Erratum: This Article Corrects: "Trends in NRMP Data from 2007-2014 for U.S. Seniors Matching into Emergency Medicine".

[This corrects the article on p. 105 in vol. 18, PMID: 28116018.].

Trends in NRMP Data from 2007-2014 for U.S. Seniors Matching into Emergency Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Since 1978, the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) has published data demonstrating characteristics of applicants who have matched into their preferred specialty in the NRMP main residency match. These data have been published approximately every two years. There is limited information about trends within these published data for students matching into emergency medicine (EM). Our objective was to investigate and describe trends in NRMP data to include the following: the ratio of applicants to available EM positions; United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 scores (compared to the national means); number of programs ranked; and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) membership among U.S. seniors matching into EM. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational review of NRMP data published between 2007 and 2016. We analyzed the data using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Kruskal-Wallis testing, and Fischer's exact or chi-squared testing, as appropriate to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The ratio of applicants to available EM positions remained essentially stable from 2007 to 2014 but did increase slightly in 2016. We observed a net upward trend in overall Step 1 and Step 2 scores for EM applicants. However, this did not outpace the national trend increase in Step 1 and 2 scores overall. There was an increase in the mean number of programs ranked by EM applicants over the years studied from 7.8 (SD4.2) to 9.2 (SD5.0, p<0.001), driven predominantly by the cohort of U.S. students successful in the match. Among time intervals, there was a difference in the number of EM applicants with AOA membership (p=0.043) due to a drop in the number of AOA students in 2011. No sustained statistical trend in AOA membership was identified over the seven-year period studied. CONCLUSION: NRMP data demonstrate trends among EM applicants that are similar to national trends in other specialties for USMLE board scores, and a modest increase in number of programs ranked. AOA membership was largely stable. EM does not appear to have become more competitive relative to other specialties or previous years in these categories.

Homage: education and life lessons as taught by Dr James D. Hardy.

Dr James D. Hardy served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi, from 1955 to 1987. During his tenure, he had an unprecedented effect on the education of medical students, residents, and professionals in his field. Not only did he speak and write voluminously about medical education and the roles both teacher and student play in this interaction but also emphasized the importance of the family unit to the academic physician. This article serves to highlight Dr Hardy's thoughts about discipline, research, and personal experience as they pertain to medical education, as well as to impart some of his wisdom about life, family, and personal well-being.