How Competitive Is the Canadian Diagnostic Radiology Residency Match? Application and Matching Trends From 1991-2014.

The study sought to evaluate application trends in Canadian diagnostic radiology residency programs and to assess the relative competitiveness of radiology as a specialty. The Canadian Residency Matching Service Reports from 1991-2014 for Canadian graduates were used to extract the total residency positions and radiology residency positions, number of applicants to all specialties and to radiology, number of first-choice radiology applicants, number of unmatched radiology positions, and number of positions and applicants to each specialty. Ratios were calculated: radiology positions to applicants and first-choice applicants, first-choice radiology applicants to applicants for all specialties, and training positions to applicants in each specialty. Data trends and correlation coefficients were analysed. The number of radiology residency positions offered increased, with strong positive correlation (r = 0.91, P < .001), while the number of applicants increased with only a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.49, P = .03). Radiology was the most competitive in 1997, with a ratio of 0.32 positions/applicant. There was an increase of positions/applicant over time (decreasing competitiveness; r = 0.76, P < .001) but no change in positions/first-choice applicant (r = 0.11, P = .65). The highest percentage of applicants who ranked radiology as their first choice was in 2003 at 6.5% with a decrease in this percentage over time (r = -0.36, P = .13). Radiology is moderately competitive for positions/overall applicants and very competitive for positions/first-choice applicants compared to other specialties. The number of radiology residency positions has increased while the number of applicants has not grown commensurately. The match was most competitive in 1997, and decreased in subsequent years. Possible reasons include job market, reimbursement, and work environment.

Kenny SA ，Esmail K ，Hibbert RM ，McInnes MD ... -  《-》

Diagnostic Radiology Residency Application Trends: Canadian Match Results From 2010-2020.

Li D ，Yi PH ，Islam N ，Verma R ，McInnes MDF ... -  《-》

How competitive is the match for radiology residency? Present view and historical perspective.

Interest in radiology as a career among US medical students has changed. The aim of this study was to investigate the recent and historical trends in residency applications and how they have affected competitiveness in obtaining a position. Statistics published by the National Resident Matching Program in "Results and Data: Main Residency Match" for 1991 to 2013 were analyzed. The number of radiology residency positions has trended upward over the past 23 years; however, the number of applicants from US medical schools has been widely variable. The number of applicants peaked in 2009 but has since decreased every year. The number of positions per US senior applicant (PPUSA) is a judge of specialty competitiveness on a supply-and-demand basis. A lower PPUSA indicates a more competitive specialty. Radiology saw its most competitive year in 2001, with only 0.91 PPUSA. PPUSA has been on the rise every year since 2009. From 2009 to 2013, the number of residency positions increased by 56, but there were 241 fewer US senior medical students preferring radiology. In 2013, there were 1,143 residency positions available for only 845 US senior medical students who preferred the specialty. The PPUSA was 1.35, making 2013 the least competitive year in obtaining a radiology residency position since 1998. Over the past 23 years, 5.5% of all US senior medical students have applied to radiology for residency. Interest reached an all-time high in 2009, at almost 7%. In 2013, only 4.8% of all US seniors preferred radiology, the lowest since 1999. The historical (1991-2013), current (2011-2013), and most recent (2013) PPUSAs for radiology were 1.19, 1.29, and 1.35, respectively. For comparison, the current PPUSAs for the following specialties were: 0.74 for plastic surgery, 0.83 for orthopedic surgery, 0.95 for dermatology, 1.10 for general surgery, 1.24 for obstetrics and gynecology, 1.31 for anesthesiology, 1.42 for pediatrics, and 1.80 for internal medicine (1.80). Although radiology residency positions have continued to increase, interest among US seniors has dropped every year since 2009. The 2013 match was the least competitive since 1998. Over the past 3 years, the competitiveness of matching radiology on a supply-and-demand basis has been close to that of obstetrics and gynecology and anesthesiology.

Chen JY ，Heller MT 《-》

Trends in Representation of Female Applicants and Matriculants in Canadian Residency Programs Across Specialties, 1995 to 2019.

Lorello GR ，Silver JK ，Moineau G ，McCarthy K ，Flexman AM ... -  《JAMA Network Open》

Trends in matching to urology residency in Canada: are we becoming noncompetitive?

Urology is perceived as a competitive specialty choice. Declining undergraduate exposure and the preference for "lifestyle specialties" may jeopardize urology's popularity. Our objective was to assess trends in application and matching rates to urology compared with other surgical specialties. We reviewed data collected by Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and the Canadian Post-MD Education Registry since expansion in Canadian medical school enrollment began (2002-2011). The following were examined: applicant preference, number of positions, gender patterns, and match results. "Surgery" included general surgery, orthopedics, plastics, ENT, and urology. From 2002 to 2011 CaRMS applicants increased from 1117 to 2528 (126%). The number of applicants selecting surgery first increased from 178 to 338(90%). The number of surgery positions increased from 138 to 275 (100%). Urology positions increased from 15 to 31 (113%). Applicants to urology increased only 40% (30-42). The proportion of all CARMs applicants selecting urology as their first choice decreased from 2.7% (30) to 1.7% (42). The ratio of first choice urology applicants to positions decreased from 2 to 1.35. The probability of matching urology as first choice increased from 50% to 76%. Female medical graduates increased from 51% to 58%. The female applicants selecting surgery first increased from 21% (49) to 41% (173). In contrast, females selecting urology first rose from 13% (4) to 17% (7). Urology in Canada is becoming less competitive. Residency positions have doubled since 2002 whereas the number of applicants remains static. This trend was not reflected in other surgical specialities. Factors accounting for this may include poor undergraduate exposure, demand for specialties with controllable lifestyles, gender shifts in undergraduate medicine, and lack of role models. The need for undergraduate exposure to urology and vetting numbers of residency positions remains a matter of paramount importance.

Melnyk M ，Nelson H ，Mickelson J ，Macneily AE ... -  《-》