Another ‘record’ Match Day, with strong interest in diagnostic and interventional radiology

This year marked another “record” Match Day, with strong interest in radiology and other specialties, the National Resident Matching Program reported Friday.

A total of 42,952 applicants certified a rank-order list in 2023, marking the largest match in NRMP’s 70-year history, with 40,375 certified positions offered (up 3% year over year). Diagnostic radiology had 2,054 applicants this year for 1,176 positions offered, with all of them being filled. Meanwhile, 378 individuals applied for 178 positions offered in interventional radiology, 176 of which were filled.

“The 2023 Main Residency Match proved once again to be a highly successful match with outstanding results for participants,” NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, MBA, said in a statement. “For the past 70 years, the NRMP has been proud to play a part in helping physicians transition into residency training and begin careers serving their patients and community.”

There were increases in the number of each type of position offered this year when compared to the 2022 match, including post-graduate year 1 and 2 and physician R programs (reserved for doctors who have had prior graduate medical education). Diagnostic radiology was one of only four participating specialties that offered more than 30 positions and filled all of them. And both IR and DR were 2 of 11 specialties that had increases in the number of positions filled by U.S. MD seniors of more than 10% and 10 positions in the last five years.

Here is a quick breakdown for diagnostic radiology:

• PGY-1: Saw an increase of 11 positions at 143 this year compared to 132 in 2022.
• PGY-2: Recorded an increase of nine positions, up to 1,006 versus 997 in last year’s match.
• Physician R: Increased by just one position, up to 27 in 2023.

And here are the details for interventional radiology:

• PGY-1: Increased by six positions year-over-year, up to 51.
• PGY-2: Up by two positions at 125 for the 2023 match.
• Physician R: Also up by just one, for a total of two positions in this match.

“Diagnostic radiology appears to be a highly competitive field, which filled 100% of its positions in the match this year, and interventional radiology also appears to be competitive, filling all but two positions in the match,” Lamb, the NRMP chief executive, told Radiology Business by email on Friday. “We would encourage applicants to review the advance data tables on the website, and utilize other Main Residency Match data and analytics we have available to assist them through the matching process. Also, we would encourage students to utilize the career advising resources their medical school offers.”

Residents took to social media earlier this week to celebrate the results, or ponder what comes next after not matching into the specialty.

“I am so thankful to announce that I matched into radiology!” Jonah Chazin, a fourth-year medical student at Tufts Medical School in Boston, shared on March 13 after he matched at Dartmouth. “16 years ago, my grandmother passed away, and I dreamed of becoming a doctor to help others avoid losing someone they loved. I’m proud to know that (finally) this dream will become a reality!”

“Unfortunately, I did not match into radiology this cycle,” Robert Martin, an aspiring radiologist located in Blackwood, N.J., shared on March 13. “Though disappointed I will continue pursuing my radiology passion during my TY year. I greatly appreciate any advice for matching into rads and I would love mentors to prepare for July 2024!”

Members of the radiology community took to the web to congratulate others and offer advice on what comes next after Match Day. In a blog posted Thursday, March 16, Ryan Morrison (who matched into this specialty this cycle) recommended linking up with associations such as ACR, starting projects, and finding a mentor. Industry giant Radiology Partners also shared a blog post this week with advice from several of its staff members.

“As you progress through your new career, always remain open to moments of change like today–in your professional life, your personal life and in yourself,” Anand Singh, MD, a musculoskeletal radiologist located in Louisville, Ky., shared. “Stay flexible, take risks, embrace change and you will be ready to create the next great version of YOU!”

NRMP noted that overall applicant participation increased this year, driven primarily by non-United States, international medical graduates. All told, 48,156 applications registered in the 2023 Main Residency Match, up 481 applicants compared to last year. This was driven primarily by an increase of more than 700 non-U.S. citizen applicants and 150-plus U.S. osteopathic seniors compared to last year. “Surprising” this year, the program noted, was a decrease in the number of U.S. MD seniors registered for the match, dropping by 236

Besides radiology, other specialties with 30 positions or more that filled all available slots included orthopedic, plastic and thoracic surgery. Emergency medicine placed more than 3,000 positions this match, with 554 remaining unfilled. That marks a 335-position increase compared to last year, driven partly by a decreased number of seniors submitting ranks for the specialty. This, the NRMP noted, “could reflect changing applicant interests or projections about workforce opportunities post residency.”

Meanwhile, the number of primary care positions hit an all-time high due to a “serious and growing shortage” of docs in the specialty, the NRMP said. A total of 571 additional PCP positions were offered this match, up 3.2% compared to 2022 and up 17% over a five-year span.

Applicants who did not match to a residency are participating in the NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program to seek out an unfilled position. A total of 2,685 positions remained unfilled after the algorithm processed applications, up 423 spots (or 18.7%) compared to 2022. Out of that total, 2,658 were placed into the supplemental program, representing a 17.5% uptick. NRMP said the SOAP results will be made available in the spring.