The ECFMG(r) Reporter

An E-Newsletter for International Medical Graduates Pursuing Graduate
Medical Education in the United States

Issue Forty-Four - March 30, 2004


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IN THIS ISSUE:

- 2004 MATCH PERFORMANCE - MORE IMGS PARTICIPATE AND MATCH
- ABOUT THE MATCH
- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE MATCH AND MATCH RESULTS

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2004 MATCH PERFORMANCE - MORE IMGS PARTICIPATE AND MATCH

For the second consecutive year, the number of first year (PGY-1)
residency positions offered through the Match increased. A total of
21,192 first year positions were offered in the 2004 Match, held
earlier
this month. This represents an increase of 284 positions compared to
2003.

The number of IMGs who participated in the Match and the number of IMGs
who matched to first year positions both increased, continuing last
year's upward trend. For the 2004 Match, 7,686 IMG applicants
participated, compared to 7,016 in 2003. Of the 7,686 IMG participants,
4,087* (53.2%) were matched to first year positions. In the 2003 Match,
3,884 (55.4%) IMG participants were matched to first year positions.

There were 2,015 U.S-citizen IMG participants; of these, 1,117 (55.4%)
were matched to first year positions. Of the 5,671 IMG participants who
were not U.S. citizens, 2,970 (52.4%) obtained positions. The number of
non-U.S. citizen IMGs who obtained positions in 2004 increased by 171
compared to the prior year.

The number of IMG participants who were not U.S. citizens, at 5,671,
represents an increase of 12.8% over the previous year, which also saw
a
double-digit increase in this category. This upward trend of the past
two years reverses a decline in the number of non-U.S. citizen IMG
participants in the 2000-2002 Match years.

*Note: The total number of IMGs who will fill PGY-1 positions for the
2004-2005 academic year will be higher than this number, since a
significant number of IMGs obtain PGY-1 positions outside of the Match.


ABOUT THE MATCH

The annual NRMP Match is the system by which applicants are matched
with
available residency positions in U.S. programs of graduate medical
education (GME). Participants submit to the NRMP a list of residency
programs, in order of preference. Ranked lists of preferred residency
candidates are likewise submitted by U.S. GME programs with available
positions. The matching of applicants to available positions is
performed by computer algorithm. The Match results announced in March
of
each year are typically for GME programs beginning the following July.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE MATCH AND MATCH RESULTS

The preceding data are taken from the Advanced Data Tables for 2004
Residency Match compiled by the NRMP. These tables provide detailed
information on the positions offered and filled by the 2004 Match and
prior Match years. To access these tables, or to obtain further
information on the NRMP, visit www.nrmp.org.

The June issue of Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of
American Medical Colleges, usually offers an analysis of Match results
from the preceding March. For more information, visit your medical
school's library or www.academicmedicine.org.

The September issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical
Association traditionally provides an in-depth analysis of graduate
medical education in the United States. This analysis includes the
number of IMGs entering and continuing in U.S. GME programs and a
breakdown of IMG resident physicians by specialty and subspecialty.
Visit your medical school's library or http://jama.ama-assn.org.

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

As an organization, ECFMG is committed to providing information on
issues of importance to international medical graduates. We realize
that
many individuals would like updated information on developing issues
related to ECFMG Certification and entry into graduate medical
education
in the United States. As a result, ECFMG has developed The ECFMG(r)
Reporter to provide international medical graduates worldwide with
timely, objective information on current topics of interest. It is our
hope that this newsletter will allow physicians educated outside the
United States and Canada to make informed choices on issues that shape
their careers.

Previous issues of The ECFMG(r) Reporter are available on the ECFMG
website. Subsequent issues will be posted to the ECFMG website as they
are published. To access previous issues, visit the ECFMG website at
www.ecfmg.org/reporter.

Interested individuals can join or leave The ECFMG(r) Reporter mailing
list at any time. To join or leave, visit The ECFMG Reporter home page
at www.ecfmg.org/reporter.

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We hope you find these updates helpful. Thank you for your interest in
ECFMG.

Copyright (c) 2004 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
Graduates (ECFMG(r)). All rights reserved.

Bevo:

I wonder what percentage of US graduates get their first preference match?

Also, do the remainder of the FMG get either their second, third etc match

__________________
When you become my age you will realize all of the hard work and studying was worth the effort.
"60 years young" another 60 to go if my doctor sons keep me alive with free prescriptions!!

A high percentage of US as well as IMGs match to their top 3 ranked choices.However this is very misleading information.First of all you generally apply to places you feel are realistic possibilities for financial and other resons,this narrows things down.You only rank places that actually interview you.So when it comes match time there is a strong chance of getting one of your top 3 choices.The rank lists of applicants from a top US school and IMGs are going to look quite different but they may both match 80% to a top 3 .