The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates the 148 physicians who matched with a fellowship training program through the sleep medicine match on Oct. 30, which was “Match Day” for the 2020 appointment year. The completion of a one-year sleep medicine fellowship is a requirement to be eligible for the sleep medicine board-certification exam.
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Specialties Matching Service (SMS) conducts the sleep medicine match. Through SMS Fellowship Matches, the NRMP matching algorithm processes the rank order lists of applicants and program directors to “match” applicants to programs.
Sleep Medicine Match Statistics
According to the October 2019 match results statistics, there were 180 certified positions available from 84 certified programs. There were 172 certified applicants with rank who participated, and 24 of the applicants were unmatched. In comparison, the October 2018 match involved 160 certified applicants with rank, who filled 147 positions. In the November 2017 sleep medicine match, 150 positions were matched from a pool of 172 certified applicants with rank.
Innovative Training Pathways
To expand the training pathways available for the sleep medicine specialty, the AASM is piloting two programs as part of the Advancing Innovation in Residency Education (AIRE) initiative. Approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), these sleep medicine pilot programs are testing innovative models of graduate medical education that emphasize competency-based training methods. Selected institutions will test training and assessment tools developed by the AASM through two novel fellowship training pathways: a part-time model and a model blending sleep training with additional specialty training.
Sleep Medicine Fellowship Directors Council
The AASM also coordinates a Sleep Medicine Fellowship Directors Council (SMFDC) Steering Committee, which recommends and develops resources to support sleep medicine fellowship programs and program directors. Learn more about its mandate and goals on the AASM Committees page.
Learn more about the sleep medicine specialty on the Choose Sleep page.
