The History and Rationale of the American Urological Association Residency Matching Program

Abstract

Introduction: Before the AUA Urology Residency Match Program medical students and residency programs would pair up without the aid of a centralized system. We report the history and rationale of this program. Methods: AUA archives regarding the AUA Urology Residency Match Program were searched. Interviews were done with physicians and AUA personnel involved in the creation/facilitation of the Urology Match, including Drs. Eugene Carlton, August Colenbrander and Carl Olsson, and Randy Berndt. Results: Before 1985 there were significant problems in the urology residency job market as a result of not having a formal matching system. An offer/counteroffer system existed that was inequitable, produced suboptimal pairings and created tremendous anxiety for applicants and program directors. The first AUA match was implemented in 1985. The match was done using a deferred acceptance algorithm, which matched applicants and programs according to preferences. Key figures who facilitated the match included Director of Education Dr. Eugene Carlton, Assistant Director of Education William Brubaker, Data Processing Manager Randy Berndt and Dr. August Colenbrander, an ophthalmologist who established the Ophthalmology Residency Matching Program. Although the Urology Match has been a success, a single mismatch occurred in 2005. Dr. Carl Olsson, the AUA Secretary, investigated the erroneous match and led a committee that initiated additional match safeguards. The AUA Residency Match Program has run smoothly since. Conclusions: The AUA Urology Residency Match Program has taken away the problems associated with the offer/counteroffer system that existed before the Urology Match, setting into motion the career trajectories and lives of thousands of urologists.