For more information for current and prospective Breast Surgical Oncology Fellows, please use the links below.
“Tips for Applying to a Surgical Oncology Fellowship” Podcast
SSO Fellows and Young Attendings Webinar: Virtual Interviewing – Learn from the Leaders
How the SSO Match Works
The process of securing a fellowship position includes applying to programs, interviewing, and participating in the match.
Application Process
The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) has contracted with National Matching Services, Inc (NMS) to facilitate the Match. You can access instructions, resources and other documents here:
https://natmatch.com/ssobreast/
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Curriculum and Minimum Training Requirements
The SSO Executive Committee unanimously approved the revised 2019 Curriculum and Minimum Training Requirements on June 13, 2019. These go into effect on August 1, 2019 for all SSO-approved Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Programs.
We would like to acknowledge the hard work and effort by the following groups: SSO Training Committee Task Force (Steve Chen, MD, Kandice Ludwig, MD, Laura Rosenberger, MD, Preeti Subhedar, MD, and Eric Manahan, MD, MBA, FACS)
Click here to review the revised changes and letter from the Training Committee
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Curriculum and Minimum Training Requirements
Please click here for the Curriculum and Minimum Training Requirements for all SSO-approved Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Programs. This version went into effect on August 1, 2019.
| Applicant Registration Opens | December 18, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | January 19, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern – No exceptions will be made |
| Interview Notifications | Begins February 5, 2024 |
| Interviews | Interviews will take place February 29 to June 29, 2024 |
| Rank Order List Entry | Rank Order List Opens: June 10, 2024 Rank Order List Deadline: July 8, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern |
| Match Results Announced | July 15, 2024 |
| Fellowship Start Date | August 1, 2025 |
Fellowship applicants will soon be able to view the sign-up calendar to see what dates programs have reserved to conduct their interviews as part of the 2024 Match process. Interviews will take place between February 29 and June 29, 2024. Prospective applicants should be aware that programs will be conducting interviews either in-person or virtually as noted on the sign-up calendar. Applicants should utilize the “list view” option to scroll through the full list of the dates and programs to see if a program will be conducting in-person or virtual interviews.
Please note that some programs may conduct interviews on only one date, whereas others may offer two dates for interviews. As per the approved Match Timeline, programs must wait until February 5, 2024, to notify any candidates they wish to interview. Interviews may be conducted either in-person or virtually in 2024.
Match Code of Conduct and Professionalism
Thank you for your interest in a Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Match. The SSO maintains the highest professional standards in the conduct of its Matches and in its interactions with all participants. The SSO expects all Match participants to conduct their affairs in an ethical and professionally responsible manner.
Demonstrating Professional Behavior
Participants must demonstrate professional behavior throughout the application, interview, and matching processes by observing practices that protect the right of applicants and programs to determine their selections in the absence of unwarranted pressure and by respecting the binding nature of a match commitment. Failure to demonstrate professional behavior could result in a Match violation and sanctions.
Consequences of Engaging in Unprofessional Behavior
Failure to comply with all the terms and conditions of the Agreement, whether intentionally or not, may result in an investigation and the imposition of penalties. The violations include, but are not limited to:
- After a Match, an applicant who obtained a position does not accept that position. The listing of a program on the applicant’s certified rank list and the listing of an applicant on a program’s rank list establishes a binding commitment to accept/offer an appointment if a match occurs and to start training in good faith on the date specified in the appointment contract.
- A program director asks an applicant about ranking preferences or for information about other programs where the applicant has applied or interviewed.
- An applicant with a binding commitment applies for, discusses, interviews for, or accepts a concurrent-year position in another program. Similarly, a program director discusses, interviews for, or offers a position to an applicant prior. The Match Participation Agreement prohibits applicants and programs from releasing each other from a match commitment without authorization from the SSO.
- During the application, interview, and/or matching process, an applicant fails to provide complete, timely, and accurate information to programs. Similarly, a program fails to provide complete, timely, and accurate information to applicants including a copy of the contract they will be expected to sign if matched to the program and all pertinent information about institutional policies and eligibility requirements for appointment. Programs must provide all such information prior to the Rank Order List Certification Deadline.
Professionalism and Communication
Interactions between applicants and program directors during the application, interview, and matching processes are an essential component of professionalism. Program directors and applicants may express interest in each other but may not solicit statements implying a commitment. However, some applicants may misinterpret statements of encouragement to signify a commitment on the part of the program, and some programs may make misleading statements.
Such statements are not binding, and neither applicants nor program directors should rely on them when creating their rank order lists. Program directors, institutional officials, and medical school officials should avoid making misleading statements and at all times display a professional code of behavior in their interactions with applicants.
Withdrawal
If you wish to withdraw from the match, you must email the SSO Training and Education department at fellowship@surgonc.org as well as sign into your account at https://natmatch.com/ssobreast/applicants/index.html before the Rank List Deadline for the current match year.
Applicants who fail to or choose not to submit their rank list, will not be included in the ranking process and will be listed as “unmatched”.
Disclaimer
The information submitted to the SSO on both applicant program information and rank order lists is confidential. It is the policy of the SSO not to disclose such information in any manner that permits individual identification of either applicants or programs. In addition, information contained in the SSO’s match system is confidential and available only to the SSO and other authorized users. Unauthorized use or disclosure of such information to persons not entitled to access it shall be considered a violation of this agreement. Requests for unpublished data or research files must be submitted and are thoroughly reviewed by the SSO.
Please go directly to the SSO Operative Data Collection System (ACGME) here.
The SSO continues to provide oversight of the Breast Oncology Fellowship Programs; however, the case op log database is managed by the ACGME. The migration from the previous case op log to the new database has been completed by ACGME. All program directors, coordinators and fellows have been emailed with their new ID and password. If there are any questions related to the case log system, please contact the ACGME support center at ADS@acgme.org.