Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Matching Program

About the Match

Application Process

The AASLD acts as an agent in facilitating matching applicants to transplant hepatology fellowships. The prospective fellow first reviews the institutions that are offering programs via the Program Search. Some programs listed may not accept applications through this system but are listed for informational purposes only. Sending an application, without being willing to accept the position, is contrary to the purpose and proper functioning of the system. Most institutions that participate in the system utilize the standard Application Packet. However, the applicant must fulfill the application requirements established by each institution.

Standard AASLD Application Packet

The online Application Packet consists of:

  • General Information
  • Post-Undergraduate Education
  • USMLE/COMLEX Scores (if necessary)
  • ECFMG (if necessary)
  • Visas (if necessary)
  • Completion of Residency/Fellowship Training
    • Prior to appointment in an ACGME-accredited fellowship, fellows should have completed a three-year ACGME-accredited gastroenterology fellowship
  • Personal Statement
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • Applicants to ACGME-accredited transplant hepatology fellowships must have a letter of recommendation from their gastroenterology fellowship program director

Fees - Tiered Application Fee (US Dollars)

Up to 10 Applications - $125.00

Up to 20 Applications - $250.00

Unlimited Applications - $500.00

The Tiered Application Fee system provides the opportunity to select a tier that includes the number of applications that most closely represents the number of programs where you intend to apply. Analysis of previous application data shows that applying to an excessive number of programs does not increase the likelihood of receiving an offer. AASLD encourages participants to apply only to programs from whom they are willing to accept an offer.

You can select a higher application tier at a later date; however, you will not be allowed to select a lower tier because all fees are non-refundable.

An online account cannot be activated until the application fee is received. The fee is payable online via a credit card.

By paying the fee, you are able to complete an online account. This account will allow you to create your online application packet and apply to programs.

How To Get Started

You can get started by clicking on "Create an Account" at the top and follow the instructions to set up an applicant account. You may come back to the website and sign into your account at the top of the page.

How The Match Works

Starting with 2024 Academic Year programs, AASLD will offer a match system.

The selection process is completed by a software program that utilizes the rank order lists submitted by applicants and fellowship programs. The selection process matches applicants with fellowships based on their declared mutual level of interest. The fellowship's rank order list is viewed as a series of offers to applicants. If the fellowship has one position, one initial offer is made to the applicant ranked first. If the fellowship has more than one position, simultaneous offers are made to the top applicants on the list equal to the number of available positions. The applicant's rank order list is viewed as an acceptance of an offer only if that offer comes from the top-ranked fellowship that still has an open position. There are no ties and no preference is given to either applicants or fellowships. As top choices on either list disappear due to successful matches, lower choices move up on the lists until all matches are completed.

By way of example, Medical Center (MC) has four positions available. Medical Center (MC) received 22 applications, out of which it chose to rank 12 applicants. In effect, MC has offered fellowships to applicant 1, 2, 3 and 4 on its list. Applicant 1 has Medical Center ranked fourth, #2 has it ranked first, #3 ranked it second and #4 ranked it first. Medical Center would be matched with applicants #2 and #4 and nothing else would happen until applicants #1 and #3 are matched elsewhere, or programs ranked higher than Medical Center on the applicant's lists were filled.

In this example, Medical Center's third choice, Applicant 3, ranked Medical Hospital first and was matched there. Once Applicant 3 became unavailable to Medical Center, it made an offer to its fifth choice. Unfortunately, Applicant 5 was matched at a program ranked higher on the applicant's list than Medical Center. The same situation occurred with Applicant, 6, 7 and 8. Medical Center's ninth choice had it ranked second, but matched at Medical Center because Applicant 9's first choice filled up with higher choices on its list than Applicant 9. Thus, Medical Center became Applicant 9's best possible match and Applicant 9 became Medical Center's best possible match. Now, back to Applicant 1. This applicant has already received an offer from Medical Center but was waiting for a better offer (his/her first three choices). Eventually all three programs filled up with choices higher than Applicant 1 and he/she is matched with Medical Center. The end result is that Medical Center matched with its first, second, fourth and ninth choices. We know that these matches are Medical Center's best possible choices because Applicant 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 matched with programs that they ranked higher than Medical Center.

The applicant's perspective is much simpler and easier to follow. John Doe wants to be a fellow and has applied to 16 programs. When filling out his rank order list, John had second thoughts about two of the programs and decided to rank 14 of them. During the matching process, eight of the programs would have made John an offer for a position. John had ranked the programs third, fifth, sixth, ninth and eleventh through fourteenth. Obviously, he would accept the offer from his third choice and was matched there. We know that this was the best match for John because his first two choices were matched with individuals who were ranked higher than John Doe.