Update from Leadership
Dear Colleagues,
I hope 2026 is off to a good start. As the AAMC Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) season moves forward, we remain grateful for your collaboration and for the insights you share with us along the way. January offers the perfect opportunity to share a few updates we’re excited about.
One highlight is our upcoming webinar, Program Signaling and Interview Invitation Findings from the 2026 ERAS Season, taking place Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 1-2 p.m. ET. During this session, the AAMC will review ERAS season application trends, present research on program signal-to-interview invitation data, and share considerations for the upcoming season. We hope you’ll join us for this focused look at data that can help inform recruitment decisions this season and beyond.
As part of our broader commitment to transparency and timely insights, we continue to add new data to the ERAS Statistics page. Updates are posted during the first week of each month, and we encourage you to check back regularly as we add new data. These updates are designed to give you timely, actionable insights as the season progresses.
Finally, we are looking forward to connecting with many of you in person during the upcoming AAMC spring meeting season. Please come find us, introduce yourself, and say hello. These conversations are always valuable and help shape how we continue to improve ERAS program services and resources.
Thank you, as always, for your engagement and collaboration. We look forward to staying connected and continuing the conversation throughout the year.
Patrick Fritz
AAMC Senior Director for Residency and Fellowship Services
Key Updates for the 2027 ERAS Season
The AAMC recently created an online resource that provides an overview of what’s new and what to expect for the 2027 MyERAS® application season. The webpage is designed to help the transition to residency community stay informed about evolving application features such as the transition to the AAMC Letter Writer Portal, understand ongoing pilot projects, explore webinars, and more. Additional updates will continue to be shared as the 2027 ERAS season approaches.
Explore the What You Need to Know About the 2027 ERAS Season webpage for full details.
Early Preparation for SOAP® week
With the residency interview process winding down, the AAMC is preparing resources to support applicants, programs, and medical school advisors during the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) week. We encourage you to visit the links below to find updated resources for 2026 SOAP.
What We’re Hearing About the ERAS Program
“I would like to provide strongly positive feedback on our experience navigating ERAS and dialoging with the AAMC staff as a newly accredited residency [program]. We received our initial accreditation on Jan. 16 and were able to participate in the Secondary Urology Match which began on Jan. 29. Given this tight timetable, I had many questions and uncertainty about our ability to join the Secondary Match.”
Zachariah Goldsmith, Program Coordinator, St. Luke’s University Hospital Urology Residency Program
Visit Thalamus at ACGME
The Thalamus team is thrilled to be attending the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) conference in San Diego from Feb. 19-21.
Stop by the Thalamus booth in the exhibit hall to connect with the team and learn more about their latest innovation.
The Thalamus Annual Program Coordinator Appreciation Celebration will be even bolder this year and include an even bigger announcement. Save the date for Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. PT. More information will be shared with the community soon.
VSLO® Trainings for Institution Users and Students
The away rotation season is now underway, with both institution users and students active in the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) system. The AAMC is offering refresher trainings for new and continuing institution users. Please visit our VSLO Training page to view upcoming training dates and to register. We also hosted a session for advisors, student affairs colleagues, and Home institution users that featured an overview of the student side of the VSLO application service. Watch the recording.
In addition to institution training, we are hosting a two-part training session specifically for students to review the VSLO system in-depth. Part 1 provides an overview of the VSLO application service (register to access the recording) and Part 2 will provide an understanding of VSLO resources and data, as well as address common student questions. We hope you will encourage your students to join both sessions.
AAMCNews: 10 Facts About Medical Residents
New AAMC data show more women and international medical graduates, among other trends, in 2024-25. Read more.
New AAMC Toolkit: Expanding Graduate Medical Education
With the United States facing a persistent physician shortage, it’s critical that Congress invests in graduate medical education (GME) to expand the physician workforce and ensure patients nationwide have access to timely, high-quality health care. The AAMC created a toolkit to help constituents communicate the importance of federal investment in GME. The toolkit includes key messages, customizable content, sample social media posts, and more. Explore the toolkit.
AAMC Press Release: Distribution of 400 New Medicare-Supported GME Residency Positions Marks Milestone in Expanding the Physician Workforce
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the distribution of 400 new Medicare-supported GME positions. These positions were created under Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA, 2021) and Section 4122 of the CAA, 2023. The 400 additional residency positions are intended to help grow the physician workforce and address the physician shortage by giving more medical graduates the opportunity to complete residency training. Read more.
Updated AAMC Resources on AI in Academic Medicine
The AAMC continues to offer new and updated resources on artificial intelligence (AI). Explore timely and freely accessible resources in the Advancing AI Across Academic Medicine Resource Collection, review recent updates to the Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in and for Medical Education, view the new AI Policy Development Checklist to develop or update institutional policies, and register for the Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning Digital Demonstrations virtual conference. Read more.
Updated FAQs on Evolution of AAMC Affinity Groups
As shared on Oct. 3, the AAMC will transition the structure of its affinity groups to be even more collaborative, easier to navigate, and better aligned with the priorities of our constituents and the association. The new structure goes into effect on July 1, 2026, and represents an important step forward for the AAMC and the academic medicine community it serves. The resource page and frequently asked questions will continue to be regularly updated to address feedback from constituents during this transition. Read more.
Virtual Events
Program Signaling and Interview Invitation Findings from the 2026 ERAS Season
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m. ET
Register Here
2026 SOAP Guidance for Applicants
Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m. ET
Register Here
2026 SOAP Guidance for Programs
Thursday, March 12, 1 p.m. ET
Register Here
Recent Webinar Recordings
ERAS Content Refresh: Evaluating Program Signal Statements and Specialty-Specific Essays Pilots
Recording
ERAS Program Directors WorkStation Q&A Session
Recording
Upcoming Meetings
Association of Residency Coordinators in Orthopaedic Surgery 21st Annual Conference
Feb. 10, Jacksonville, Fla.
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Annual Educational Conference
Feb. 19, San Diego, Calif.