NRMP Results for U.S. Graduates in 2000 [Table 1]



(Figure 1)

This year, the number of graduating seniors entering anesthesiology from U.S. allopathic medical schools rose from 425 to 549, a 29-percent increase compared to 1999 [Figure 1]. The number of these students entering at the PGY-1 level rose from 137 to 171 (a 25-percent increase), and the number entering at the CA-1 level rose from 288 to 378 (a 31-percent increase). When recruits from other sources are included, the total number rose from 656 to 801 (a 22-percent increase). This significant increase in the number of U.S. graduates recruited has been accompanied by a smaller increase in the number of other recruits [Table 2], from 229 to 249 (a 9-percent increase). This increase is attributable to the rise in the number of U.S. citizen international medical graduates (IMGs) and U.S. osteopathic graduates, not to the number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs, which has fallen. Number of Positions Unfilled

The number of positions offered through the NRMP decreased to 1,005 from 1,047 last year (a 4-percent redu ction) and is well below the all-time high of 1,386 in 1993. The increase in the number recruited helped reduce the number of positions remaining unfilled from 391 to 204. The maximum number of positions unfilled reached an all-time high of 622 in 1996.

 

Distribution of Recruits via the Match [Table 2]

(Figure 2)

The last five years have shown an ongoing increase in the number of U.S. graduates recruited (169 to 549). This was initially accompanied by a rise in the number of IMGs. Since 1997, however, this number has steadily declined and now approximates the 1996 level.

Although the numbers are still not large, the numbers of U.S. citizen IMGs and osteopathic medical school graduates have both risen. Their combined contribution has risen from 24 in 1996 to 114 in 2000. None of the other categories currently provides a significant number of recruits. In recent years, the four categories at the bottom of Table 2 have contributed no more than a total of five residents per year between them.

Of the available pool of applicants in each category, anesthesiology appears to be attracting the highest percentage of applicants from graduates of U.S. medical schools (3.66 percent) and osteopathic medical schools (4.78 percent). In these two categories, we recruit above our average of 3.2 percent of the total available via the NRMP.

The data for the last three years has also been compiled by state, ranking the states by the number recruited via the NRMP. For the second straight year, the two largest totals were California (95) and New York (69), which accounted for 20 percent of all candidates. The next three states recruited: Texas, 65; Massachusetts, 64; and Pennsylvania, 41. Between them, the top five states recruited 373 recruits (42 percent), and the top 10 recruited 493 (62 percent). During each of the last four years California has recruited the largest number. For three straight years, New York, Texas and Massachusetts have occupied the next three positions, but not in the same sequence. While recruitment has generally increased, Florida's recruitment has remained fairly steady. As a result, Florida has fallen from third place in 1997 to eighth in 2000.

[Table 1] – click for table

Table 2: Distribution of People
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
U.S. Allopathic Med Sch	169	253	388	425	549
Non-U.S. Citizen IMG	130	213	201	152	133
U.S. Citizen IMG	10	22	34	41	59
U.S. Osteopathic Med Sch	14	7	17	35	55
Sponsored Applicant	1	2	2	2	3
Canadian Med Sch	1	0	2	0	0
Fifth Pathway	0	0	0	1	2
U.S. Physician	0	0	1	0	0
Total	325	497	645	656	801
Distribution into anesthesiology from the various categories over the last five years.

[Table 3] – click for table 3

 

There is clearly a continuing resurgence of interest in anesthesiology if one considers the number of seniors graduating from U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical schools as well as the number of U.S. citizen IMGs. Increasing numbers are being recruited via the NRMP. This is associated with and probably explained by improvement in the availability of employment opportunities for residents when they graduate from their residency programs. Although the increase has been significant, recruitment is still more than 20 percent below the previous peak of 1,025 in 1992.

While adequate employment opportunities are available, it is reasonable to feel relief and satisfaction that anesthesiology is once again a specialty regarded highly by strong U.S. candidates. When and if employment opportunities become harder to find, however, concern and dissatisfaction about overproduction may reappear. Meanwhile, it will take a number of years before the recent growth can be expected to correct the shortage of anesthesiologists now affecting a number of departments.

Web Site

More detailed information about the numbers of students recruited into anesthesiology from each school and the numbers recruited into each residency program is available.

Acknowledgments

It is a pleasure to thank John Woods of the NRMP for sending the data to me by e-mail. His making it available so promptly permits the rapid production of this article. This article was prepared primarily for publication in the ASA NEWSLETTER. I thank the editor, Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D, for his agreeing that it should be simultaneously made available on the Web site.

Alan W. Grogono, M.D., is the former Chair and Meryl and Sam Israel Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. He is now retired.

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