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National Residency Matching Program results for radiation oncology, 2005 update
Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys., Vol. 63, No. 1, pp. 3– 4, 2005 Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Inc. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0360-3016/05/$–see front matter
doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.04.053
EDITORIAL
NATIONAL RESIDENCY MATCHING PROGRAM RESULTS FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY, 2005 UPDATE LYNN D. WILSON, M.D., M.P.H.,
AND
BRUCE G. HAFFTY, M.D.
Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Radiation oncology continues to expand its visibility among U.S. medical school seniors and other applicants interested in pursuing careers within the specialty. There continues to be a great amount of competition for successful acquisition of a residency position in the United States. As a follow-up to our recent analysis of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) radiation oncology match data for 1993– 2003 (1), and the 2004 update (2), we now provide detail regarding the 2005 match (Table 1). Data were obtained from the NRMP (www.nrmp.org). Just as in the reports published in 2003 and 2004, several caveats need to be recognized in the 2005 analysis: (1) data do not reflect information for applicants or training programs that did not participate in the NRMP match, (2) data are in reference to postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) positions in radiation oncology, (3) data include information for U.S. seniors and independent applicants, and (4) the total number of applicants through the NRMP includes those who identified radiation oncology as an “only choice,” “first choice,” and “not first choice.” In 2003 and 2004, respectively, a total of 51 and 63 programs participated in the NRMP match process. In 2005, the number of participating programs expanded to 69. Data reveal a total of 1337 “ranked positions,” a total of 128 positions offered, with a rank per position offered ratio of 10.4. In 2005, the total number of applicants who ranked programs was 225. The highest number of applicants through the NRMP before 2005 was in 2001, with a total of 214. The raw numbers of U.S. senior applicants through the NRMP for 2005 and 2004 were 163 and 146, respectively. The corresponding number in 2003 was 157. The percentages of the total number of applicants who were U.S. seniors were 72% and 73% in 2005 and 2004, respectively, compared with 75% from 2003. A total of 128 positions were offered in radiation oncology in the NRMP match in 2005, and this represented 5% of all PGY-2 positions across all specialties. A total of 126
positions were filled in 2005 (98.4%). The ratio of total number of applicants to positions offered in 2005 was 1.76. A total of 117 positions were offered in radiation oncology in 2004, and this represented 4.7% of all PGY-2 positions offered across all specialties. A total of 115 positions were filled in 2004 (98%). The ratio of total number of applicants to positions offered in 2004 was 1.71, compared with a value of 1.95 for 2003. There were a total of five other specialties that offered more than 100 positions for PGY-2 in 2005. These were emergency medicine, diagnostic radiology, dermatology, anesthesia, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The percentage of each specialty matching with U.S. seniors compared with positions offered in 2005 were 83%, 77%, 75%, 72%, and 54%, respectively. The corresponding percentage for radiation oncology in 2005 was 85.2%. Of specialties offering more than 100 positions for PGY-1, the highest percentage of positions filled by U.S. seniors was in orthopedic surgery (91.8%). A total of six radiation oncology programs offered positions that included a PGY-1 experience. A total of nine positions were offered, and 100% of these positions were filled by graduating U.S. seniors in 2005. The total number of “active” applicants for 2005 across all specialties, inclusive of PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions, was 25,348. The corresponding total for 2004 was 25,246. This compared to a total of 23,965 “active” applicants from 2003. The number of total positions offered across all specialties in 2005 was 24,012, compared with 23,704 in 2004 and 23,365 in 2003. The number of positions filled (inclusive of U.S. seniors and independent applicants) was 22,221 in 2005 and 21,812 in 2004. The ratio of “active” applicants to positions offered in 2005 was 1.06. In 2004, the ratio was 1.07 for all specialties participating in the NRMP match process. The percentage of all PGY-1 and PGY-2 offered positions that were filled by U.S. seniors was 65% for both 2005 and 2004. Radiation oncology remains a popular and extremely competitive specialty with respect to entrance into U.S.
Reprint requests to: Lynn D. Wilson, M.D., M.P.H., Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, HRT 136, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510. Tel: (203)
737-1202; Fax: (203) 785-4622; E-mail: [email protected] Received April 5, 2005, and in revised form April 27, 2005. Accepted for publication April 29, 2005. 3
4
I. J. Radiation Oncology
● Biology ● Physics
Volume 63, Number 1, 2005
Table 1. NRMP radiation oncology match data
Radiation oncology programs Positions offered Total number of applicants (U.S./IA) U.S. seniors as a percentage of the applicant pool U.S. seniors as a percentage of those who matched Percentage of positions filled Ratio of applicants to positions
2005
2004
2003
69 128 225 72% 87% 98% 1.76
63 117 200 73% 88% 98% 1.71
51 107 209 75% 91% 100% 1.95
Abbreviations: NRMP ⫽ National Residency Matching Program; IA ⫽ independent applicant.
training programs. It is important to note that these data do not include additional applicants who sought positions outside of the NRMP match and hence do not represent the total number of applicants. The data are strictly from the NRMP process and are therefore comparable from year to
year as a guide. Such information will continue to be of use to medical students who consider radiation oncology as a potential career path and to medical school deans advising such students.
REFERENCES 1. Wilson LD, Haffty BG. Evaluation of the national resident matching program (NRMP) radiation oncology data (1993– 2003). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003;57:1033–1037.
2. Wilson LD, Haffty BG. National residency matching program (NRMP) results for radiation oncology, 2004 update. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2004;60:689 – 690.
doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.04.053
EDITORIAL
NATIONAL RESIDENCY MATCHING PROGRAM RESULTS FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY, 2005 UPDATE LYNN D. WILSON, M.D., M.P.H.,
AND
BRUCE G. HAFFTY, M.D.
Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Radiation oncology continues to expand its visibility among U.S. medical school seniors and other applicants interested in pursuing careers within the specialty. There continues to be a great amount of competition for successful acquisition of a residency position in the United States. As a follow-up to our recent analysis of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) radiation oncology match data for 1993– 2003 (1), and the 2004 update (2), we now provide detail regarding the 2005 match (Table 1). Data were obtained from the NRMP (www.nrmp.org). Just as in the reports published in 2003 and 2004, several caveats need to be recognized in the 2005 analysis: (1) data do not reflect information for applicants or training programs that did not participate in the NRMP match, (2) data are in reference to postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) positions in radiation oncology, (3) data include information for U.S. seniors and independent applicants, and (4) the total number of applicants through the NRMP includes those who identified radiation oncology as an “only choice,” “first choice,” and “not first choice.” In 2003 and 2004, respectively, a total of 51 and 63 programs participated in the NRMP match process. In 2005, the number of participating programs expanded to 69. Data reveal a total of 1337 “ranked positions,” a total of 128 positions offered, with a rank per position offered ratio of 10.4. In 2005, the total number of applicants who ranked programs was 225. The highest number of applicants through the NRMP before 2005 was in 2001, with a total of 214. The raw numbers of U.S. senior applicants through the NRMP for 2005 and 2004 were 163 and 146, respectively. The corresponding number in 2003 was 157. The percentages of the total number of applicants who were U.S. seniors were 72% and 73% in 2005 and 2004, respectively, compared with 75% from 2003. A total of 128 positions were offered in radiation oncology in the NRMP match in 2005, and this represented 5% of all PGY-2 positions across all specialties. A total of 126
positions were filled in 2005 (98.4%). The ratio of total number of applicants to positions offered in 2005 was 1.76. A total of 117 positions were offered in radiation oncology in 2004, and this represented 4.7% of all PGY-2 positions offered across all specialties. A total of 115 positions were filled in 2004 (98%). The ratio of total number of applicants to positions offered in 2004 was 1.71, compared with a value of 1.95 for 2003. There were a total of five other specialties that offered more than 100 positions for PGY-2 in 2005. These were emergency medicine, diagnostic radiology, dermatology, anesthesia, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The percentage of each specialty matching with U.S. seniors compared with positions offered in 2005 were 83%, 77%, 75%, 72%, and 54%, respectively. The corresponding percentage for radiation oncology in 2005 was 85.2%. Of specialties offering more than 100 positions for PGY-1, the highest percentage of positions filled by U.S. seniors was in orthopedic surgery (91.8%). A total of six radiation oncology programs offered positions that included a PGY-1 experience. A total of nine positions were offered, and 100% of these positions were filled by graduating U.S. seniors in 2005. The total number of “active” applicants for 2005 across all specialties, inclusive of PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions, was 25,348. The corresponding total for 2004 was 25,246. This compared to a total of 23,965 “active” applicants from 2003. The number of total positions offered across all specialties in 2005 was 24,012, compared with 23,704 in 2004 and 23,365 in 2003. The number of positions filled (inclusive of U.S. seniors and independent applicants) was 22,221 in 2005 and 21,812 in 2004. The ratio of “active” applicants to positions offered in 2005 was 1.06. In 2004, the ratio was 1.07 for all specialties participating in the NRMP match process. The percentage of all PGY-1 and PGY-2 offered positions that were filled by U.S. seniors was 65% for both 2005 and 2004. Radiation oncology remains a popular and extremely competitive specialty with respect to entrance into U.S.
Reprint requests to: Lynn D. Wilson, M.D., M.P.H., Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, HRT 136, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510. Tel: (203)
737-1202; Fax: (203) 785-4622; E-mail: [email protected] Received April 5, 2005, and in revised form April 27, 2005. Accepted for publication April 29, 2005. 3
4
I. J. Radiation Oncology
● Biology ● Physics
Volume 63, Number 1, 2005
Table 1. NRMP radiation oncology match data
Radiation oncology programs Positions offered Total number of applicants (U.S./IA) U.S. seniors as a percentage of the applicant pool U.S. seniors as a percentage of those who matched Percentage of positions filled Ratio of applicants to positions
2005
2004
2003
69 128 225 72% 87% 98% 1.76
63 117 200 73% 88% 98% 1.71
51 107 209 75% 91% 100% 1.95
Abbreviations: NRMP ⫽ National Residency Matching Program; IA ⫽ independent applicant.
training programs. It is important to note that these data do not include additional applicants who sought positions outside of the NRMP match and hence do not represent the total number of applicants. The data are strictly from the NRMP process and are therefore comparable from year to
year as a guide. Such information will continue to be of use to medical students who consider radiation oncology as a potential career path and to medical school deans advising such students.
REFERENCES 1. Wilson LD, Haffty BG. Evaluation of the national resident matching program (NRMP) radiation oncology data (1993– 2003). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003;57:1033–1037.
2. Wilson LD, Haffty BG. National residency matching program (NRMP) results for radiation oncology, 2004 update. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2004;60:689 – 690.