Is it becoming harder for American MD's to get residencies?

[700003]

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[Arkangeloid]

It might be harder for AMG MDs to get into a super competitive specialty or program, but we won't have problems matching for a while.

Basically, the DOs are breeding like crazed rabbits, so that's going to crowd out the IMGs and the DOs who seek ACGME residencies, but the AMGs will be fine.


EDIT: don't worry about FMGs taking our spots, we'll always have first pick.

 

[700003]

But will it increase positions for IMGs and make it more flexible for them? Or will the system still stay strict on their policy with FMGs?

 

[Prince090]

Your concerns are not entirely valid.

Whether the there is a need for more doctors or not. AMG's will always enjoy an advantageous position.Almost 95-97% of AMG's are matched each year and this % is either going to increase or stay constant.

Induction of FMG's in american health system is a different process.For FMGs,it is always going to be tough.

 

[grt398]

It will definitely get more difficult and could be a problem unless they increase residency slots. I was just looking at this yesterday and per the possibly relevant 2013 NRMP Match data, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong somehow:

• 
  17,487 US allopathic medical school seniors applied for 26,392 first-year and 2,779 second year positions.

• 
  Of the first year positions, 1883 were med-prelim, 1278 were surg-prelim, 937 were transitional leaving 22,294 total 1st year positions. I'm excluding these from 1st year positions b/c it seems like categorical medicine and surgery are listed separately so I figure the prelim spots are either for the 2,779 second year positions listed above or simply 1 year only spots with no guarantee of a full residency.

The match rate for US allopathic seniors last year was 93.7%. So that's just a quick estimate but if you add in the fact that 960 more US allopathic medical school seniors applied in 2013 than in 2012, you'll see that within a few years there may be some problems. Probably why everyone says IMGs are expected to be squeezed out by 2016 or so.

 

[700003]

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[Arkangeloid]

Oh okay. I thought that the number of residency slots were going to increase in the next few years, and so I figured that FMG's would have it easy to get into a decent residency program.

Doubtful that they will increase, because Republicans don't want to spend money on healthcare and the Democrats don't care. Even if they did, most of the spots would be in FM and IM in community hospitals, or the spots that AMGs don't really want anyways.

 

[mvenus929]

Oh okay. I thought that the number of residency slots were going to increase in the next few years, and so I figured that FMG's would have it easy to get into a decent residency program.

If the AOA and ACGME merge residencies, then there will be more available during the match, but those that were only AOA accredited before will probably still have preference for DO candidates.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

If the AOA and ACGME merge residencies, then there will be more available during the match, but those that were only AOA accredited before will probably still have preference for DO candidates.

The merger was cancelled

 

[mvenus929]

The merger was cancelled

All the references I've found state that no agreement has been reached, but both sides are still open to the idea. So while it probably won't happen in 2015, I think it's still possible that it will occur down the line, especially if there's a push by DOs wanting to enter ACGME fellowship programs or 2nd year residency programs, which is what prompted talks of the merger in the first place.

 

[evilbooyaa]

All the references I've found state that no agreement has been reached, but both sides are still open to the idea. So while it probably won't happen in 2015, I think it's still possible that it will occur down the line, especially if there's a push by DOs wanting to enter ACGME fellowship programs or 2nd year residency programs, which is what prompted talks of the merger in the first place.

While there are a multitude of threads in the Osteopathic forum, I will leave this comment here:

Do you really think the AOA gives a crap about what its members want?

 

[DrNightMoves]

There will never be a unified GME system.

 

[Anastomoses]

Okay, I don't even understand the first post.

Say if it were harder for AMGs to get residencies...how in the world would that make it easier for FMGs???

 

[KnuxNole]

Okay, I don't even understand the first post.

Say if it were harder for AMGs to get residencies...how in the world would that make it easier for FMGs???

Exactly, if it's gonna be harder for AMGs...it's gonna be even harder for FMGs as well.

In reality, I think people are getting paranoid. Focus on working hard and worry about this as an MS4 a week before Match week. Because everyone gets a little antsy the week before Match week. 😛

It may mean that you might have to apply to more programs than you expected. I, personally don't see that as a negative. Sure, you are spending more money applying to more programs, but its better to be in a position where you have to reject II's due to time/money constraints than to only have 3-4 IIs and wish you applied to more places.