The number of radiology residency PGY-1 positions offered in the 2013 edition of the Main Residency Match climbed by 21% compared to 2012, with international medical students increasingly filling slots at U.S. radiology programs, according to statistics released this week by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
There were 164 PGY-1 positions in diagnostic radiology offered on Match Day on March 15, compared with 135 first-year positions offered last year. In all, 150 radiology residency PGY-1 positions filled this year, giving the specialty a fill rate of 91.5% of offered positions in the first year. Nine diagnostic radiology programs went unfilled this year.
This year's match offered a record number of overall residency slots, due to three new medical schools graduating their first classes, as well as enrollment expansions in existing schools, NRMP said. In all years but 2009, the number of diagnostic radiology positions represented 0.6% of the total number of medical residency slots offered in the U.S. In 2009, that percentage stood at 0.7%.
There were 144 radiology residency PGY-1 positions offered in 2011, 141 positions in 2010, and 151 slots in 2009. The percent of unfilled slots has been climbing over the years; in 2009, radiology filled 98% of available residency slots.
U.S. seniors made up 61.6% of the total number of students offered positions in radiology in 2013, with the rest of the slots filled by international medical students. In 2012, U.S. seniors made up 66.7% of offered spots, preceded by 79.9% in 2011, 85.1% in 2010, and 87.4% in 2009.
