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May 2006
Volume 70 |
Number 5 |
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National
Resident Matching Program Results for 2006:
Recruitment Shifts to PG-1 Year
Alan
W. Grogono, M.D. |
| The 14th annual report about the anesthesiology
results of the National Resident Matching Program
(NRMP) shows a change in the pattern of recruitment.
There is a significant increase in 1) the number
recruited to the PG-1 year and 2) the number of
U.S. senior medical students recruited. |
Introduction: The 14th annual report about
the anesthesiology results of the National Resident
Matching Program (NRMP) shows a change in the pattern
of recruitment. There is a significant increase in 1)
the number recruited to the PG-1 year and 2) the number
of U.S. senior medical students recruited.
NRMP Results [Table 1 and Figure 1]:
This year a total of 1,287 were recruited via the Match,
an increase in recruitment of 4.6 percent. This is the
greatest total recruited into anesthesiology via the
Match and exceeds the 2003 peak by 76 and the 1992 peak
by 261. The number of graduating U.S. allopathic seniors
matching into anesthesiology had changed little from
2002-05 [Figure 2]. This year [Table 2] saw a 13.5-percent
increase of 124, from 916 to 1,040. Anesthesiology attracted
6.93 percent of the total candidates in the Match, the
largest number ever and the largest percentage ever.
From 1996-2002, apart from U.S. allopathic seniors,
the sum of the other groups who were matching into anesthesiology
averaged 230 ± 37 (SD). Then from 2003-05, the
number rose to 284, 303 and 314. In 2006 this number
diminished to 247, not far from the previous average
[Table 3 and Figure 3].
Positions Offered and Unfilled: With minor
fluctuations, the last 11 years have seen a fairly steady
increase in the total number of positions offered, from
946 in 1996 to 1,311 this year. More striking this year
is an increase in the number of positions offered at
the PG-1 level, up by 89 from 463 to 552. Moreover this
is larger by 203 than the average of 349 for the years
1990-2005. The total number of unfilled positions decreased
again, this time from 53 to 24, a 55-percent decrease
and the fewest unfilled positions ever recorded [Figure
4 and Table 1].
Distribution of Recruits [Table 3]:
For the seventh year in a row, behind only U.S. allopathic
graduates, the osteopathic graduates contribute the
greatest numbers to the anesthesiology Match; this year’s
total of 101 shows a slight reduction. Among the other
non-U.S. allopathic groups, the only other significant
change is a reduction in the number of international
medical graduates (IMG)/non-U.S. recruits from 83 to
49 [Figure 5].
Regional Distribution [Table 4]: The
NRMP data has again been compiled by state and ranked
by the number recruited into each state’s residencies
via the Match. For eight years now, the top six positions
have been occupied by the same six states (California,
Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and
Texas). For the last four years, the number recruited
by each of these states has changed little with the
exception that the number recruited by California has
risen from 121 to 134. Between them the top two states
recruited 316 (25 percent), the top five states recruited
579 (45 percent), and the top 10 recruited 827 (64 percent).
Comment: For the three years 2003-2005,
the number of residents recruited into anesthesiology
via the Match showed relatively minor changes in the
overall numbers recruited (1,211, 1,200, 1,230). This
year the number rose to 1,287. Accompanying this was
a major increase in recruitment in the number of U.S.
senior medical students (14 percent) and a shift to
recruitment at the PG-1 level.
A number of programs appear to have shifted their strategy
to recruiting at the PG-1 level. It would be tempting
to think this may have been well-received and to associate
the increase of 89 positions offered with the recruitment
of 100 more PG-1 recruits. Only a few programs, however,
have made this change, and so the number of unfilled
positions diminished at both the CA-1 and PG-1 levels.
It would appear that U.S. medical students, in particular,
are currently judging anesthesiology to be an attractive
specialty.
At a time when a shortage of anesthesiologists still
affects many programs, this Match should be regarded
as a welcome trend.
Web Site: This article, previous articles
and additional information about the numbers of students
recruited into anesthesiology from each school and the
numbers recruited into and graduating from each residency
program are available at <www.grogono.com/nrmp>.
Acknowledgments: This article was prepared
primarily for publication in the ASA NEWSLETTER,
and I thank Editor Douglas R. Bacon, M.D., for his agreeing
that it may be simultaneously made available on the
Web site. I thank Mona Signer of the NRMP, whose prompt
response permits the rapid production of this article.
Dr. Grogono’s past NRMP articles have appeared
in August 1993, May 1994, June 1995, May 1996, May 1997,
May 1998, May 1999, May 2000, May 2001, May 2002, May
2003, May 2004 and May 2005.
Table 1 (click
to enlarge) |
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Figure 1: Total
Recruitment Into Anesthesiology
via the NRMP During the Years 1990-06 |
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The three columns
represent the numbers recruited into the
PG-1 year, the CA-1 year and the total. |
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Figure 2: Graduating
U.S. Seniors Recruited Into
Anesthesiology During the Years 1990-06 |
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The three columns
represent the numbers recruited into the
PG-1 year, the CA-1 year and the total. |
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Figure 3: Recruits
Other Than U.S. Allopathic Seniors Matching
Into Anesthesiology During the Years 1990-06 |
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The three columns
represent the numbers recruited into the
PG-1 year, the CA-1 year and the total.
total. |
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Figure 4: Number
of Places Available Versus Total Number Recruited
During 1990-06 |
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The total number of
unfilled positions decreased from 53 in
2005 to 24 in 2006, the fewest unfilled
positions ever recorded. |
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Table
2 |
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The number of U.S. allopathic
medical students matching into anesthesiology
compared to the total number in the NRMP
for each year. |
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Table 3
(click to enlarge) |
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This table shows the distribution
into anesthesiology residencies from various
sources during the last 11 years. This
year the most significant changes were
an increase in the numbers of U.S. allopathic
students and a fall in the numbers of
osteopathic students and IMG/non-U.S.
graduates. |
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Table 4 (click
to enlarge) |
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Figure 5
(click to enlarge)
Distribution of people recruited via the Match,
1996-2006
This graph is based on the
four largest categories in Table 2. There is a
marked increase in recruitment from U.S. allopathic
students; a fall in IMG/non-U.S. graduates and
osteopathic students. |
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Alan
W. Grogono, M.D., now retired, is former Chair
and Meryl and Sam Israel Professor, Department
of Anesthesiology, Tulane University School of
Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. |
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