Match Day saw historic interest this year, including stiff competition in diagnostic and interventional radiology, experts said Friday.
A total of 50,413 applicants registered in the 2024 Main Residency Match, an all-time high and 4.7% (or 2,257-applicant) increase over last year’s numbers. The change was driven predominantly by an increase of 1,986 non-U.S. citizen international medical graduates and 623 osteopathic seniors versus 2023, according to the National Resident Matching Program.
Both diagnostic and interventional radiology were 2 of 13 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. Diagnostic radiology also was 1 of 12 specialties that had increases in the number of positions filled by DO seniors of more than 10% and 10 positions in the last five years.
The fill rate for diagnostic radiology this year was 99.7% and has ranged between 96.9% and 100% since 2019. Meanwhile, the fill rate for interventional radiology was 98.4% and has ranged between 94.9% and 100% since 2019.
“The results of the match can indicate the competitiveness of specialties as measured by the percentage of positions filled overall and the percentage of positions filled by U.S. MD and DO seniors,” Jeanette L. Calli, chief of match operations at the NRMP, told Radiology Business by email Friday. “Both diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology remain competitive and there remains strong interest in both specialties from applicants.”
Programs offered a total of 1,186 diagnostic radiology positions in the main match, a nearly 1% (or 10-position) year-over-year increase. Diagnostic radiology filled 1,182 of its positions, with the total number offered swelling 6.2% since 2019. There were 1,914 total active applicants (who certified a rank-order list of their preferences) this year who selected diagnostic radiology, a decrease of 6.5% (or 134 applicants) from 2023.
“The specialty interests of applicants vary from year to year and, while the number of applicants who applied to and ranked diagnostic radiology decreased, the specialty remains competitive,” Calli noted.
Programs offered a total of 190 interventional radiology positions in the 2024 main residency match, a year-over-year increase of 6.7% (or 12 positions). Interventional radiology filled 187 of its positions, with the total number swelling 25.8% since 2019, “reflecting the transition of some programs from independent interventional radiology to integrated interventional radiology residencies,” Calli noted. There were 389 total active applications this year who ranked interventional radiology, an uptick of 3% (or 12 applicants) over 2023.
Interventional radiology was 1 of 7 specialties with 30 positions or more that filled with the highest percentage of U.S. MD and DO seniors. The list included internal/emergency medicine (96.8%, thoracic surgery (95.8 %), otolaryngology (95.8%), IM/pediatrics (94.6%), orthopedic surgery (92.1%), interventional radiology-integrated (91.4%), and obstetrics and gynecology (90.7%).
A total of 44,853 active applicants participated in this year’s match (also a record high), while medical institutions offered 41,503 positions across 6,395 residency training programs (the largest figure in NRMP’s 72-year history). This marked a 4.4% (or 1,901-applicant) increase over the 2023 numbers, NRMP noted. Of those who certified a rank-order list, 35,984 matched to a post-graduate year 1 position, an increase of 1,162. The PGY-1 match rate was about 80.2%.
These increases granted applicants access to 125 more programs and 1,128 positions, which is 2.8% more than the 2023 match.
“Upward trends in participating program rates and positions offered and filled demonstrate the success with which the NRMP ably and consistently grows to meet the needs of the undergraduate and graduate medical education communities,” NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, MBA, said in an announcement.
NRMP also highlighted ongoing concerns about shortages in primary care, a rebound in emergency medicine applicants, and “continued strength” in OB/GYN. You can read much more about the 2024 match here. Several organizations in the specialty also recently published advice and other thoughts on Match Day, including the American College of Radiology, Radiology Partners and the American Board of Radiology. Read our coverage of the 2023 Match Day here.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.