When applying for a residency program it is important that you do your research before you applying for that program. The data from NRMP sheds some light on the probability of your match. Some programs have been historically more competitive that the others. Here is the data and the inference,
Table 1: The percentage of unfilled positions in programs for 2009
Note: All listed programs are categorical.
Chart 1: Bar chart of all programs offered and filled.
Inference 1: Table 1 above shows the programs sorted by the percentage of unfilled positions. Family Medicine is one program that goes unfilled each year. Family Medicine being a form of primary care that provides continuing, comprehensive health care for the individual and family is and will be in demand for several years to come. With the health care reform there is severe shortage of all primary care physicians across US. Read:
Associated Press – Doctor Shortage
Boston.com – Healthcare overhaul could strain shortage of primary care
The Portland press herald - Health care overhaul expected to amplify Maine's doctor shortage
Foreign Medical Graduates should pay attention to the positions that go unfilled in each program.
Inference 2: For International Medical Graduates (IMG/FMG) the data relating to the programs most popular among US Senior Allopathic applicants is also important to be noted. The competition is fierce in programs like,
Program % Filled by U.S. Allopathic Seniors
1.Otolaryngology 96.34
2.Radiation Oncology 94.44
3.Orthopaedic Surgery 91.72
4.Neurological Surgery 90.05
5.Plastic Surgery 87.88
Table 2: Programs preferred by U.S. Allopathic Seniors
The U.S. allopathic doctors will tend to have more local experience and exposure and will be preferred. Some program do not accept IMGs/FMGs. For foreign graduates with very little experience in U.S. would be much better off choosing programs with less stiffer competition.
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