For Medical Students

Match rate for fourth-year students highest in 30 years

More than 95 percent of the nation's fourth-year allopathic medical school students matched to residency positions in this year's Main Residency Match, the highest match rate for this group in 30 years, according to data released by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

U.S. allopathic medical school seniors made up 15,712 of the 22,934 applicants who matched to first-year positions, the NRMP said. A total of 38,377 people worldwide applied for 26,772 U.S. residency positions, up 642 applicants from 2011 and more than 2,400 applicants during the past five years. A total of 1,764 students and graduates of U.S. osteopathic schools also received first-year residency positions.

A total of 26,772 positions were offered in this year's Match, an increase of 614 from last year, and positions in internal medicine, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine grew the most. While positions in family medicine increased notably during the past two years, they grew by only 1.1 percent this year.

Darrell G. Kirch, MD., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, said in a statement that the slight increase in positions was encouraging. However, concerns remain that the increases are insufficient to meet the nation's health care needs and to alleviate future physician shortages, he said.

"The AAMC urges Congress and the Obama administration to do their part and increase funding for Medicare-supported residency positions," Dr. Kirch said. "Cutting the deficit is important, but sustained investment in doctor training is critical to the health of all Americans."

This year's Match included the debut of the NRMP's Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, a new system designed to automate, streamline and equalize the process for unmatched applicants seeking unfilled positions. Learn more about the program and other changes in this year's Match.

View American Medical News' coverage of this year's Match.

Join a convention committee for next AMA-MSS meeting

Help make this year's AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) Annual Assembly Meeting a success by joining one of the section's meeting convention committees. Applications for joining the committees are due Friday. Visit the convention committee Web page to access more information and an application.

The meeting will take place June 14–16 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago prior to the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. Below is a list of other due dates for materials related to the AMA-MSS meeting:

• Ideas for educational sessions: March 30
• Draft resolutions: April 13
• Chapter of the Year Award applications: April 30
• Final resolutions and checklist: May 5
• Applications for AMA-MSS Governing Council positions: May 17

Student researchers receive AMA Foundation grants

Research grants of $2,500 are headed to 15 AMA medical student members producing basic science or clinical research projects about cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, HIV/AIDS, neoplastic diseases and pancreatic cancer.

The grants are from the AMA Foundation's annual Seed Grant Research Program, which aims to build crucial grant-writing and research skills in medical students, residents and fellows. The AMA Foundation awarded grants to 43 young researchers this year.

"The AMA Foundation Seed Grant Research Program provides important financial support, motivation and professional development to outstanding investigators who are in the beginning stages of their research careers," AMA Foundation President Owen Garrick, MD, said. "Many recipients of this program go on to publish their work, present at conferences and secure larger grants to continue their research advancements."

Medical student grant recipients include:

• Caitlin Abidin, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Joshua Farhadian, New York University School of Medicine
• Alexander Hajduczok, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
• Kateena Johnson, Morehouse School of Medicine
• Laura Musselwhite, Duke University School of Medicine
• Richard Price, Ohio State University College of Medicine
• Raghuveer Puttagunta, Baylor College of Medicine
• Annahita Sarcon, University of California Davis School of Medicine
• Shane Sergent, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Eric Shin, Indiana University School of Medicine
• Jonathan Tucci, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
• Wyatt Unger, University of Arizona College of Medicine
• Muthiah Vaduganathan, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Aaron Wild, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• Xiaoyi Zhang, Medical University of South Carolina

View a complete list of grant recipients and their project summaries.

Enjoy savings on USMLE, COMLEX prep guides

Are you prepared to score high on the upcoming United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)? AMA members receive discounts of up to 25 percent off the list price on medical student resources such as First Aid for the USMLE and First Aid for the COMLEX. Visit the AMA Bookstore to take advantage of these discounts.

Don't miss out on valuable resources for AMA members. Renew your membership or join the AMA today to begin to take advantage of them.