A tool from the AMA gives some residency applicants a new way to make values and career priorities a part of their residency-selection process.
The Alignment Check Index (ACI) is a tool that allows ob-gyn residency applicants to compare their experiences and characteristics to the domains that residency programs consider in their own assessment of their program’s values and interests.
The program is a feature of FREIDA™, the AMA Residency and Fellowship Database®, which includes more than 14,000 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency and fellowship programs and offers a streamlined user experience. The platform offers any user who has signed in the ability to personalize searches and nickname them so that search filters don’t need to be reapplied every time. AMA members can maximize the tool’s efficacy with the ability to take notes on programs, conduct side-by-side program comparisons. Another key tool for students beginning the Match process is FREIDA’s Residency Calculator to help plan ahead for residency-application expenses.
“The current tools that are available give some metrics on students who have previously matched in these programs, such as what their USMLE Step or COMLEX Level 2 scores were or how many research publications they had,” said Maya Hammoud, MD, an ob-gyn and a long-term faculty advisor to residency applicants who helped spearhead the creation of the tool through a grant given as part of the AMA Reimagining Residency initiative. “What this tool does is it adds another dimension, which is what the goals of the program and how does that align with the characteristics and experiences of the applicant.”
How it works
Applicants can use the ACI to help determine where to apply, and the index offers insights that can shape one’s application strategy.
The tool begins with a self-assessment in which ob-gyn residency applicants reflect on their experiences as they prepare to apply for residency. They will self-assess and assign point values in six categories: academic metrics; work experience; community service and advocacy; research experience; teaching experience; and background and lived experiences. Upon completing the assessment, students are given an alignment index and list of programs to determine those most aligned with their characteristics and experiences.
On the program side, ob-gyn residency programs assign a percentage of emphasis in each category, adding up to a total of 100%. For example, a program with a heavy emphasis on research and less on teaching might weigh research experience 40% and teaching experience 5%. Medical students who have engaged in a high level of research will have a higher alignment score with those programs.
While FREIDA’s features capture important factors such as geography, childcare availability, program type and size, salary and more, the ACI is another complementary tool for finding a residency. It also aims to change the mindset of applicants from simply targeting what are perceived as the best programs to those most aligned with their interests, values and experiences. While some common themes exist in how applicants select residency, the tool is an asset in speaking to each future physician’s unique ambitions.
“What this looks like, ideally, is students applying to programs where they feel that their values align with the program and where the program is going to be able to support their growth the most ” said Dr. Hammoud, who also is a consultant to the AMA on medical education matters.
How to use it
Ahead of submitting applications, the ACI may allow ob-gyn applicants to view how they fit with a program’s points of emphasis. The majority of residency programs in the specialty are participating.
Alignment index numbers given by the ACI allow medical students and other residency applicants to determine which programs are most suitable for them. It also can be helpful for program signaling—a system that allows applicants to indicate interest in a limited number of residency programs. If a residency program is one that has a higher alignment score for a student, that would be an ideal opportunity to express increased interest with a program signal.
“The best way to look at it is similar to a dating app,” Dr. Hammoud said. “Programs enter what they are looking for—and applicants self-assess. Like a dating app, both parties are very interested in having the highest alignment, because otherwise it's a waste of time to go on a date.”
What to know about ResidencyCAS
Another major innovation emerging from the AMA Reimagining Residency initiative is the continued evolution of the Residency Centralized Application Service (ResidencyCAS). Now entering its third application cycle for obstetrics and gynecology residency programs, ResidencyCAS was first launched during the 2024–2025 residency application season. Since its implementation, the platform has expanded beyond ob-gyn, with additional specialties and combined programs adopting ResidencyCAS to support a more learner-centered and specialty-aligned application experience.
ResidencyCAS aims to reduce application costs, streamline the residency application process and support holistic review. The platform includes specialty-specific features such as integrated program signaling, customized program information, interview management tools, and enhanced applicant-program alignment resources.
