AAFP, STFM, ADFM, NAPCRG, and AFMRD Release Joint Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM) Program Statement
Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM) Program Signaling Statement: April 24, 2023
Applicants may send up to 5 program signals to family medicine residencies. Programs may use these signals to make decisions when offering interviews, but should not use the presence or absence of signals when developing rank order lists. Students will want to know if they should signal sites where they have a preexisting relationship (home program[s], core sites, 4th year rotation sites, etc.).
The AAMC has provided the following guidance for program signals in the 2023-2024 application and interview cycle:
The AAMC suggests that applicants signal their most interested programs regardless of whether they are home or away rotations. This is the most fair and equitable process for all applicant types (MD, DO, and IMGs) and provides all programs that participate in receiving signals with the same information about interest level.
Family medicine residency programs should follow this guidance.
Programs should provide clear, transparent information to applicants regarding all aspects of signaling – whether the program accepts signals or not and how the programs use this information. We also strongly encourage Programs to provide clear and transparent information on interview methods (in-person vs. virtual vs. hybrid) and the holistic review criteria used to select applicants for interview (years since med school graduation, passing step scores, etc.)
