Dive Brief:
- A record number of soon-to-be-doctors-in-training matched into residencies for 2023, according to a release from the National Resident Matching Program.
- Some 40,375 residents matched into programs, an increase of 1,170 over last year, according to the release. Over the past five years, residency matches have risen almost 15%.
- Specialties like orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, radiology, diagnostic and thoracic surgery filled all available positions. Resident interest in emergency medicine has waned, however, with 554 positions unfilled in the 2023 match.
Dive Insight:
The COVID-19 pandemic has led physicians to report widespread burnout and is also driving an uptick in resident organizing for union representation. But that hasn’t kept aspiring doctors away from training for those careers, with a record number matching into residencies in 2023.
Ultimately, 42,952 medical school graduates applied for 40,375 available positions during the 2023 match.
The number of primary care residencies offered also hit a record, and has risen 17% over the past five years, NRMP said. Interest in the specialty remained steady with a 94.2% fill rate, on par with last year.
Fewer residents are interested in emergency medicine, though, with 335 more open positions than last year.
Emergency clinicians in particular were hit hard by the pandemic and have reported increased violence from patients and family members, adding greater stress for those in the roles.
Applications overall increased for 2023, driven mainly by international medical graduates, with 481 additional applicants compared to last year, according to the release.