Surprising Statistics from "Match Day":
A Call to Action 

On March 20, 2008, also known as “Match Day,” approximately 25,000 applicants celebrated as they found out where they will spend their years of residency training following medical school. Congratulations to all of them, and welcome to the approximately 350 who were matched to the field of PM&R.

On a less positive note, when analyzing this year’s results along with recent results from the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) involving the field of PM&R, a few surprising trends stuck out that could affect our field for years. By looking at NRMP statistics, it appears that PM&R is attracting less-competitive candidates than almost every other major medical specialty.

Lower scores, fewer Allopathic grads

While our field may be attracting quality candidates whose attributes transcend test scores and academic achievements, we cannot ignore that our future residents do not compare well to their peers in other specialties with regard to their test scores and research experience. When comparing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores of applicants who matched in the field of PM&R in 2007 to other medical specialties, our incoming residents had the lowest USMLE Step 1 scores and the second lowest USMLE Step 2 scores. Our residency spots were filled by the second lowest percentage of applicants who are American Osteopathic Association (AOA) members; and our incoming residents have the second fewest number of research experiences, abstracts, publications, and presentations.

Surprisingly, over the past five years dating back to 2003, PM&R has had the second lowest percentage of spots being filled by U.S. Allopathic graduates than every other major medical specialty. Equally as startling, over the past five years, the percentage of PGY2 residency spots being filled by graduating U.S. Allopathic medical students is on a gradual decline, with 47% of the spots being filled by Allopathic graduates in 2008 compared to 56% of spots in 2003. In other words, it seems we are attracting less Allopathic graduates (MDs) than Osteopathic graduates (DOs), thus creating a gradual shift in the composition of the field of PM&R.

Attracting applicants

For the future viability of PM&R, I believe it is absolutely necessary that we place a high priority on attracting more competitive applicants to our specialty. While it is essential that major PM&R medical societies give this problem precedence in their agendas, the only way for a change to occur is for the individual physiatrist to make it a personal priority. It will take a substantial grassroots effort to generate widespread interest in the field among current and future medical students around the country. It will take personal sacrifice among individual physiatrists, both in academics and private practice, to reach out to our pre-medical and medical students when they are early in the decision process about which medical specialty to choose and to inform them about our field. We must take simple steps like volunteering to teach a functional anatomy lecture, instructing a physical examination module, starting an interest group at a local medical school, or simply introducing ourselves to a dean at a local medical school and inform those involved about the field of physiatry. We have an easy product to sell; we just have to start advertising.

By ensuring that our field is attracting the most competitive applicants, we can help guarantee the quality and growth of our specialty in the future. Local leaders, such as department chairs and residency program directors, may have to lead the initial charge, but all physiatrists must do their part.

The need to promote our field is clear. The future of PM&R depends on it.

Brett Gerstman
PGY2 – New Jersey Medical School Dept of PMR, ADMC
RPC Liaison to AAPM&R Quality Practice and Policy Committee
 

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