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Nephrology Match shows many training programs, fellowship positions go unfilled

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On Dec. 2, 2015, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) released preliminary results of the Specialties Matching Service (SMS) Match for Appointment Year (AY) 2016–2017. This is the first nephrology match since implementation of the “All-In” policy, where all accredited training programs and all positions must be filled through the NRMP Match. The American Society of Nephrology provided a summary of the report.

The trend of unfilled nephrology training programs (58.9%) and fellowship positions (59.2%) continued through the first year of the "All-in" policy. However, the numbers of overall applications and U.S. Medical Graduates (USMG) applicants rose slightly (by 11% and 2.5%, respectively) in AY 2016, reversing a seven-year decline.

More osteopathic graduates and U.S. graduates of international medical schools listed nephrology as their Preferred Specialty in AY 2016, stemming recent drops over the past five years. Internatinal Medical Graduates (IMGs) continued to turn away from nephrology. Over the past six years, the number of IMGs choosing the specialty decreased 69.8%, from 336 to 100.

Read also: Nephrology workforce continues to shrink, ASN report shows 

Preliminary results for AY 2016 demonstrated substantial increases in unfilled positions (58%) and unfilled programs (37%) compared to AY 2015. However, the first year of “All-In” reversed a three-year decline in programs and positions certified in the Match, which may have contributed to this year’s larger proportional increase.

Highlights

• There was a substantial increase in programs (18%) and positions (25%) certified in the Match in first year of “All-In” over AY 2015.
• The number of matched nephrology fellows increased 8.7%, from 254 to 276.
• The number of applicants preferring nephrology rose 11% in AY 2016.
• There was a slight uptick in applications from U.S. medical graduates (USMGs), but international medical graduate (IMG) applications continued a six-year decline.
• Unfilled programs and positions continued to rise (36.8% and 58.3%, respectively, compared with AY 2015). The “All-In” Match policy, which led to an upturn in certified programs and positions, may have contributed to the larger proportional increase.

 

Download the ASN summary. -by Rebecaa Zumoff