Entry of US medical school graduates into family practice residencies: 2000-2001 and 3-year summary.

This is the 20th report prepared by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on the percentage of each US medical school's graduates entering family practice residency programs. Approximately 12.8% of the 15,825 graduates of US medical schools between July 1999 and June 2000 were first-year family practice residents in 2000, compared with 13.4% in 1999 and 15.4% in 1998. Medical school graduates from publicly funded medical schools were almost twice as likely to be first-year family practice residents in October 2000 than were residents from privately funded schools, 15.6% compared with 8.7%. The West North Central region reported the highest percentage of medical school graduates who were first-year residents in family practice programs in October 2000 at 18.2%; the Middle Atlantic and New England regions reported the lowest percentages at 8.3% and 6.8%, respectively. Nearly half of the medical school graduates (47.0%) entering a family practice residency program as first-year residents in October 2000 entered a program in the same state where they graduated from medical school. The percentages for each medical school have varied substantially from year to year since the AAFP began reporting this information. This article reports the average percentage for each medical school for the last 3 years. Also reported are the number and percentage of graduates from colleges of osteopathic medicine who entered Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited family practice residency programs, based on estimates provided by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Results of the 2001 National Resident Matching Program: family practice.

The results of the 2001 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reflect a persistent decline of student interest in family practice residency training in the United States. Compared with the 2000 Match, 240 fewer positions (317 fewer US seniors) were filled in family practice residency programs through the NRMP in 2001, as well as 76 fewer (47 fewer US seniors) in primary care internal medicine, 5 fewer in pediatrics-primary care (7 fewer US seniors), and 7 fewer (1 fewer US senior) in internal medicine-pediatric programs. In contrast, 40 more positions (64 more US seniors) were filled in anesthesiology and 11 more (10 more US seniors) in diagnostic radiology, two "marker" disciplines that have shown increases over the past 3 years. Ninety-one fewer positions (2 fewer US seniors) were also filled in categorical internal medicine, while 49 more positions (67 more US seniors) were filled in categorical pediatrics programs, where trainees perceive options for either practicing as generalists or entering subspecialty fellowships, depending on the market. While the needs of the nation, especially rural and underserved populations, continue to offer a market for family physicians, family practice experienced a fourth year of decline though the 2001 NRMP. Current forces, including student perspectives of specialty prestige, the turbulence of the health care environment, media hype, market factors, lifestyle choices, and student debt, all appear to be influencing many students to choose subspecialty rather than primary care careers.

Entry of US medical school graduates into family practice residencies: 1999-2000 and 3-year summary.

This is the 19th report prepared by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on the percentage of each US medical school's graduates entering family practice residency programs. Approximately 13.4% of the 16,143 graduates of US medical schools between July 1998 and June 1999 were first-year family practice residents in 1999, compared with 15.4% in 1998 and 16.6% in 1997. Medical school graduates from publicly funded medical schools were almost twice as likely to be first-year family practice residents in October 1999 than were residents from privately funded schools, 16.2% compared with 9.3%. The West North Central region reported the highest percentage of medical school graduates who were first-year residents in family practice programs in October 1999 at 20.6%; the Middle Atlantic and New England regions reported the lowest percentages at 7.7% and 8.0%, respectively. Nearly half of the medical school graduates (48.4%) entering a family practice residency program as first-year residents in October 1999 entered a program in the same state where they graduated from medical school. The percentages for each medical school have varied substantially from year to year since the AAFP began reporting this information. This article reports the average percentage for each medical school for the last 3 years. Also reported are the number and percentage of graduates from colleges of osteopathic medicine who entered Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited family practice residency programs, based on estimates provided by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Results of the 2000 National Resident Matching Program: family practice.

The results of the 2000 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reflect substantial volatility in the perceptions and career choices of physicians entering graduate medical education in the United States. Ninety-four fewer positions (191 fewer US seniors) were filled in family practice residency programs through the NRMP in 2000, compared with 1999, as well as 60 fewer (66 fewer US seniors) in primary care internal medicine, 12 fewer in pediatrics-primary care (6 fewer US seniors), and 10 fewer (9 fewer US seniors) in internal medicine-pediatric programs. In contrast, 37 more positions (36 more US seniors) were filled in anesthesiology and 4 more (13 more US seniors) in diagnostic radiology, two "marker" disciplines that have recently been market sensitive. Twelve fewer positions (63 fewer US seniors) were also filled in categorical internal medicine, while 35 fewer positions (104 fewer US seniors) were filled in categorical pediatrics programs, where trainees perceive options for practicing as generalists or entering subspecialty fellowships, depending on the market. While the needs of the nation, especially rural and underserved populations, continue to offer a market for family physicians, family practice experienced a third year of decline through the 2000 NRMP. Current forces, including media hype, market factors, lifestyle choices, debt, and the turbulence of the health care environment, appear to be influencing many students to choose subspecialty rather than primary care careers.