About CaRMS

History

Updated July 20, 2011

Since 1970, the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) has provided online services to match medical students and residents with postgraduate residency training programs in Canada.

• Before 1970 - The matching of medical students with postgraduate training is organized and conducted by the Canadian Association of Medical Students. Later, this role is assumed by the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC), and an advisory committee made up of sponsoring medical organizations is created to set policy.
  
  
• 1970 - Canadian Intern Matching Service (CIMS) comes into being; Dr. Chuck Casterton is named Executive Director.
  
  
• 1971 - Dr. Al Cox is named the first Chair of the CIMS Joint Committee.
  
  
• 1982 - CIMS becomes responsible for the matching service, establishing itself as a non-profit body, independent from medical organizations, to provide matching services and related support.
  
  
• 1983 - Terms of Reference for the CIMS Joint Committee are written into the by-laws at the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC).
  
  
• 1986 - Dr. Chuck Casterton retires, and is succeeded by Ms. Sandra Banner as CIMS' Executive Director.
  
  
• 1988 - CIMS introduces a central application system for PGY-1 training for English medical schools in Canada.
  
  
• 1994 - CIMS is incorporated under its current name, the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act. The two-iteration match is introduced.
  
  
• 1997 - CaRMS acts as Dean's Office for Canadian medical graduates applying for PGY-1 residency positions in the U.S.
  
  
• 2001 - An electronic web-based application system is introduced for both applicants and medical education programs.
  
  
• 2005 - Québec's French language medical schools enter the R-1 match, making it a truly national service including all of Canada's medical schools.
  
  
• 2006 - The R-3 Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine Match is introduced.
  
  
• 2007 - CaRMS' program description tool is launched. The Postgraduate Deans' Portal is launched.
  
  
• 2008 - The secure Board of Directors' Portal is launched, as well as the secure Referees' Portal to enable online submission of letters of reference. CaRMS holds its first annual International Medical Graduate Information Symposium.
  
  
• 2009 - The Medicine Subspecialty Match is introduced. CaRMS undertakes a comprehensive governance review and implements changes that will further strengthen its commitment to transparency, neutrality and fairness. The secure Undergraduate Deans' Portal is launched.
  
  
• 2010 - The Pediatric Subspecialty Match is introduced, and the secure Deans of Medicine Portal is launched.