Ten-Year Review of the Extern Program: a Solution to an Unsuccessful Match?

Objective: This paper presents an extern program, developed 10 years ago, which recruited unmatched medical graduates and involved them in publishing articles in academic journals, presenting poster presentations, writing grants, and networking with psychiatrists. The study examined how involvement in the extern program affected the candidates' Match reapplication outcome.

Methods: Respondents were previous externs who joined the extern program. They were sent questionnaires on how the program affected their Match reapplication outcome.

Results: Out of 22 externs surveyed, 15 completed the questionnaire. Results showed that the externship offered graduates opportunities in academic and clinical work, which improved their chances of getting a Match. The 15 respondents had a 100% match rate into a psychiatry residency program upon completing an average of 16 months of academic work in the externship. Respondents agreed that the extern program was beneficial, and they would highly recommend it to struggling medical graduates.

Conclusions: Unmatched graduates urgently need guidance during the critical gap year. They should be given options and interventional plans, such as Dr. Rahn K. Bailey's extern program. The externship provides participants exposure to research and the scientific underpinnings of clinical medicine. It continues to expand and grow, serving unmatched medical graduates and students who need help getting into medical school or a PhD program. Further studies should be conducted on unmatched candidates, in particular, international medical graduates, who reapply and eventually match. This will provide information and insight into what they can do to advance themselves during the intervening period.