so proud of each and every one of your accomplishments.Everyday we get so many texts and messages that we all inspired and showed you that everything is possible with hard work and we did really change the landscape of what’s possible!We just want to say as you are in the final stages of submitting your applications for #Match2025 we encourage you to go in the direction of your dreams.You have come so far and you should stand tall and show the world what you are made of. When the world beats you down, find a reason to get back up again. Never give up on the success. Try, try, try and try again. Feed your mind ideas of success, not failure.Remember, the only way you can fail is if you give up. Every time you fail, you come one step closer to success. Go for your dreams; it is your turn!!!We all can’t wait to see where you all end up and wish you the best of luck in another great application cycle!We sincerely wish everyone a successful match season!!!! With Regards Match Ready Team

Amboss useful links [v] Preventative Medicine https://next.amboss.com/us/article/Wj0Pzf?q=std%20screening#1-12wj0 [v] Health care system -* https://next.amboss.com/us/article/Np0-pS  ===> 7 =8 QUESTIONS  [v] infection prevention and control https://next.amboss.com/us/article/WQ0PEf ==> 11=12 QUESTIONS [v] patient communication and counseling https://next.amboss.com/us/article/3K0STS  =====> 13 =14 QUESTIONS [v] palliative medicine (very important) https://next.amboss.com/us/article/3n0SGg  ======> 7 =9 QUESTIONS [v] quality and safety https://next.amboss.com/us/article/mp0VJS  ======> 29==43 QUESTIONS [v] ethics https://next.amboss.com/us/article/DO01uT  ======> 73===75 QUESTIONS [v] Death (very important) https://next.amboss.com/us/article/vP0AgT  ======> 5===6(1Q also ethics)QUESTIONS [v] Vaccination == 9 [v] Immunization schedule==== 16 Total Questions from these Article: 152==187 questions EDIT- links: Health care system -https://next.amboss.com/us/article/Np0-pS infection prevention and control https://next.amboss.com/us/article/WQ0PEf patient communication and counseling https://next.amboss.com/us/article/3K0STS overview of palliative medicine https://next.amboss.com/us/article/3n0SGg quality and safety https://next.amboss.com/us/article/mp0VJS ethics https://next.amboss.com/us/article/DO01uT palliative medicine (very important) https://next.amboss.com/us/article/3n0SGg Death (very important) https://next.amboss.com/us/article/vP0AgT vaccination https://next.amboss.com/us/article/_m05Rg?q=vaccinations#Zce79039ee0c9c756b2e006d3be169afc prevention https://next.amboss.com/us/article/Wj0Pzf?q=primary+prevention#Z36cbb165fdbe3a26b21fa941d90737fe https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1moshYf7XCRNo7rtEenDfIQhnqA_XT81c?usp=shaking

Non-US IMG grom Ethiopia: Step 2 CK score 275, took the exam in June My advice on preparation The whole Step 2 preparation took me 5 months, but aside from the 5 weeks of intensive, I was so busy with work and personal life and I didn’t use the rest of the time properly. Phase 1: I started my preparation for Step 2 the day I took Step 1 and UWORLD was the material I began with. I did 40 questions per day and did my first pass system-wise. I can’t stress this enough, but I read every explanation with great attention to algorithms. I also listened to DIP’s shelf review and the episodes he recommended for Step 2 on his Divine Patch episode. When I finished each system, I read White Coat Companion with UWorld’s notes annotated. This step helped me consolidate my knowledge. My score on UWorld first pass was between 77 % and 94%. I also read “UWorld Notes” as a revision once I was done with UWorld. Phase 2: By the time I was done with UWorld, I only had 5 weeks till the exam. So, I decided to dedicate 16.5 hours per day for the rest of my preparation. During my dedicated, I did all CMS forms, AMBOSS Qbank (Score: 90%), HY Questions and articles, repeated UWorld Qbank (Score: 93 -96%), listened to DIP rapid review, did NBME 9 to 14(Score: 260s to 270s), UWSA 1 & 2 and revised selected topics on FA Step 1. For Amboss Qbank and UWorld second pass, I did 500Q per day, exam mode. I only read explanations for my wrongs and questions I had doubts about. I took notes on all the materials I read or listened to. Phase 3: The last week of my intensive was used solely for revision of the notes I have taken so far and did the New Free 120 (90%) and the two old ones. I also re-read High Yield Amboss Articles and did questions under the articles. This is by far the most helpful material for the “Non-Medical” part of the real exam. Exam Day: Despite all my efforts, I felt underprepared even on the exam day. And unfortunately, my exam experience was terrible. I was kind of sure I would fail. I have never seen an exam as such, in short. I was marking 30 questions per block till I later saw the futility and stopped marking at all. I answered not a single question with confidence. It was as if I was on a guessing spree. I did the first five blocks in one sitting and then took a lunch break and I did all the other blocks with a break in between. I didn’t feel tired at all and didn’t lose stamina even on the last block. I think that is because I was practicing by doing 500 questions per day during my intensive. Anyways, let me classify the exam questions as “medical” and “non-medical” for simplicity. The “non-medical” ones were mainly ethics and quality improvement.  No material is good enough for their weird ethics questions but if you read all AMBOSS articles listed in this amazing write-up guide (here and I would add articles on “Adult health maintenance”, “Adolescent health care”, “Well-child visits”, “Pain Management”, “Vaccination” and “USPSTF”), you will answer all non-ethics “non-medical” questions. As for the “medical” part, you will find no question full of hints and there is not enough time to logically reason and cancel alternatives to reach the single best answer. The questions are so vague and re-reading the question adds no clarity at all. The questions were most similar to Block 3 of New Free 120. The only explanation to my score is that most of my guesses were right and that is because I did lots of questions and had a very good step 1 foundation. People say to trust your preparation, and I guess that is true.

Starting final year of residency What I’ve learned so far: ⁃ Do your best to ask as many “dumb” questions in your first year ⁃ Find a mentor in your program ⁃ It gets much easier after the first 3 months

🌟 Inspiring Journey Alert! 🚀 Hey everyone, I wanted to share a bit of my journey with you all in the hopes that it might inspire some of you. My main aim is simply to encourage and uplift each other. I grew up in a small town in Ethiopia and attended nursing school at the University of Gondar before making the move to the States. It was during this time, observing the rigorous training and vast knowledge acquired by medical students, that I realized my calling lay in becoming a doctor and I have what it takes to be one even thou it was little too late at that point. For me, it wasn't about the title, but rather the profound impact a doctor can have on someone's life. I had the privilege of being part of three major teaching hospitals in Ethiopia: Gondar, Tikur Ambessa, and Hawassa and many more here in the states. While most doctors I encountered earned my utmost respect, there were unfortunately a few senior doctors who seemed to view themselves as infallible please don't be one of them. But that's a story for another time. Determined to achieve my goal of becoming a doctor, I began working as an RN (nurse) immediately upon moving to the States and was able to help other Ethiopians  transition to the field as well which I am proud of. Working alongside doctors and residents from all over the world only fueled my passion further. However, I couldn't help but feel disheartened by the limited number of Ethiopian doctors within the US healthcare system. Despite facing numerous hurdles and having to support my family at times, I pursued my dream of attending medical school. It meant sacrificing visits back home for almost a decade and juggling work and studies, but the drive to make a difference kept me going. It was through a YouTube video by Dr. Tinsae and Dr. Abdu that I stumbled upon this telegram group. Seeing their achievements and watching Hakim podcast videos, filled me with motivation. It was like seeing reflections of myself achieving great things. And now, I'm thrilled to share that I've matched at Mayo Clinic in internal medicine. My hope is to see more fellow Ethiopians in the US health system. I say all this to remind you that if I can do it, so can you. Let's continue to support and inspire each other on this incredible journey. Together, we can achieve greatness! Keep pushing forward Yagerie Lijochi,

Now that the dusts have settled it’s time to plan for next steps!Matched 2024 applicants especially requiring the J1 visa from Ethiopia we all know that amidst the celebrations you are all worried about the subsequent processes and the visa situation.Our team here is ready to help in any ways we can and we urge for all of you to form a group immediately and start planning.Because this is a process you are going to do individually and as well as a group.We plan to host a live discussion panel detailing our experiences and the lengths we went last year and the steps we did in coordination with Ministry of Health ,Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,Senators and Congressional leadership.We strongly encourage for you to select 1 or 2 coordinators and for them to reach out to us. With Regards Matched2023 applicants

Congratulations again to all matched applicants!!Wherever you go you might be the first Ethiopian or among many in the programs history.Be sure to be in your best behavior from day 1 and never forget your journey or what brought you here.And please please look back and uplift the next generation following suit!We have all went to new programs and subsequently opened the doors for many of our peers to join us.Be fearless and a trailblazer!!We are so proud and happy of our most successful Match Season to date with extraordinary results!Adios to Match2024 and remember tomorrow is Day 1 for Match2025!!!Cheers to yet another successful match season! Match Ready Team

Our DMS are full of all thank you and congratulations messages we have received from all the matched applicants!Thank you very much for letting us be part of your journey and that we might have had such a tiny help in you realizing your dreams.For those unmatched-don’t let that email define your life!Yall are amazing and deserve the best.The fight is still not over and our team is always ready to help you in your SOAP journey and subsequent Scramble !You got this! To the matched applicants this is your time now to give back to the community!As we always say if you can’t pay it back-pay it forward!!! Congratulations!!! Match Ready Team!!!!