Entry of US medical school graduates into family medicine residencies: 2013--2014.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This is the 33rd annual report prepared by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) that reports retrospectively the percentage of graduates from US MD and DO-granting medical schools who entered an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited family medicine residency program and covers the period between July 2013 and June 2014. Approximately 8.5% of the 18,384 graduates of US MD-granting medical schools entered family medicine in 2014. Seventy of the 130 US LCME-accredited medical schools produced 80% of the graduates who entered family medicine. Schools that received public funding and schools with a department or division of family medicine had higher percentages of students selecting family medicine. Schools are ranked based upon a 3-year rolling average for the percentage of their graduates who entered family medicine. The West North Central, Mountain, and Pacific regions reported the highest percentages of medical school graduates who were first-year residents in family medicine programs (13.3%, 11.8%, and 11.8% respectively).

Results of the 2014 National Resident Matching Program®: family medicine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The 2014 National Residency Matching Program® results reveal that the number of family medicine positions offered in the Match® by programs accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education has increased compared to 2013 (3,132 versus 3,062), while the total of all other primary care specialties combined has remained unchanged (784). The number of US seniors matching into family medicine also increased in 2014 over the prior year (1,416 versus 1,374). The percentage of US seniors who matched into family medicine programs grew modestly in 2014 compared to 2013 (8.6% versus 8.4%). Approximately four out of five primary care positions offered in the Match are in family medicine residency programs (3,132 versus 784). Similarly, three out of four US seniors matching into a primary care specialty match into a family medicine program (1,416 versus 520). By way of comparison, nearly five times the number of US seniors matched into family medicine as compared to medicine-pediatrics, the next largest primary care specialty.

Entry of US medical school graduates into family medicine residencies: 2012--2013.

BACKGROUND: Analyzing the US medical school origin of family medicine residents highlights schools, states, or regions that have higher entrance rates into family medicine. METHODS: The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) 2013 Residency Census has a 100% response rate and lists information for family medicine residents who entered training July 2012. MD graduates are verified through medical school registrars or the American Medical Association's Physicians Masterfile data. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine provides data on DO graduates. Three-year rolling averages of graduates entering family medicine are calculated for Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME)-accredited medical schools. RESULTS: In July 2012, 3,523 first-year residents entered Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited family medicine residencies. Medical students from LCME-accredited schools account for less than half of the family medicine residents (46%). Public MD-granting medical schools graduate almost threefold more students into family medicine residencies than do private schools (1,101 versus 380). The Mountain, West North Central, and Pacific regions of the United States have the highest percentage of MD graduates (13.5%, 12.3%, and 11.4%, respectively) entering family medicine. Forty-five percent of MD medical students enter a family medicine residency in the state in which they attended medical school. CONCLUSIONS: LCME-accredited medical schools with lower percentages of graduates entering family medicine should examine the economic, environmental, and academic factors that may be causing low numbers of their students graduating and entering family medicine residencies.

Results of the 2013 National Resident Matching Program: family medicine.

BACKGROUND: The percentage of US seniors who chose primary care careers remains well below the nation's future workforce needs. Entrants into family medicine residency programs, along with their colleagues entering other primary care-designated residencies, will compose the primary care workforce of the future. METHODS: Data in this article are collected from the 2013 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match and the 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Medical Education Residency Census. The information provided includes the number of applicants to graduate medical education programs for the 2013--2014 academic year, specialty choice, and trends in specialty selection. RESULTS: Family medicine residency programs experienced a modest increase in both the overall fill rate as well as the number of positions filled with US seniors through the NRMP in 2013 in comparison to 2012. Other primary care fields, primary care internal medicine positions, pediatrics-primary care, and internal medicine-pediatrics programs also experienced modest increases in 2013. The 2013 NRMP results show a small increase in medical students choosing primary care careers for the fourth year in a row. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the NRMP Match process in 2013 make a comparison to prior years' Match results difficult. Medical school admission changes, loan repayment, and improved primary care reimbursement may help increase the number of students pursuing family medicine.

Results of the 2012 National Resident Matching Program: family medicine.

BACKGROUND: The percentage of US seniors choosing primary care careers remains well below the nation's future workforce needs. Data in this article are collected from the 2012 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match and the 2012 American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Medical Education Residency Census, which had a response rate of 100%. The census verified residents who entered training July 2012 from all medical schools. The information provided includes the number of applicants to graduate medical education programs for the 2012--2013 academic year, specialty choice, and trends in specialty selection. Compared with the 2011 Match, family medicine residency programs filled 35 more positions (with 18 more US seniors) through the NRMP in 2012. In other primary care fields, 31 more primary care internal medicine positions (20 more US seniors), two fewer positions in pediatrics-primary care (one less US senior), and 18 fewer positions in internal medicine-pediatrics programs (33 fewer US seniors) filled. The 2012 NRMP results indicate a small increase in medical students choosing primary care careers for the third year in a row; however, students continue to show an overall preference for subspecialty careers.

Entry of US medical school graduates into family medicine residencies: 2011--2012.

BACKGROUND: This study reports on the number of graduates entering family medicine residencies in 2011 from allopathic, osteopathic, and international medical schools. Allopathic graduate data come from medical school registrars or the American Medical Association Masterfile. The 2012 family medicine residency program director census, with a response rate of 100%, verified residents who entered training July 2011 from all medical schools. Approximately 8.4% allopathic medical school's graduates of the 17,478 graduates (July 2010 to June 2011) were first-year family medicine residents in 2011, compared with 8.0% in 2010 and 7.5% in 2009. The percent of medical school graduates entering family medicine from each of the allopathic schools was calculated and averaged over 3 years to diminish 1-year fluctuations. Allopathic medical schools' 3-year average percentage of graduates who entered family medicine residency programs in 2011 ranged from 0.6% to 21.4%. Compared to 2010, osteopathic graduates in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited family medicine residencies (21.5%) increased 2.8% from 2010, whereas international medical graduates (32.1%) decreased 3.4%. An increasing trend is seen in the number of allopathic graduates entering family medicine residencies. Osteopathic and international graduates' entry to residency appears inversely related. As medical schools emphasize social accountability to improve the health of communities, higher family medicine graduation rates may occur. Initiatives in medical school admissions may increase the number of medical students more likely to select family medicine careers.

Results of the 2011 National Resident Matching Program: family medicine.

The results of the 2011 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reflect another small but promising increased level of student interest in family medicine residency training in the United States. Compared with the 2010 Match, family medicine residency programs filled 172 more positions (with 133 more US seniors) through the NRMP in 2011. In other primary care fields, 26 more primary care internal medicine positions filled (10 more US seniors), one more position in pediatrics-primary care (two fewer US seniors), and seven more positions in internal medicine-pediatrics programs (10 more US seniors). The 2011 NRMP results suggest a small increase in choosing primary care careers for the second year in a row; however, students continue to show an overall preference for subspecialty careers. Multiple forces continue to influence medical student career choices. Despite matching the highest number of US seniors into family medicine residencies since 2002, the production of family physicians remains insufficient to meet the current and anticipated need to support the nation's primary care infrastructure.

Entry of US medical school graduates into family medicine residencies: 2010-2011 and 3-year summary.

This is the 30th report prepared by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on the percentage of each US medical school's graduates entering family medicine residency programs. This retrospective analysis based on data reported to the AAFP from medical schools and family medicine residency programs shows approximately 8.0% of the 17,081 graduates of US medical schools between July 2009 and June 2010 were first-year family medicine residents in 2010, compared to 7.5% in 2009 and 8.2% in 2008. Medical school graduates from publicly funded medical schools were more likely to be first-year family medicine residents in October 2010 than were residents from privately funded schools (9.6% versus 5.4%). The Mountain and West North Central regions reported the highest percentage of medical school graduates who were first-year residents in family medicine programs in October 2010 (14.3% and 11.3%, respectively); the New England and Middle Atlantic regions reported the lowest percentages (5.6% and 5.3%, respectively). Approximately four in 10 of the medical school graduates (40.3%) entering a family medicine residency program as first-year residents 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 3-year average percentage from each medical school of graduates entering family medicine residencies and the number and percentage of graduates from colleges of osteopathic medicine who entered Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited family medicine residency programs in 2010.

Entry of US medical school graduates into family medicine residencies: 2009--2010 and 3-year summary.

This is the 29th report prepared by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on the percentage of each US medical school's graduates entering family medicine residency programs. Approximately 7.5% of the 16,617 graduates of US medical schools between July 2008 and June 2009 were first-year family medicine residents in 2009, compared with 8.2% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2007. Medical school graduates from publicly funded medical schools were more likely to be first-year family medicine residents in October 2009 than were residents from privately funded schools, 8.8% compared with 5.3%. The Mountain and West North Central regions reported the highest percentage of medical school graduates who were first-year residents in family medicine programs in October 2009 at 13.4% and 11.0%, respectively; the New England and Middle Atlantic regions reported the lowest percentages at 7.0% and 4.4%, respectively. Nearly half of the medical school graduates (48.3%) entering a family medicine residency program as first-year residents in October 2009 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 medicine residency programs, based on estimates provided by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. These numbers are retrospective analyses based on numbers reported to the AAFP from medical schools and family medicine residency programs.

Results of the 2010 national resident matching program: family medicine.

The results of the 2010 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reflect a small but promising increased level of student interest in family medicine residency training in the United States. Compared with the 2009 Match, 75 more positions (with 101 more US seniors) were filled in family medicine residency programs through the NRMP in 2010, at the same time that seven more positions were filled in primary care internal medicine (one more US senior), 14 fewer positions were filled in pediatrics-primary care (16 fewer US seniors), and 16 more positions were filled in internal medicine-pediatrics programs (58 more US seniors). Multiple forces including student perspectives of the demands, rewards, and prestige of the specialty; national dialogue about health care reform; turbulence in the economic environment; lifestyle issues; the advice of deans; and the impact of faculty role models continue to influence medical student career choices. Ninety-four more positions (90 more US seniors) were filled in categorical internal medicine. Fifty-seven more positions (29 more US seniors) were filled in categorical pediatrics programs. The 2010 NRMP results suggest that there is a small increase in primary care careers; however, students continue to show an overall preference for subspecialty careers. Despite matching the highest number of US seniors into family medicine residencies since 2004, in 2010 the production of family physicians remains insufficient to meet the current and anticipated need to support the nation's primary care infrastructure.