It is possible within the matching process to move one or more positions that remain unfilled from one Rank Order List to a second Rank Order List, so that an attempt can be made to fill the available position(s) with applicant(s) on the second list. This is referred to as "reverting" unfilled positions from one list (the "donor") to another list (the "receiver").

This process can be used to move unfilled positions from one program to another program, in order to fill the available positions with applicants to the second program. For example, a training site offering both an adult program and a pediatric program could specify that any position that remains unfilled on the Rank Order List for the pediatric program should revert to the Rank Order List for the adult program, and an attempt should be made to fill the position(s) with additional applicant(s) on the Rank Order List for the adult program. In this case, the Rank Order List for the pediatric program is the donor list (because it is donating unfilled positions) and the Rank Order List for the adult program is the receiver list (because it is receiving unfilled positions from the donor list).

Similarly, reverting unfilled positions from one list to another can be used by a program that is submitting multiple Rank Order Lists for a single program, in an attempt to fill all available positions in the program. Instructions for submitting multiple lists for a single program are provided elsewhere on this web site, including special instructions and forms that apply to the reversion of positions between multiple lists for the same program.

Some of the applicants ranked on the two Rank Order Lists involved in a reversion of unfilled positions may be the same. For example, John may be interested in the pediatric program, but if he is unsuccessful in matching to this program he may still be interested in the adult program as a second or subsequent choice. In that case, John could rank both programs on his Rank Order List (in his desired order of preference), and both programs may choose to rank John on their respective lists. If the pediatric program fills its positions with more preferred applicants, John will not match with the pediatric program but it is still possible that he may match with the adult program.

Rules For Reverting Unfilled Positions Between Lists

• Any position that reverts from one program to another within the matching process will be reported after the Match as belonging to the receiver program to which it finally reverted (even if the position remains unfilled in the receiver program). For example, suppose Program A enters the Match with 2 positions, Program B starts with 1 position, and Program A is to revert all unfilled positions to Program B. Then if Program A fills only 1 position in the Match, the remaining unfilled position will revert to Program B. In that case, after the Match, Program A will be reported as having 1 filled position and no unfilled positions, and Program B will be reported as having 2 positions (whether or not both are filled in Program B).
  
  
• A donor with more than one unfilled position can choose to revert some or all of its unfilled positions, and can revert unfilled positions to more than one receiver. For example, if Program A has 3 unfilled positions it can revert its first unfilled position to Program B, its second unfilled position to Program C, but not revert the third unfilled position to any other program.
  
  
• Reversions of unfilled positions can be "chained". For example, List A can revert unfilled positions to List B, and if some positions remain unfilled on List B, then these positions can revert to List C, and so on.
  
  
• The only restriction in reverting unfilled positions is that a chain of reversions cannot "loop back" to the beginning. For example, if you request that List A revert unfilled positions to List B, then you cannot also request that List B revert unfilled positions to List A. Similarly you cannot request a chain of reversions that moves unfilled positions from List A to List B, then from List B to List C, and then from List C back to List A.

Requesting the Reversion of Unfilled Positions

To request the reversion of unfilled positions, a training site must provide written instructions to NMS. These instructions must be received at NMS by the Rank Order List deadline, February 26, 2010.

The information that you must provide to NMS consists of: the Rank Order List from which unfilled positions should be moved (the donor list), the Rank Order List to which the positions should be moved (the receiver list), and the maximum number of unfilled positions that should be moved from one list to the other (e.g., all unfilled positions, no more than 2 unfilled positions, etc.). If a single donor program wishes to revert unfilled positions to more than one receiver program, then the sequence in which the reversions are to occur must also be specified.

You should download the form entitled Reverting Unfilled Positions From One Program To Another to facilitate providing the necessary information to NMS on the reversion of unfilled positions between different programs. (A printed version of these instructions also accompanies the form.) The form is in PDF format; click on the name of the form in the previous sentence to download the form. This form should be completed, signed and submitted to NMS by February 26, 2010, preferably by fax to either 416-977-5020 or 716-282-0611. After faxing the form to NMS, please wait at least one business hour (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST Monday to Friday) and then contact NMS by telephone to confirm that the fax has been received and is legible.

To view and print documents in Portable Document Format (PDF), you will need the Adobe® Reader®, which can be downloaded for free by clicking on the PDF icon at the beginning of this paragraph. If you are unable to install the necessary software to view and print the document, contact NMS to request that NMS send a copy of the document to you by fax.

To provide information to NMS on the reversion of unfilled positions between multiple lists submitted for a single program, use the form provided with the instructions for submitting multiple lists for a single program, available elsewhere on this web site.

© 2010 NMS