More than half of osteopathic medical students and recent graduates matched into primary care residency programs, according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Family medicine was the largest matched specialty out of the 53 percent of individuals who matched into primary care during the AOA Intern/Resident Registration Program, which ended last week. The number of family medicine placements increased 10 percent from last year, when it also was the largest matched specialty. Internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology placements also grew from last year, according to an AOA report.
More than 2,700 students and graduates participated in the AOA Match, and 75 percent successfully matched. Nearly 1,000 positions were filled in nonprimary care specialty areas.
Osteopathic students may enter the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), or the Match, but some choose the AOA Match program exclusively. Nearly 2,700 osteopathic medical school students and graduates participated in last year’s NRMP Match, the highest number ever.
In response to the projected primary care physician shortage, osteopathic medical schools continue to increase their class sizes. Today, more than 21,000 osteopathic medical students are enrolled in the United States, up about 40 percent over the last five years. New osteopathic medical schools are opening, too — three in 2013 — bringing the total nationwide to 29.
While existing schools (both osteopathic and allopathic) are increasing class sizes and new schools are opening to help address the expected physician shortage, there hasn’t been a proportional increase in the number of available residency slots, leaving a growing number of graduating medical students without residency placement and no route to medical practice.
In fact, data from the 2013 NRMP Match show that more than 500 U.S. allopathic medical graduates didn’t match into a residency in 2013, double the number from 2012. Meanwhile, potential federal funding cuts threaten existing residency programs.
The AMA’s SaveGME campaign calls on Congress to preserve funding for residency training. Visit the campaign website today to tell your lawmakers about the importance of GME for American health care.
